In A Nutshell, Neil Paterson: ‘I ate fermented shark meat in Iceland once – I can’t possibly comprehend how anyone could enjoy it’

Born in the Scottish Highlands, Neil Paterson’s career in hospitality began by accident as he took a second job as a kitchen porter while working as a snowboard instructor in the Alps. After opening a restaurant in Berlin he moved back to Scotland and in 2024 co-founded Arete, a culinary service specialising in bespoke dining…

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Aberdeen Cocktail Week: The cocktails we loved from the event

As Aberdeen Cocktail Week’s first appearance for 2025 draws to a close, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the delicious and innovative cocktails that we tried during the event. We couldn’t try them all, but of those that we did here are six venues and their stand out concoctions……

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In a Nutshell, Craig Nelson from Ox and Finch: ‘I love to listen to classical music in the car, but I don’t enjoy music in the kitchen’

Originally from East Kilbride, Craig Nelson began his culinary journey at Lanarkshire Catering School. In October 2020, he moved to London and worked at the renowned Harwood Arms, London’s only Michelin-starred pub. Having started his career at Ox and Finch in Glasgow he decided to return to their kitchen as Head Chef as they re-opened.…

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Ardbeg Smokiverse explores a new high gravity dimension

Islay-based Ardbeg Distillery has unveiled Ardbeg Smokiverse – its new limited-edition release to mark Ardbeg Day 2025, which takes place on Saturday 31st May as the finale to Feis Ile (Islay’s globally-renowned ten-day Festival of Music and Malt). Ardbeg Smokiverse experimental malt has been crafted using high gravity mashing. Utilising a series of unconventional distilling techniques,…

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Review: W Lounge, Edinburgh

I’ve had a few pleasant restaurant reviewing surprises recently, but few more than the new, surprisingly affordable W Lounge. So here’s my verdict:   What is it: With its 360 degree panoramic views over the whole city from its city centre site, the five-star W Edinburgh hotel, recently named Scottish Hotel of the Year 2025,…

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Review: Fallachan Kitchen, Glasgow

My meal at Fallachan Kitchen was without a doubt, one of the most surreal and memorable meals of the many hundreds of reviews I’ve done over the past 25 years. The food was also borderline incredible, and we’ll come onto that in due course, but if I’m honest it wasn’t the epic menu that will…

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Glen Scotia reveals oldest ever whisky – a 50-year-old that’s the first edition in its new Elements series

Glen Scotia has unveiled a 50-year-old as the first edition in its new Elements of Campbeltown collection. The Elements of Campbeltown Collection takes inspiration from the Celtic five-fold knot, which symbolises the harmony of air, water, fire, and earth. The elements bind together to create the fifth circle in the centre representing the spirit. Drawing…

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Producer’s Corner: Karen Robinson, Three Robins

When one of Karen Robinson’s three sons became lactose intolerant she quickly turned to oat milk.  But as he began to look for dairy free alternatives, Karen was alarmed by how many plant-based products were high in sugar and failed to take children’s nutritional needs into account.  So, determined mum Karen decided to make her…

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