I used to have a massive crush on Jamie Oliver way back when. Cath doesn’t even know this, but for a brief few weeks my first year in college I investigated ways to move to London and work at the first restaurant he was starting with a staff of under-privileged young adults he trained. Being privileged and in the wrong country didn’t stop me from filling out an application online. I am shocked — shocked, I tell you!– that I never heard back.
The crush has long since fizzled (and I have my own talented foodie/chef/scientist in my kitchen), but I still have soft spot for Jamie because I think his push for education and healthy food is inspiring. So when Cath was here, we decided we should stop at the new Jamie’s Italian off Rose/George Street in Edinburgh.
The restaurant is in Edinburgh’s historic Assembly Rooms, and the decor is incredibly bold: abattoir meets Italian café meets Jane Austen (because of the Assembly Room restoration bits). Not right for a child’s nursery perhaps (a bit like that red room that so frightens a young Jane Eyre) or a spa, but an intriguing background for chomping on polenta and tippling prosecco.
And though it’s a chain it doesn’t feel too chain-y (mostly to do with the decor) and the food was deeeelicious! The only downside is the service. Our waiter was pretty nice, but the rest of the staff look a bit dour and aren’t particularly friendly. Cath and I stumbled in right before they opened for the day (the doors were propped open, so we walked in), and the staff at first ignored us and then made us feel a bit silly that we walked through the open door in the first place. Maybe you aren’t meant to be charming in a meaty ballroom café — ruins the ambiance?
We stuck around for 15 minutes (waiting for it to properly open) before re-entering the lion’s den/stomach, and overall I’m glad we did. With a friendlier staff I would definitely make this a go-to place when Naked Chef nostalgia hits and/or I get a polenta fry craving
Have you guys tried a Jamie restaurant or any celebrity chef restaurant? Tell me the good, the bad, and the delicious!
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Dear Cath,
Okay, now it’s beginning to really feel like you haven’t been here for a month and I do NOT like it a bit. Writing these posts make me feel like you still are just sort of waiting for me to go meet you in town some where. HARUMPH.
Once I leave for Greece on Thursday it’s really going to feel like I’m missing a limb without any wifi and connection to you! We must make a skype date sometime before then!
xoxoxoxox,
Lar
omg i LOVE jamie oliver!!! we watch him every chance we can. lucky you, going to his restaurant. it looks beautiful!!! but.yeah i don’t think i’d eat any of that food.i’m half italian and yet i don’t eat italian food. 😛
Instanbul and now Greece!! You are one lucky duck! I hope you and Matt have fun! Take a lot of pictures! I always think of sisterhood of the traveling pants when I think of Greece. I wish I could travel right now. Too bad the school year just started upon the bright side its my senior year =)!
I went to the Jamie’s Italian in London and it was delicious – we had the polenta fries too, the seafood plank app and I had risotto. It was all delish – but the decor was totally different from the Edinburgh restaurant, glad to know they try to cheap each location unique.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. THAT is a chain? it looks amazing. And I’m sure the food is faboo. I will confess, I DID think Jamie Oliver was a total hottie (back in the day) and I am totally in admiration of his passion about cooking and cooking healthy. I watched School Dinners and Food Revolution, and was super impressed. 🙂 I cannot believe you applied to be on his show, Lar! hahaha.
Thanks for your sweet words, Lar. I totally thought it was pants that our basement flooded, but you just gotta look on the bright side of things and then keep on moving forward.
AND GREECE? You lucky ducky! I hope you have a marvelous time.
Lar– looks fabulous! And I’ve been meaning to tell you. try Hendersons near-ish the castle in Edinburgh. We ate there in June at their bistro and it was awesome! Our friends recommended the buffet downstairs next time. It’s all organic, local, etc. Delish!!
So the Brits we met in London had told us they’d just met Jamie Oliver that day and I was so excited. and then they say: “Oh, he got fat. Here’s the picture.” Cracked me up! And yes, he got a bit chubby but still cute 🙂 Would love to eat at this place, looks yum. Have a fab time in Greece!!
I STILL have a crush on Jamie Oliver, have since Naked Chef was brand new on Food Network, sighhhh. Do you follow him on Instagram? Soooo cute, funny interactions with his kids, stuff from his garden, little tidbits of life with his wife, lots of food. Do it!