Foraging Fortnight begins on Saturday

SCOTLAND’S Foraging Fortnight begins on Saturday, with events taking place throughout the country. Talks, workshops, and walks have been organised as part of the Orkney International Science Festival, which also begins on Saturday. The Scottish Wild Food Festival is also taking place at Tir na nOg, near Drymen, on 17 and 18 September. The Foraging…

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WHISKY NEWS ROUND-UP: Finn Thomson, Ardbeg, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted look through the latest whisky news. THE Thomson family is marking its 300-year connection with the whisky industry by launching one of Scotland’s rarest private cask collections. Finn Thomson Whisky has signed up a slate of independent bottle shops to sell the whiskies in the UK, along with distributors in…

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Restaurant news round-up: Ralph & Finns, Gleneagles, and more

Peter Ranscombe serves up another slice of recent restaurant news. CHEF Kevin O’Neill has taken over at modern bar and brasserie Ralph & Finns in Glasgow. His autumn menu features Shetland hake from fishmonger Bernand Corrigan and Isle of Barra scallops, crustaceans, and oysters delivered by Andy Bell’s Fish People. Specialist butcher C & C…

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Baern and Aeble team up for cider dinner

BAKERY Baern and cider shop Aeble have teamed up to run a dinner at Bowhouse in the East Neuk of Fife. Founded by Hazel Powell and Giacomo Pearce, Baern uses a wood-fired oven for its sourdough, and sources ingredients from fellow businesses at the Bowhouse farmers’ market, including flour from Scotland The Bread, meats from…

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Isle of Skye Candle Company buys Aros Centre

THE Isle of Skye Candle Company is getting ready to reopen more of the Aros Centre in Portree after buying the site. The firm is turning the centre into a factory and visitors’ centre. The candle maker said that the project would revitalise the centre’s community facilities, which include a cinema and theatre, café, restaurant,…

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Restoring Cairngorms forests – one burger at a time

VENISON from red deer shot in the Cairngorms is being sold to fund tree planting. Deer are culled in the Cairngorms National Park to stop them from eating the growing tips off tree saplings. The venison has gone on sale in the shop at the RSPB’s Loch Garten nature reserve. Previously, Lynbreck Croft – which…

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Jam today as Fingal picks Perthshire Preserves

FINGAL, the luxury floating hotel in Leith, is getting ready for “National Afternoon Tea Week” after picking Perthshire Preserves to supply a special jam. Iain Mackenzie and Kate Thornhill will provide a new strawberry jam for the promotion – which runs on 8-15 August – and hope to become a permanent feature on the ship’s…

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Red Onion wins Come Dine With Me: The Professionals

JOHN and Rosie Quigley’s Red Onion restaurant won last night’s Glasgow round of Channel 4 series Come Dine With Me: The Professionals. The father and daught team beat fellow city centre eateries Calabash and Saffron to win a trophy and £1,000. Red Onion served seared Barra scallops for its starter, followed by Gressingham duck breast…

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Whisky round-up: Glen Ord, Cail Bruich, Scottish Open, and more

Peter Ranscombe takes a light-hearted romp through the latest whisky news. GLEN Ord distillery at Muir of Ord near Dingwall is today reopening its visitors’ centre for its Singleton brand. Chef Tony Singh was on hand earlier this week to launch the centre, which is part of owner Diageo’s wider £185 million investment in its…

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Peter Crawford: From Champagne to cider

Having made his name in Champagne, Peter Crawford is now pumping some of his abundant energy into cider, writes Peter Ranscombe. FEW Champagne enthusiasts can match Peter Crawford’s energy. The Palmerston restaurant and shop in Edinburgh is buzzing with lunchtime chatter when we meet, but it’s still his laughter and baritone that fill the wood-panelled…

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