Posts by Kenny Smith
Fantastic options for all from right, centre and Leftfield
Leftfield Size doesn’t matter, as the old saying goes. That’s definitely the case with the bijou LeftField in Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield. The establishment may be small, but it’s big on taste and outstanding flavours, with first-class service. My starter of charred tenderstem broccoli, avocado and ryebread was a delight for the palate, as was my dining…
Read MoreWaterside views and a fantastic menu make it the Toast of Edinburgh
Toast Toast offers waterside views, a large range of wines, sharing platters and six constantly updated seasonal dishes. We loved the beetroot, hummus and feta, mushrooms and polenta, slow roast pork belly, calamari, and chorizo and Iberian black pudding stew. Sommelier Seli suggested The Tea Leaf, a fresh, fruity South African Chenin Blanc, which went…
Read MoreFood indulgence is at the heart of the Bistro Deluxe menu
Bistro Deluxe by Paul Tamburrini Attached to the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, but with its own, rather grand entrance, Bistro Deluxe is the first solo project by Paul Tamburrini. Don’t be surprised if you recognise the name, Tamburrini has an impressive 30 year pedigree, working with Marco Pierre White in London before moving on to some…
Read MoreHow I entered the Dragon’s Den – and lived to tell the tale
Most start-ups dream of big investments for their business but very few get the chance to pitch to entrepreneurs as high profile as Peter Jones, Jenny Campbell and Deborah Meaden. I was not only lucky enough to get the chance to pitch to the Dragons, but I was also in the unusual position of being…
Read MoreDon’t listen to the whisky snobs – just go and enjoy a dram
Some people are just way too obsessed about ‘natural’ whisky. Don’t get me wrong its great to taste whisky in its natural form but some people are just way too concerned about this and are just way too precious about it all. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people (read snobs)…
Read MoreNew Make from the Clydeside Distillery is a sweet treat
With all the new distilleries opening and starting to produce what they all hope will be Single Malt Scotch Whisky in a few years time one key thing is that they get their New Make Spirit right. It sounds easy but the water has to be clean and fresh, the barley needs to be of…
Read MoreJura gets ready to launch five new whiskies from April onwards
Jura is a long way from ordinary, both in terms of its location and its famous whisky. Hours away from the Scottish mainland, miles away from ‘ordinary’; Jura might not be the easiest place to make whisky, but they believe it’s the best. One road, one pub and one distillery – and home to a…
Read MoreMake it a personalised gift from the Clydeside Distillery
A new Glasgow whisky distillery has introduced a new feature for visitors to its Clydeside location. The Clydeside Distillery has introduced a ‘label your own’ bottle service. This unique personalised bottle will give visitors the chance to take away a unique and lasting reminder of their whisky experience, and could make the perfect gift for…
Read MoreBenRiach releases single malt in its most non-diluted form
A Scotch whisky in its purest form has been released. Whisky explorers searching for a glimpse into the spirit of BenRiach distillery have the chance to experiment with this emerging Speyside single malt in its most non-diluted form, with the release of BenRiach Cask Strength – Batch 2. Following on from the successful release of Cask…
Read MoreTen NTS properties you must visit this year
Now is the perfect time to see more of Scotland. If history is your thing, then chances are you’ll be interested in the National Trust for Scotland. Set up in 1931 for the ‘preservation and conservation of natural and human heritage that is significant to Scotland and the world’, the National Trust for Scotland is…
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