Cafe Crush: Edin’s Natural Kitchen

Sister to the ever popular Edin’s Deli restaurant on Broad street, Edin’s Natural Kitchen is a slice of European cool in the heart of Nottingham’s Lace market.

With a soundtrack of gentle blues, a window full of baked bread and painted walls hung with old posters, Edin’s is positively cinematic.

The menu is seasonal and healthy; roasted sweet potatoes, homemade garlic and herb sausage rolls, caramelised onion and brie tart, and its as good as it sounds. The market produce is all available to buy and even the cups the homemade lemonade comes in are biodegradable.

A chalkboard hanging from the ceiling says what time the fish, meat and vegetable deliveries come in so you could time to the minute just how fresh your food is. A environmentalists dream.

The coffees and drinks are a standard price (between £1.50-£3.00), with the menus catering well to the lunch crowd but let’s not pretend, we know it is all about the cakes.

Try not to press your face against the glass cabinet full of freshly baked croissants, red velvet cake, lemon meringue, chocolate tart, petit fours. Try the baklava, served with a scoop of ice cream, a nod to Edin’s exotic heritage that will make you want to leave your lover for a filo fellow.

The fun does not have to end when it goes dark. Open until late on Friday’s and Saturdays, with themed wine and meal nights twice a month (3 courses and 3 glasses for £20), nights see the cafe turn into a three floor restaurant, often featuring live music.

Though this may be too classy for some, it would be a lovely date night or place to take your parents, provided they pay of course. Edin’s is a dream for rustic cuisine in a place that makes you wish you liked jazz. Berets optional.

For more information and a to see a menu, head to Edin’s website.