Have you tasted it yet, that tiny little fragment of freedom we’ve been given? I can’t quite believe how much I have ‘socialised’ this past fortnight. Three times, at least. And it’s given me a taste for a tiny bit more. Last Friday was a friend’s birthday. At lunchtime I popped round on my bike… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Food / Drink
Shortbread. The best Scottish biscuit – and Maclean’s on test.
Homemade Shortbread I could happily survive the rest of my life without ever eating chocolate again, but if you asked me to live without shortbread I’d have to ask you to leave. It’s the perfect Scottish biscuit, and at its best it’s a frugal blend of just fresh butter, sugar and flour, with a pinch… Read more »
We have much to be proud of here – cheers!
I was pulling together a list of cultural events this week in preparation for a slot on a new radio show that is being piloted by the BBC. The first thing that struck me is just how much happens in our sparsely populated corner of the world. Anyone who thinks that ‘culture’ only happens in… Read more »
Creamy Chicken, Pancetta and Mango Salad
I’m struggling to tie this in with Scottish Food and Drink, but how about this for justification… for the first time this year it’s warm enough to eat outside in Highlands, this is my favourite ‘family tea’ to serve outside, and I got the main ingredient (the chicken) from the fabulous Cairngorm Butcher in Grantown… Read more »
Kingsmills Hotel Belgian Food Festival
Think of Belgian food, and what comes to mind…chips with mayonnaise? Waffles? Fine chocolate? Well if that’s scraped the bottom of your Belgian culinary knowledge, it’s time to get yourself educated. Luckily, help is at hand in the form of a very excellent Belgian Food Festival running for ten days from Thursday 23rd April to… Read more »
Spanish Orange and Almond Cake – Gluten Free!
I was delighted to hear that BBC Radio Scotland’s Kitchen Café was having a ‘free from’ special this week (2nd April), and even more delighted to be invited on as a guest. Here’s a link to the programme – it will be online till the end of April… http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05nxj65 Our daughter Rachael was diagnosed with… Read more »
Deerie Me, it’s Good – Great Glen Charcuterie
Wild venison. It’s the monarch of meats; lean, flavoursome and nothing but nutritious. Its appearance on menus heralds the onset of autumn and winter. Time to coorie down, stoke the fire, and enjoy its rich flavours alongside other seasonal ingredients; root vegetables, brambles, roast squashes and pumpkins. But clever charcuterie has elevated this seasonal meat… Read more »
Edinburgh’s best deli – and best Cappuccino.
As a student in the mid-80s I spent four months living in a tiny flat in Edinburgh’s Elm Row. The flat had three things in its favour; It was cheap It had a payphone which accepted incoming calls It was directly opposite the Italian deli Valvona and Crolla. I’m not sure I was aware at… Read more »
Scotland’s Food & Drink Heroes – Cullisse Highland Rapeseed Oil
Cullisse Highland Rapeseed Oil Olive oil. For decades it has been the one ingredient that cooks have said they would least like to be without. An onion sautéing in olive oil has long been the starting point of most of my recipes. But move over, Olive, there’s a new kid in town. And she’s Scottish,… Read more »
2015 – The Year of Scotland’s Food & Drink
2015 is Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink. Hot on the heels of the successes of 2014 – the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the Year of Homecoming – Scotland’s larder will be in the spotlight. From the freshest of fish and cheeses, the finest lamb, beef and venison, tothe best and brightest… Read more »