Local residents are lucky in the number and quality of eating places in this corner of north-central Edinburgh. Friendly but ferocious culinary competition means the barony hosts some of the finest restaurants, cafés and carry-outs in the capital.
Nowhere is that innovative rivalry more evident this week than Café Piccante on York Place. Intrigued by this sign in the window, we asked a man of refined taste – Villeneuve Wines’ Jonathan Simmonte – to put himself on the outside of Broughton's latest gastronomic adventure.
‘Cafe Piccante's Deep-fried Christmas pudding,’ he assured us afterwards, ‘has proved itself to be a scintillating seasonal triumph.
‘Lightly battered and served with a generous side of vanilla ice-cream, this little delight offers up both familiar festive flavour and textural titillation.’
DM of Bellevue likened the delicacy to something incredibly sweet wrapped up in a crispy pancake: 'What's not to like?'
Other Spurtle tasters, however, were not so sure. One – who prefers to remain anonymous – described it as 'like swallowing a bomb'. (How he knows, and exactly what the effects were, we chose not to ask.)
In a spirit of scientific enquiry, I tried it with the addition of salt, vinegar and brown sauce. The combination was good in parts but not altogether a roaring success.
Staff at Café Piccante say public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.
Although most customers are content to buy it only once, they are buying it only once in great numbers. And who can blame them at just £3.50 a throw?
Have you sampled the Café Piccante Deep-fried Christmas Pudding yet? If so, please send us your thoughts by email spurtle@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @theSpurtle or Facebook Broughton Spurtle
@theSpurtle boak!
@theSpurtle - and why not? Fruit pudding a staple in #Scottishfriedbreakfast!
Deep fried Christmas pud, anyone? Cheeky road test by Jonathan @VilleneuveWines at Café Piccante : from @theSpurtle http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/we-all-figgy-pudding-%E2%80%93-seasonal-snapshot-22 …
@theSpurtle Sorry, but that picture doesn't sell it to me.
That's Scotland, there. Proving we can deep fry ANYTHING. Up next, deep fried Caesar's Salad.
@dOSs__ @theSpurtle because non deep fried Christmas pudding is positive healthy
@craigie_watson @theSpurtle Just cos their motto's "We're Scottish, let's fry it" doesn't mean it's edible! It probably looks better at 4am