Dream Menu
Specials

Themed editions of the dream menu

Alongside the main interviews, Dream Menu runs short themed specials. Here is what came back.

Dream Fringe

52 performers and Fringe regulars on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026: their dream venue, their fuel and the chippy order after a day on the Royal Mile.

Dream venue

  • Intimate room 🛋️31
  • Theatre 🎭8
  • Outdoors 🌲4
  • Arena 🏟️2
  • The Millennium Falcon or a Grill’d1
  • Can I have an intimate outdoor theatre ?1

Late-night food after the shows

  • Chips, cheese and curry sauce. Hard to find a bad (or good) one.
  • Chips, chicken, gravy, cheese in a box (in Australia this a HSP)
  • Mixed Swarma Wrap in Petra on South Bridge.
  • Cheese burger
  • Glasgow import “Hajar Shawarma” on Leven Street in Edinburgh. The more precarious the visa application the better the…
  • Amorino Gelato has just opened right by the Royal Mile - their Lime and Basil Sorbet is amazing.
  • Umai for the best sushi in edi - open late, usually a queue but it moved quick and you’ll be in and out in an hour.
  • Cafe Piccante for cheesy chips

Fringe fuel

  • Pre-show it's throat spray, lozenges and tonnes of water. After my show, without sounding too sad, it's beer.
  • Microwave meals and long blacks from Origin Coffee on South College St
  • A scientifically constructed balance of protein bars, pizza, and Monster Energy Drink.
  • Loaded Fries
  • Tinned mackerel in olive oil, Morton’s rolls and lots of nuts.
  • A sommelier's breakfast - espresso with campari. Back to back shifts, not shows!!
  • You need to accept that your bank balance is about to be decimated and lean into it. Coffee on the way from origin,…

What makes a great Fringe venue

  • AIR CON! BAR! DECENT SEATS! NO FUNNY SMELLS!
  • A piano
  • The best venues are small, dark, and at the end of a staircase.
  • Needs to have character and good ambience
  • Anywhere inaccessible, overheated and with the sound of a loud stove flue pipe preventing any earnest attempt to…
  • Anything. I've been to shows in grand concert halls, and old shipping containers. It can give different context to the…
  • My favourite fringe venues are the ones that clearly aren’t up to health and safety regulations, like shoved into some…

Only at the Fringe

I witnessed Karen Gillan birth Elf Lyons on stage, before they delivered a hack 10 minute club set at Stamptown. For sure not something you see every day.
My very first Fringe gig, back in 2022, was in the basement of a Mexican takeaway. Halfway through my set, a chef walked in front of me carrying a huge donner meat skewer.
Having two people at my show and getting 50 pounds at the end of doing a whole hour and the opposite of having a full house a few nights earlier and not even getting 15 quid at the end

Dream Cocktail

Guests built their dream cocktail from the base spirit to the garnish, and named it. 16 creations, June 2026.

  • Kickin CocoSweet and tropical · White rum, coconut milk, pickled pineapple, Tajín rim
  • PitzShort and punchy · Tequila reposado, lemon oleo, chamoy, habanero Tajín rim
  • Black GoldShort and punchy · Rye whiskey, beef fat caramel, gochujang, gold leaf
  • Sunshine on DaiquiriSweet and tropical · Aged and overproof rum, mango liqueur, guava, calamansi
  • The CluckadoodledooShort and punchy · Gin and tequila, sweet sherry, smoked chicken skin salt rim
  • Classic EleganceBitter and complex · Tequila blanco, agave, soda, a salty kick, lime
  • The SovietDangerously smooth · Vodka, ginger grapefruit, agave, champagne, chilli
  • The Butcher's OrchardWarm and boozy · Bourbon, Scottish heather honey, Pedro Ximénez, dried pear
  • Good VibzSweet and tropical · Aged rum, agave and spice, soda, cinnamon
  • The Dughe DobreDangerously smooth · Vodka, coffee, cream, cherry liqueur, dried beetroot
  • When Life Hands YouDangerously smooth · Freezer vodka, honey, limonata, smoked salt, chilli
  • Lemon BlancoDangerously smooth · Tequila blanco, agave and spice, soda, miso, lemon salt
  • EldermintLong and refreshing · Madeira rum, mint, lemon, tonic, elderflower and soy
  • PicoritaDangerously smooth · Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Verde, pico de gallo, Tajín and MSG rim
  • Fruity DeliciousSweet and tropical · Vodka, raspberry lemonade, fruit, chilli
  • Lucha LibreLong and refreshing · Smoky mezcal, agave, Mexican lime soda, guava, Tajín rim

Dream Sandwich

Bread, protein, cheese, sauce, veg and one wild card, plus an iced latte to go with it. 20 creations, April and May 2026. Focaccia and brioche were the favourite breads.

  • Mutton JerkFocaccia, jerk mutton, hard cheese, scotch bonnet dressing, plantain chips
  • The Porchetta RiotSoft white roll, porchetta and crackling, mozzarella, garlic mayo, spicy smashed potatoes
  • The Non Flying DuckwhichBrioche, slow-cooked duck, mozzarella, juniper sauce, sticky plum dip
  • Double TroubleBrioche bun, wagyu, American cheddar, chilli sauce, pickled onion
  • Sourdough Lox SupremeSourdough, hot-smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers, green apple
  • Haggis Croquetón Cuban RollMorning roll, plantain omelette, queso frito, guava mojo ketchup, haggis croquetas
  • The Whole HogMorton's roll, sausage, bacon, black pudding, pulled pork, chorizo jam, potato patty
  • The Brekkie K-StackBrioche, square sausage, spicy cheese, fried egg, potato scone, hash brown
  • Seoul SurvivorBrioche, panko chicken, mozzarella and American cheese, gochujang mayo, hot honey
  • Italian(ish)Focaccia, mortadella, stracciatella, hot honey and garlic, crushed crisps
  • The London Road RoastCiabatta, roast beef, provolone, horseradish, parmesan crisps
  • The GauchoSesame sub, roast beef, provolone, chimichurri, crispy onions
  • The Tiger ClubTiger bread, roast chicken and smoked bacon, mayo, chicken skin crumb
  • Eindhoven SpecialCrispy baguette, pulled chicken, gruyère, garlic aioli, homemade sambal
  • The Roast Beef RockerRosemary focaccia, roast beef, Cornish cheddar, smoked horseradish, dill pickle
  • Volcano MeltTiger bread, pulled beef, chilli nacho cheese, jalapeños
  • La Dolce VeganFocaccia, smoked tofu, vegan mozzarella, basil pesto, olives and artichoke
  • La PiadiburgerPiadina, smashed burger, taleggio, nduja mayo, truffle honey
  • Buffalo Chicken PieceToasted tin loaf, buffalo fried chicken, Edam, ranch, salted crisps
  • GordonZolaFocaccia, grilled mortadella, gorgonzola, truffle and olive tapenade, sun-dried tomato

Iced lattes on the side: Almond Afterglow, Iced Salty AF, Latte Aromático, Caramiso Ice Latte, Honeycomb Cloud Latte, Tiramisù Latte, The Coconutter, Sakura Brew, Keek'stachio, London Road Latte.

Want to be part of the next special? Take part.