Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Forbes gives Balmoral five-star rating
THE Balmoral has become the first hotel in Scotland to receive a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. It’s the first time that the Edinburgh hotel has made it onto the list, which was released early to encourage bookings for next year. Richard Cooke, general manager at The Balmoral, said: “Forbes Travel Guide is undoubtedly…
Read MoreHighland Game sells ‘restaurant quality’ venison fillet in Tesco
MEAT supplier Highland Game is marking today’s “Eat Venison Day” with a new deal to supply wild venison fillets to supermarket chain Tesco. Venison sales are estimated to be worth £14.4 million a year in the UK, according to data from market analysis firm Kantar. Research by Kantar and 56 Degrees Insight found that half…
Read MoreWhat does a covid compliant wine list look like?
As hospitality venues continue to reopen, Peter Ranscombe visits Hotel du Vin in St Andrews to run the rule over its pared-back wine list. I’LL always have a soft spot for St Andrews – it’s where I studied physics, where I met some special people, and where I developed an obsession with Janetta’s ice cream.…
Read MoreREVIEW: Putting on a fine sprEHd
Peter Ranscombe tucks into a grazing box full of Scottish ingredients from delivery service sprEHd. WHEN you’re eating out, it’s the little things that matter – the butter being soft enough to spread, the lighting being bright enough to see your plate, the napkin being rough enough to stay put instead of sliding out of…
Read MoreMaking organic wine in style
NEVER judge a book by its cover – nor a wine by its label. Fortunately, the liquid inside brothers Paride and Jacapo d’Angelo’s bottles lives up to the promise of its packaging. The siblings have been making wine in Italy’s Abruzzo region for the past seven years, having learned about wine at the feet of…
Read MoreSatellite tags reveal tiny Shetland birds’ journeys
BRITAIN’S smallest seabird spends more time around the coast of Shetland than was previously known, according to new research. Satellite tags were attached to storm petrels on the island of Mousa to study their flights between 2014 and 2017. Each bird weighs between 25 and 30 grams – the equivalent of three pound coins. They…
Read MoreGetting Hitched Asian Style returns
GET set for more colour and vibrancy as Getting Hitched Asian Style returns to the BBC Scotland channel tonight for a second series. The BBC describes the first series as one of its “surprise hits” as viewers followed the adventures of wedding planners at Saffron Events. The new series, which was filmed last year, was…
Read MoreWe all scream for ice cream…
TWO Scottish ice cream companies are bringng a sweet splash of sunshine to the autumn. Mackie’s is going to give one fan a lifetime’s supply of ice cream, while Spar is stocking a further nine flavours made by Equi’s. The winner of Mackie’s “Simple Pleasures” draw will be named on Monday. They will get two-litre…
Read MoreBloody Scotland names McIlvanney Prize finalists
FOUR writers have been shortlisted for The McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be announced on 18 September as part of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. This year’s finalists are Andrew James Greig for Whirligig, Francine Toon for Pine, Doug Johnstone for A Dark Matter, and “Ambrose Parry” – husband-and-wife team Chris Brookmyre and…
Read MoreA first look at Spar’s latest wines
Continuing his covid convenience retailer romp, Peter Ranscombe runs the rule over Spar’s latest bottles. AS WE explored earlier during lockdown, staying local to do the weekly food shop is nothing new for many of us in Scotland. In most rural areas, our choice of grocery store won’t be the “big four” supermarket chains or…
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