Eye & Pen: Lifestyle, Travel, Photography and Literature
  • Main
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Accommodations
    • Bucket List
    • Cheap Travel
    • Culture
    • Essay
    • Destinations
    • Inspiration
    • Interviews
    • Narratives
    • Personal
    • Photography
    • Restaurants
    • Reviews
    • Safe Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Trip Update
    • Weekly Wanderlust
  • Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery – All Places
    • Photo Gallery – Aruba
    • Photo Gallery – England
    • Photo Gallery – Europe
    • Photo Gallery – Iceland
    • Photo Gallery – Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Italy
    • Photo Gallery – Northern Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Other
    • Photo Gallery – Scotland
    • Photo Gallery – USA
  • Services
    • Blog Coaching
    • Graphic Design
    • Hire Brandon
    • Advertising
  • About Brandon
  • Contact

Flavor and music, forever remembered in Edinburgh

1/29/2013

9 Comments

 
Picture
     I walked down a weaving stone path in the medieval town of Edinburgh, Scotland. My mouth watered as I was in search of the famous local Italian market, the Valvona & Crolla. I bypassed charming historic stone cottages and whimsical mom and pop shops, until I found myself staring upward at cluster of tall modern buildings. There were business men at work in these buildings, toiling trouble and plotting the eventual world take over, no doubt. As the road curved and my jaunt slowed and I searched step by step for safe footing, my eyes caught sight of a large roundabout intersection and a pile of stores lining each side of the street; I continued forward. Trying to take in each sight, sound and interesting detail, I mistakenly passed by my targeted destination. Once I realized this, I looked back and began to jog, backtracking to the light grey storefront. Painted above the doorway were the words “Valvona & Crolla, established 1934.” My heart leapt and my stomach gave me a lustful growl.

Picture
     I entered the threshold and I first noticed pots, pans, peppers and plenty of large legs of meat from the butcher hanging from the racks attached to the ceiling. To my left, the shelves rose to meet the ceiling, full of sauces and noodles and various goodies. On my right, an older gentlemen was standing behind the glass case nearest me, brandishing a smile and asking if he could be of some service to me. I thanked him and declined, and slowly I moved throughout the shop to take in the brilliant sights of the market. I had never been to a place like this before. In the states, most of the markets are like large department stores, with nothing fresh and local, with no truly handmade products on the shelves. Behind the man, there was a large collection of Italian wines and scotch whiskies. Eventually, I moved on toward the back of the shop revealing the selection of breads, cheeses and olive oils. I sampled everything I could get my hands on. I’m a relatively picky eater, thus why I do not blog about food often enough, but everything was impeccable and scrumptious.

Picture
     A soft light protruded from around a corner adjacent from the main area of the long market, where a few steps lead upward toward a skylit enclosure. Curiosity had gripped me and I peeked around the corner to find a wonderful little restaurant. A handful of people were sitting at wooden tables and an apron-laden woman waved me to a table nearest the barista bar. The room was decorated modestly with living flora, which were arranged throughout the aisle-ways and against the walls. A young man greeted me, bowing, and offered me a set of menus. Everything sounded amazing at this point and I went for a true pleasure of mine – seafood and noodles in olive oil. I was brought some sort of seedy bread to dip in even more olive oil. I guess the free samples from the market didn’t fill me up – but I could feel my pores squirming uneasily.

Picture
     The other customers were of good company as I sat alone; they unknowingly kept me entertained. People watching is a favorite pastime of mine; there’s just something about it that entertains, intrigues and helps with my creativity and thought process. Closest to me I overheard the thick-accent of two elderly ladies from northern Scotland (or so I had guessed), who spoke of their husbands, their farms and their grandchildren who had just been born. In front of me there was a young couple who looked to be from the Baltics. They were solemn and dewy-eyed, with hands held, staring into each other’s eyes. I looked away feeling as though I was intruding on their private and special moment. Lastly, my eyes wandered into the far corner where an older man was lounging, three cups of coffee in front of him, while he read a small paperback. His long, thick, grizzled beard twitched every second or two as I watched him alternate between folding over the next page and drinking large gulps from his white porcelain cup. The consistent cling of his cup tapping the small plate underneath was like a beat, which for a split second my mind was processing the collective sounds of the room’s inhabitance and their mixture of echoey tones as if the room had come alive and was attempting to make music with the resource of the raw ambiance.

