At times I can be a bit of a baked potato nazi. I do not like baked potatoes that have been started off in the microwave; my mum claims that’s the way Jamie Oliver does it, but he does a lot of strange things doesn’t he? I heard a rumour that he has a team of people brainstorming ways to get him a knighthood; won’t happen if you keep nuking your spuds, pal! The point is that the potato needs a full hour at least in the oven to truly develop a crisp, caramelised skin and a buttery floury texture.
Sometimes a baked potato is all you want at lunch time (although it’s not as healthy as once thought, but shhh). The problem is that unless you know where to go it can be a mine-field of microwaved potatoes with bad fillings, soggy skin, and al dente flesh. I’ve made it my mission to explore lunchtime potato options in central Edinburgh and review them for your pleasure.
I also have a couple of guest bloggers working from The Shore (to be sure) and would be thrilled to accept submissions from other businessy parts of Edinburgh that I’m unable to access at lunch time.
So without further ado, I bring you the Baked Potato Report, with marks given for the following criteria.
Price- the benchmark here is £3. Hey, it’s lunch time, who wants to spend more than a fiver?
Fluffiness- is the flesh soft and floury? Or is it a wee bit hard?
Skin- The most important part. Is it crisp and tasty, or soggy and not worth the effort?
Quality of Fillings- it doesn’t matter how good the tattie is, if the fillings aren’t fresh it’s a no-go
General Yumminess- does it make me go “mmm” or “meh”?
You know the drill, once I write a review I’ll link to it from here, and when I’ve eaten every potato in Edinburgh I will put them in order of which I think is best.
The Contenders
Loaded :: 5/10 ::
+ None 
- Rubbery skin, low quality
Number 1 :: 9/10 ::
+ Good quality and texture; fluffy with a crisp skin, and cheaper than other options
- Have to get there before 1pm as they sell out quickly
Pierinos :: 3/10
+ Big spuds
- Could do with longer in the oven; started in the microwave
Wolfits :: 1/10
+ I couldn’t finish it, but I’m trying to lose weight anyway
- Cold fillings, cremated soggy skin, cheap nasty fillings
If you want to suggest somewhere with ace potatoes for me to review, please feel free to contact me.
Hi Jemma, while out in the taxi, or before that, the BT van, I always enjoyed the BPs at the Tempting Tattie in Jeffrey Street. If I remember correctly they were a bit over the £3, but came in a various sizes, so I was maybe just a pig and always had the biggest. Just thinking, I maybe got the large once, but realised it was just too large, and I think it was a regular from then on. I always have cottage cheese on my BPs, because I’m dull and unadventurous. The guy who runs the shop was always a cheery bloke, and even offered to put a poster up for my Scrabble club when we were desperate for members. The Tempting Tattie also gets a mention in one of Danny Wallace’s books. Enjoy the blog Jemma when I happen upon it, keep up the good work. Best wishes for 2012, and hope to see you soon. C. x.
Hiya Colin, good to hear from you! Will have to venture up that way then: I love cottage cheese on my baked tattie. Apparently it’s healthy too, which is strange then that we both like it!
Thanks for reading, and yes it would be great to have another Porter/Nicol get together soon haha! (I suppose one or two Alexanders and a Dodds might be allowed…)
x
I was just going to ask about the Tempting Tattie here – I heard it had to close last year, but as I don’t live in Edinburgh any more I don’t know if this is true. I hope not, it was a great place for ridiculously filling and slightly unpleasant but somehow great potatoes.
Richard Herring used to take his audiences there after shows. One time there were about 60 of us, and I couldn’t tell if the owner was very happy or extremely pissed off. It was fun.
Ha! I never really venture up that way, I really keep meaning too. Perhaps Mr Herring stopped taking his audiences there or stopped coming to Edinburgh and that’s why they had to close? I’ll check it out the next time I’m having a long lunchbreak.
Have you been to the Baked Potato shop on Cockburn street? It’s veggie but it is honestly the best one I’ve ever tasted, and they once put so much egg mayo in my tattie that there was a whole egg hidden under there! Delish.
I’ve not! I really really really keep meaning to go, but it’s in that awkward position where it’s just slightly too far away for a lunchtime take-away. I’ve heard that the potatoes are mahoooosive though… mmmm