It’s that time of year again were the number of different festivals in Edinburgh becomes too many to count. Little did we know there is also Just Festival which runs throughout August. There are two events in their calendar which caught our eye.
Above images courtesy of justjust.org
The first one is a series of cookery classes at Punjabi Junction, a community café serving a delicious and authentic Punjabi curry. Anyone who walks down Leith Walk and past here will know how good it smells. All the cooks are Sikh women from Punjab, cooking just as they would for their family, following their own recipes and habits. Even though the menu remains the same, the dishes therefore taste different every day and are served in a very simple manner, on white plates or in compartmented trails, making the customer feel at home. The café owes its success to the word of mouth, with some regular clients pushing its door up to four times a week. We’ve not been in to try it out for ourselves but hope to change this very soon! It is really an address to remember for whoever likes Indian food! The café is part of a social enterprise aiming to integrate minority ethnic women to Edinburgh’s society. From the offices to the café’s kitchen, Sikh Sanjog is run entirely by women. The cookery classes are not only an opportunity for Punjabi Junction’s cooks to share their culture in a very warm joyful atmosphere, it’s also a way for them to develop professional skills and confidence.
More information about the cookery classes can be found here.
The second one is the presence of Knights Kitchens at St John’s Church during the whole duration of the festival (1-25 August).
Knights Kitchen cooks on site a large range of street food and home dishes from all over Africa. Although the recipes are adapted to the Scottish taste, they still display a true feeling of authenticity. For Christine Knights, owner and cook of the Knights kitchen, food is not only there to be eaten: it is a way to share a warm moment and above all to share a culture. It is important that people understand what they are eating, how it is eaten traditionally, at what time of the day and in which country. Christine is always delighted to answer to people’s question and always does so with all the passion her food and her country inspire her.
Make sure you stop by and try Christine’s delicious mandazi, borevoures rolls and other African stews! 
Above images courtesy of Knights Kitchen.
The Knights Kitchen’s tent will be a very nice place to relax during the turmoil of the festivals.
We can’t wait to try out the street food and hopefully find time to get ourselves booked onto the cookery classes. Either way we’ll be well fed this Festival 🙂
Her x
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