Edinburgh Food Social

Kirsty being filmed by BBC Scotland, in our community kitchen

The BBC came by recently to chat to us about public diners: government-subsidised spaces serving hot, healthy, affordable meals in a welcoming, social setting.

We believe that this simple initiative has the power to tackle big issues like loneliness and food poverty.

Watch this space 🍽️💬

We’re hiring!

This is a rare opportunity for one passionate person to join Edinburgh Food Social as our administrator and events staff member.

The deadline for applications is 9am on 09/06/25.

Locals Learn How To Make The Most Of Their Air Fryers Over several weeks, Edinburgh Food Social's chef-activists taught locals how to use air fryers to create an array of healthy, wholesome dishes.

Air fryers have quickly become an important part of home cooking, but many people are still unsure how to best use them.

Edinburgh Food Social sought to rectify this by teaching local people how to make all manner of food using this appliance.

#airfryer #cookingclass #edinburgh #cooking

The Greater Craigmillar Festival 2025 🎉

Held on Saturday, 7 June from 11:00 - 15:00 this festival is an opportunity for people to celebrate our wonderful community through an array of free events, workshops and performances.

We look forward to seeing you at the festival!

#edinburgh #festival

Craigmillar girls serve meal to benefit community During the Easter holidays, a group of young girls from the Greater Craigmillar area took part in a cooking project run by Edinburgh Food Social, a social enterprise that seeks to transform the food c...

We're extremely pleased that an article about one of our recent community cooking projects was published in The Scotsman.

Read how this multi-week project engendered a greater sense of community in the Craigmillar area by following the link below.

#community

www.scotsman.com/community/cr...

EFS is running after school GFYC cooking classes every Thursday in May.

These hands-on classes are a fantastic and fun way for young people to learn cookery skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Find out more (and sign up) by visiting our website: www.edinburghfoodsocial.org

Learning New Skills During Friday Pop-Ups Students from Castlebrae Community Campus have been holding monthly food pop-ups in the school, introducing their schoolmates to new ingredients and dishes.

The monthly pop-up project we run with Castlebrae Community Campus helps local young people learn skills and try unfamiliar foods. 👨‍🍳

This month saw them cooking with nduja, kale, kefir and more, all of which was served by the students to their colleagues.

edinburghfoodsocial.org/learning-new...

Craigmillar Food Census Edinburgh Food Social is undertaking this survey to better serve the Craigmillar community and understand local people’s needs. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and you may choose not to...

We are undertaking a food census to better serve the Greater Craigmillar community.

If you live in Craigmillar and Niddrie, please take a few minutes to fill out this straightforward census by following the link below. Your responses are anonymous.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Can you make delicious desserts using canned beans? Our team of chef activist used all their skills to use up a glut of cannellini beans, proving that all you need to reduce food waste is a little creativity.

As a responsible food business with sustainability as one of our core principles, Edinburgh Food Social is always trying to reduce food waste by finding creative uses for different ingredients, including canned beans.

Bean blondies anyone...🍰

#cooking #foodwaste #edinburgh #sustainable #food

Our next monthly community meal will be held this Thursday (3rd) at the White House. Come along anytime between 6pm - 8pm to enjoy a lovely, hot meal.

The meal is free for pantry and foodbank users from Craigmillar and Niddrie. Other customers can donate £8, £15 or £20 for their meal.

#food #meal

What You Need To Know About Forced Rhubarb - Edinburgh Food Social Learn how forced rhubarb is grown and how to best use it. This blog also includes recipes for rhubarb and beetroot ketchup and spiced rhubarb relish.

What exactly is forced rhubarb?

If you’ve ever asked yourself the above question, this blog is for you!

Learn how this seasonal veg is grown and how, with a few culinary tricks, you can turn it into a delicious tomato-free ketchup!

#seasonal #food

edinburghfoodsocial.org/what-you-nee...

Young People Cook For Care Home Residents With Edinburgh Food Social's guidance, students completing Action For Children's hospitality program cooked and served a meal at Castlegreen Care Home.

"I’ve never trusted myself to cook before, but this has been class."

This is what one @actionforchildren.bsky.social student said after completing a 3-day project with Edinburgh Food Social.

Learn more about this confidence-building project via our blog.

edinburghfoodsocial.org/young-people...

Why is Sustainable Scottish Seafood Important? After visiting Our Sea's Coastal Testimonies exhibition, Edinburgh Food Social reflects on sustainable Scottish seafood and how to source it.

All of us have a huge responsibility to sustainably source our seafood. 🎣

From sourcing tips to insights into coastal Scottish lives, learn how the Coastal Testimonies exhibition reinforced EFS’ commitment to using sustainable Scottish seafood.

#seafood

edinburghfoodsocial.org/why-is-susta...

Absolutely, it would be a wonderful activity for an adult and child to do together!

Acting in a responsible manner is at the centre of everything we do at Edinburgh Food Social.

That's why we were so thrilled to win the Responsible Business of the Year Award at the ECCAwards25.

Powerful things can happen when a business puts responsible practices at its core. 💪

#ECCAwards25

Learn How To Make Pasta and Bake Bread with EFS Learn how to make pasta, soda bread and sweet treats by attending Edinburgh Food Social's Fun with Flour class on on Saturday, 15 March 11:00 – 15:00.

Ever wanted to learn how to make pasta or bread from scratch? 🍝🍞

You’re in luck; our first Food With Flour class of the year will be held on Saturday, 15 March from 11:00 to 15:00.

Learn more about this popular class by following the link below.

edinburghfoodsocial.org/learn-how-to...

#cooking

Edinburgh Food Social’s Guide To Quick Pickling Learn how to quick pickle a variety of vegetables using this handy method. Pickling will help you reduce food waste and introduce new flavours to your food.

What’s good for your gut, the planet and your plate?

Pickles!

Learn how to make this healthy, tasty, waste-reducing preserved food by following the link below.

#foodwaste #recipes #cooking #pickles

edinburghfoodsocial.org/edinburgh-fo...

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce: Inspiring Connections Supporting and empowering the business community in Edinburgh and beyond to prosper, grow and achieve success.

Our community-orientated business model is one we've worked hard to build, maintain and improve. That's why we are so delighted to have been shortlisted for Responsible Business of the Year by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards 2025! 🎉

#ECCAWARDS25

www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/ecc-business...

Headway and Edinburgh Food Social Serve Up a Burns Lunch Edinburgh Food Social teamed up with Edinburgh Headway Group to produce a seasonal Burns lunch for Headway staff and members. The event was a roaring success.

We recently welcomed members of local non-profit Edinburgh Headway Group to the EFS kitchen. Our chef-activists taught the members about everything from sustainable cooking practices to how to peel celeriac.

Read more about this project via our blog: edinburghfoodsocial.org/headway-and-...
#cooking