The Luxe List

I’m not sure about you, but I am seriously bored with the handful of dishes I rotate through on a weekly basis. Whether it’s a roast chicken, steak and broccoli or even a crowd-pleasing ragu, I feel like I’ve had it a thousand times over the past few months. I’ve spent hours going through the New York Times recipes as well all my old favourites, but I think I’m just ready to get back out and about to restaurants. So, when an email popped up inviting me to dinner from Loanhead’s famous Radhuni Indian restaurant, I absolutely jumped at the chance.

When it comes to spicing up supper, the team behind The Radhuni certainly know what they’re doing. The restaurant has been named amongst the 100 best UK Indian restaurants, and received numerous awards including Scotland’s Best Restaurant, so to say I was excited to pick up dinner is an understatement. After popping my order in through Facebook (super convenient), I headed through to find out what all the fuss was about.

With easy on-street parking, I popped in at my chosen time to pick up supper – The Radhuni have set up a COVID-19 secure pickup desk, kitted out with screen and santizer and the team decked out in masks, perfect for staying safe during these testing times. After picking up our goodies, we practically raced home so we could get everything plated and tuck in.

Since it’s been a while since our last curry (like, a year while) it was such a thrill to be greeted with the scents of a really fabulous meal, and we plated it all out as quickly as we could. Greeted with a veritable feast, we had decided to go all-out and sample dishes with a bit of a kick, so leaving my normal Butter Chicken behind, we plumped for a Chicken Tikka Badami Korma and a Chicken Tikka Khumbi Dupiaza for our mains, with a Peshwari naan, poppadums and dip, a Murgh Chicken Kebab and Onion Bahjis to share.

Everything came securely packaged, and once it was all plated up, we realised what a feast we’d ordered, and it was a mouth-watering couple of minutes whilst I took photos before we dug right in. Each dish was delicious – absolutely bursting with flavours and spice, and we couldn’t even come close to deciding on favourites.

The Chicken Tikka in the dishes gave a real burst of smoky flavour, and the sauces were bright and full of spice. I loved pairing the soft, sweet naan with the punchy curries, and it was such a treat to enjoy such an indulgence! As you can imagine, we easy had enough leftovers for a delicious lunch the next day.

If you’re in the mood for something a little special, I’d heartily recommend a supper order from The Radhuni. Not only was the food absolutely delicious, but the restaurant has a beautiful outdoor area, which is perfect for summer evenings once we’re allowed back out and about.

Thank you so much to The Radhuni for supper, if you’re tempted, you can find their whole menu here.

This year I feel like Easter has completely sneaked up on me. It’s come from nowhere, and all of a sudden, the shops are full of chicks, lambs and tulips. I don’t mind though – I love the Spring, and I think it’s a holiday which is seriously underrated.

When it comes to celebrating the weekend, I like to keep things low key, but fun, and I’ve fallen in love with Betty’s range of treats. The iconic tearoom always has the prettiest range of goodies, and this year is no exception. Their Milk Chocolate Happy Easter egg is a real showstopper. Whether it’s the crowning glory of your centrepiece, or a fun gift for friends, I just love the traditional detailing, and the chocolate itself is deliciously rich.

If you’re looking for a gift which will really stand out from the pack, I’m obsessed with this box of Champagne Truffle Eggs. The mix of white, milk and dark chocolates means everyone will get to enjoy their favourites, and they’re filled with the most delicious silky smooth champagne ganache.

Decorated with the cutest spring flowers, these make the most stunning gift, or, even table setting, if you’re inviting people round to the garden this weekend. The chocolates themselves are absolutely delicious, and are a fun twist on a seasonal classic.

You can get all your Betty’s eggs here.

When it comes to going all out this Easter, I don’t think you can do better than by heading to Hotel Chocolat. Whilst their stores might still be closed, their website is chock-full of goodies to help you indulge in over the holiday weekend.

I couldn’t resist trying the Extra Thick Patisserie Chocolate Egg – much more than your average Easter goodies, this behemoth has two different chunky chocolates halves, and is filled with the brands’ signature Patisserie chocolate truffles to enjoy.

An absolute feast of an egg, so it’s big enough to share, and the rich and indulgent chocolates are a real treat to enjoy. The fact that it comes in a beautifully fluted tin means that it makes the most perfect Easter gift too. I loved all the different flavours and textures, and it’s such a fun update to the classic egg.

I also got the chance to try their Dozen Quail Eggs – a collection of 12 delicious truffles dressed up as tiny eggs. With two of each flavour, it was a real delight to enjoy everything from plain chocolate to a fruity raspberry and heavenly chocolate. Best enjoyed with a steaming hot cup of coffee, one or two of these were the perfect afternoon pick-me-up!

You can find these, plus a whole host of other goodies on the Hotel Chocolat website here.