An American woman has shared her candid opinion after paying a visit to one of Edinburgh's most celebrated bakeries. Kaitlyn Lavery, hailing from New York City, made her way to Lannan Bakery in the Stockbridge area of the capital before taking to YouTube to share her thoughts.
Award-winning bakery draws curiosity
In June 2024, Lannan scooped the coveted Pastry Opening of the Year Award at La Liste's World Pastry Awards, which piqued her curiosity and prompted her to discover what all the excitement was about. "Let's just say I was mesmerised when I saw all their pastries," Kaitlyn admitted in a video, having arrived 30 minutes after the bakery had opened its doors.
Relieved that nothing had sold out, Kaitlyn and three companions purchased eight pastries between them after enduring a 45-minute queue to get inside. "I'm glad they were here because I literally could not decided what to get," she said of her pals.
Taste test highlights
First up in her taste test was the Custard Slice with Bramble Icing, which she described as "not overly sweet", though the custard was "nice". Kaitlyn then turned her attention to the Sour Cherry and Coconut Jaffa Cake. "Hopefully they have Jaffa Cakes in the US, but I think they may just be a UK speciality," she mused after taking a bite. "The chocolate ganache was to die for. I love a cherry moment - I think cherries are underused." Regarding the cake itself, Kaitlyn noted it was "spongy" and a "little dense", but concluded it was "really good" overall.
Turning her attention to the Raspberry and Tonka Flan, Kaitlyn admitted she hadn't expected it to stray from traditional flan territory. "The inside was custardy... it was jammy and they make a mean raspberry compote," she went on. "This ended up being my favourite thing."
Savoury and sweet offerings
Next up was the sole savoury offering amongst the eight items - a straightforward sausage roll. "I keep getting them because I am enticed," she remarked. "Just a lot of meat, every time." Returning to sweeter fare, Kaitlyn sampled Lannan's Yuzu and Olive Oil Croissant. "It's a combination I wouldn't normally think to pair together," she admitted. "But whatever olive oil they are using is high-a** quality and I'm a big fan of yuzu, especially in summer."
Her subsequent choice was a meringue, which she briefly noted as "fluffy on top", before moving onto a cinnamon bun. "I don't know why everyone raves about these," she commented. "I do like them and everywhere does them, but Lannan Bakery does a hell of a job with it." The penultimate item was the Majool Date and Butterscotch Bun. "This was like cavity-inducing," she joked. "I think if you have a really big sweet tooth then this is for you. It was just way too much for me." Rounding off her tasting experience was a Cinnamon and Cream Cheese Bun. "Anytime cheese frosting enters the villa, you know it's going to be good," Kaitlyn concluded.
Final verdict
Having sampled everything on offer, she summed up her visit: "Make sure you go early and I do think it's worth it." Lannan proudly describes its bakery online: "Founded in 2023, Lannan specialises in innovative viennoiseries using a harmonious match of traditional techniques and seasonal ingredients. From delicate croissants and cardamom buns, to nostalgic yet finessed Scottish bakery classics such as custard slice, iced buns and pineapple tarts. Our small, skilled and passionate team hand make every element from scratch in our kitchen on Hamilton Place - each component of our menu is thoughtfully considered and sympathetically executed."