Picture
     The orchestral composition halted once the young waiter sat my food on the table in front of me. Part of me felt disappointed – I missed the music. A ghostly shadow of the masterpiece remained, like a strong melodic hook. I looked down at my plate and was instantly intrigued, and the music began to fade into the distance. Overcome by the rumbles of wanting that consumed my body, influenced by my stomach, I picked up my fork, twisted the noodles around a few times and jabbed some crab on the tip. I found myself unable to stop from refilling my utensil full of food, over and over again. It was tasty and full, with just the right amount of flavor, oil and spice. I was entranced, never distracted from my own little bowl of heaven. Filled to the brim and ready to take on the world, a renewed spring in my step carried me out of the market’s front door and onto the street. My final thought would carry with me and revisit me every time I enjoyed Italian or bowl of noodles – Valvona & Crolla was perhaps the best Italian I’ve ever had, which easily rivals the tourist garbage that I was fed on my first European trek to Italy.
(Photos by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)

9 Comments
travelyn link
1/29/2013 12:11:50 pm

I was rather intrigued why you would go to Scotland for Italian food? Did I miss something? anyway you really enjoyed the meal and the ambiance so perhaps that's all that matters!

Reply
Brandon Scott link
1/29/2013 12:43:44 pm

Hm sometimes you go other places and find a gem. That was my gem in Edinburgh haha. :)

Reply
Debbie Young link
1/30/2013 04:43:54 pm

A mystery solved for you, Travelyn - there are loads of Italians who settled in Scotland during or after the Second World War, some having been prisoners of war there. Everywhere you go in Scotland, you will find Italian purveyors of food, whether in restaurants, takeaways (plenty of Italian chippies) or ice cream parlours. When we're touring Scotland in our camper van (which we do often, as I'm married to a Scottish hillwalker), we sometimes see more Italian camper vans than British ones. Italians love Scotland! (more about our Scottish travels on my own website).

Stunningly beautiful blog, Brandon, by the way - my first visit and it won't be my last! :)

Reply
Brandon Elijah Scott link
1/15/2014 10:20:05 am

Thank you very much. Your words mean a lot to me. :) I hope that you come back to visit. It is always nice to see a familiar name. It must me fun to travel like you and your husband travel. To be able to pick up and leave is a wonderful feeling. Have fun, and be safe.

Reply
wandering educators link
2/1/2013 11:30:56 am

Love this! and I Do love Scotland!

Reply
Brandon Elijah Scott link
1/15/2014 10:22:04 am

Scottland is an amazing place. There is so many things to explore and discover! I really enjoyed writing this post. :)

Reply
Erin link
11/3/2013 11:09:39 pm

Yum! I'm gonna have to read this one again.

Reply
Brandon Elijah Scott link
1/15/2014 10:23:58 am

haha! I am really glad that you enjoyed the post! I enjoyed writing it. I have lots of new stuff, and hope that you come back by and drop me a line. It would be nice to know what you think of the new stuff.

Reply
Best CBSE Schools in Thiruverkadu link
2/24/2020 01:53:22 am

Sindhi Model School of Excellence is Best CBSE Affiliated School in Thiruverkadu Provides best education with Practical Methods & Other Extracurricular Activities to engage with young mind.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Sign up for my VIP email list:

Picture
Picture

Article Topics

All
About Blogging
Accommodations
Bucket List
Cheap Travel
Culture
Destinations
Discussion
Entertainment
Environment
Essay
Fine Art Feature
Gear
General
Giveaway
Green Living
Guest Posts
Inspiration
Interviews
Lifestyle
Luxury
Narratives
Not Recommended
Other
Personal
Photography
Restaurants
Reviews
Safe Travel
Trip Planning
Trip Update
USA Road Trip
Video
Weekly Wanderlust

RSS Feed

Monthly Archive

November 2021
September 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012

*Disclaimer: All blog posts featuring products, reviews, or suggestions for products or services are governed by our Disclosure. Products were received free to review, so to provide authentic opinions and content for our readers. The opinions and ideas in this post are the writer's own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business. We receive no compensation for product reviews. Links within non-product review posts may be sponsored.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.