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Mamma Mia

May 10, 2024

Good morning lovely people, 1928 was a good year.    Equal voting rights for women and men, pre-sliced bread, bubble gum, Mickey Mouse, and on the […]

Perfect Partnerships: Who’s the melon to your prosciutto?

April 26, 2024

Good morning lovely people Strawberries and cream.  Super sweeties covered in a silky blanket.   A perfect partnership. Prosciutto e Melone; a little more adventurous […]

What are we not allowed to do this week?

April 14, 2024

Good morning lovely people    What are we not allowed to do this week?  Am I smelling a smoke screen perhaps?    Out of the […]

Don’t let gestures posture for the wrong purpose

March 29, 2024

Happy Easter lovely people, When a Marathon was renamed to a Snicker and Opal Fruits became Starbursts who would have known that this was the […]

The source is important

March 15, 2024

Good morning lovely people,  I’ve been writing for The Scotsman for over 10 years. My last headshot was taken in 2019.  I had a panic […]

PC has many meanings

March 1, 2024

Good morning lovely people,  I’m in big trouble.  Inadvertently I’ve clearly been insulting almost everyone.  Victor and John in the garden, “good job boys”.  The […]

Mother’s Day

February 27, 2024

MOTHER’S DAY AT CONTINI RESTAURANTS Mum’s the World – Sunday 10th March. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, mum’s the word – and it’s […]

Let’s Take the High Road

February 19, 2024

Good morning lovely people  Is it just me or is this year “marching” on very quickly.  Victor and John the gardener have seen the first […]

A Game of Fate with a Difference

February 4, 2024

Good morning lovely people  My father and I used to spend hours playing Rummy or Scopa (an Italian card game).   The scene had traces of […]

Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year

February 1, 2024

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Edinburgh? 2024 marks the Chinese Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become the largest celebration of […]

Self Belief Is The Start Of Success

January 26, 2024

Our world changed 20 years ago today, the day we got the keys to 103 (Centotre) George Street, Edinburgh. It was the right time for […]

There’s Daggers in Men’s Smiles

January 21, 2024

Good morning lovely people Edinburgh is in the thick of “Ralph Fiennes” mania.  He’s appearing in Macbeth at Ingliston until 27th January.  We thought he […]

Mamma Mia

May 10, 2024

Good morning lovely people, 1928 was a good year.    Equal voting rights for women and men, pre-sliced bread, bubble gum, Mickey Mouse, and on the […]

Perfect Partnerships: Who’s the melon to your prosciutto?

April 26, 2024

Good morning lovely people Strawberries and cream.  Super sweeties covered in a silky blanket.   A perfect partnership. Prosciutto e Melone; a little more adventurous […]

What are we not allowed to do this week?

April 14, 2024

Good morning lovely people    What are we not allowed to do this week?  Am I smelling a smoke screen perhaps?    Out of the […]

Don’t let gestures posture for the wrong purpose

March 29, 2024

Happy Easter lovely people, When a Marathon was renamed to a Snicker and Opal Fruits became Starbursts who would have known that this was the […]

The source is important

March 15, 2024

Good morning lovely people,  I’ve been writing for The Scotsman for over 10 years. My last headshot was taken in 2019.  I had a panic […]

PC has many meanings

March 1, 2024

Good morning lovely people,  I’m in big trouble.  Inadvertently I’ve clearly been insulting almost everyone.  Victor and John in the garden, “good job boys”.  The […]

Mother’s Day

February 27, 2024

MOTHER’S DAY AT CONTINI RESTAURANTS Mum’s the World – Sunday 10th March. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, mum’s the word – and it’s […]

Let’s Take the High Road

February 19, 2024

Good morning lovely people  Is it just me or is this year “marching” on very quickly.  Victor and John the gardener have seen the first […]

A Game of Fate with a Difference

February 4, 2024

Good morning lovely people  My father and I used to spend hours playing Rummy or Scopa (an Italian card game).   The scene had traces of […]

Edinburgh’s Chinese New Year

February 1, 2024

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Edinburgh? 2024 marks the Chinese Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year in Edinburgh has become the largest celebration of […]

Self Belief Is The Start Of Success

January 26, 2024

Our world changed 20 years ago today, the day we got the keys to 103 (Centotre) George Street, Edinburgh. It was the right time for […]

There’s Daggers in Men’s Smiles

January 21, 2024

Good morning lovely people Edinburgh is in the thick of “Ralph Fiennes” mania.  He’s appearing in Macbeth at Ingliston until 27th January.  We thought he […]

Cannonball House Dining Guidelines

July 21, 2021

**UPDATED JANUARY 2022** All Venues Dining Guidelines JANUARY 2022 Covid is still with us so as a restaurant business we plan to continue some protocols […]

Sorry, it’s a Long Covid missive today

July 19, 2021

I was confused for a moment, so Edinburgh is moving from Level 2 to Level 0 tomorrow. Is it, “Pass Straight to Go and Collect […]

The 10 Clouds of Covid

July 5, 2021

We’re on Cloud 9, but not as you know it. We’re in the middle of a sandstorm. Watching the world around us makes me feel […]

From Lazio to Cockenzie: the making of a family restaurant

July 5, 2021

Victor and Carina Contini are both third generation Italian Scots. They are also the owners of The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant which overlooks Princes Street […]

The cupboards are all tidy

June 28, 2021

Good morning lovely people I love analysing things, you may have noticed. Victor says I’ve to stop trying to control the things I can’t change. […]

I’m throwing my toys out of the pram this week

June 21, 2021

Good morning lovely people I’m throwing my toys out of the pram this week, actually we’ve been thrown out the pram, fall guy hospitality is […]

What will next year be like

June 14, 2021

This time last year we were still in Lockdown 1 and the prospect of the 15th July opening was filled with a sense of relief […]

We invite you to enjoy Contini venues this summer

June 14, 2021

Hello, What a year it has been. Our industry has been hit hard but we are delighted to still be here feeling positive and energised […]

Noted, shorter updates

June 7, 2021

Last week felt like the Glasgow Fair. (With Glasgow in Level 3, it was no surprise. I don’t understand the logic!). Growing up in a […]

Jump on board

May 31, 2021

Good morning lovely people Sorry (well a little sorry) about last week’s blog. I didn’t have time to apply and refine my usual filter. It […]

Mixed Messages

May 24, 2021

I read papers aligned with all political parties to try and find balance. I listen to the radio as much as I watch the news, […]

We thought it’s all over, it isn’t now…

May 17, 2021

The circle of life of the kitchen garden usually mirrors hospitality. Dormant over the winter but triumphant when it comes back to life in the […]

Also on the blog

Cannonball

Contini George Street

The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant

Events at Contini