The great adventure of life! So much to discover and enjoy. And what a treasure is Gullane… you know, that quieter, unassuming seaside township in East Lothian, with winding walkways by the waves and soft fringed beaches, where rich birdlife thrives; and where the water is at times blue and sparkling… more often a brooding metal grey.
Gullane has eateries to suit almost every pocket. Here, La Potinière (that perennial darling of
Elizabeth David fans of the ‘70s) and Tom Kitchin’s The Bonnie Badger vie for your attention; while The Main Course, Cherish and The Old Clubhouse offer great choices, whether you’re after chips fat and full, a homely broth, thick with vegetables accompanied by a soft-baked fresh scone; or a dish of red, rich lasagne… (best ask for ‘yesterday’s’; believe me it’s the best!!).For me though, the culinary, coy star of this elegant, discreet township of good, earnest folk is by far, Goose on the Green. From the outside, it is all linear, nordic understatement, the interior bright and airy, light wood and large windows. You might even drive past it. However, it’s the wonderful aroma of cooking, to be honest, that tummy-teasing, waft of cooking bacon, that makes you slow down to find where it’s coming from. Another clue is the haphazard, hasty parking of vans and trucks and a continual to and fro… local people with honest, good food on their minds.
Open from Wednesday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm, GOTG offers a wide selection of speciality teas, home baking, breakfast rolls, brunch, soups, burgers, wraps and a lot more. If it's barista coffee you seek, head on further down the coast. But the coffee is good and there is a wide range of brews. Hard to name one USP, since this friendly, customer-focused place, stands out for freshness and the grace and welcome with which everything is served. The food is locally sourced and cooked on the premises.
Standing at the counter to order, as I do often on a Friday morning, stacks of crusty, flaking
croissants, perfect as they are, or oozing blueberries; homemade sweet pies n(I remember the nut-crusted pecan one); fresh wedges, slices, turnovers, rounds and layers of home-baking on every surface, have me buzzing with over-excitement and I am always unsure of what to choose. At the tables too, cheese scones, full, round and opulent, arrive warmed through and crumbling. And the bacon rolls, in the words of an Italian waiter in Puglia, once describing bread, are nothing short of ‘criminale’. Thick with tender, back bacony layers, in soft, buttery bread, they are nothing short of a miracle; a gutfully satisfying experience, creating sunshine in your soul, whatever the weather, though “it’s always sunny in Gullane”; and a worthy breakfast treat.
For a quick lunch some months ago, while my companions feasted on jacket potatoes, I chose sweet potato and chilli soup, thick, hearty, richly spiced, served with croûtons and soft, crusty home-baked bread. I cleaned my soup bowl with what was left of my scone. Other lunch options include chicken goujons, burgers, chicken, beef or vegan; grilled halloumi and vegan bites all home-cooked and all served with mayo and fresh salad.
On my last visit two weeks ago, I bought half a dozen apricot slices to share with friends. Light, crumbly, not oversweet and all wrapped to survive the trip down the road to Gullane Village Hall, they were not long on the plate and I was asked if I had baked them myself that morning.
I’m so glad that Friday is Gullane Day!
The Goose on the Green - 1 Stanley Road, Gullane, EH31 2AD - 01620 844755