It's mince and chapatis as chefs spice up St Andrew's Day

Nicola Sturgeon gets stuck into one of the 'fusion' dishes cooked up by Indian chefs.


Picture: Jane Barlow. Article: The Scotsman Newspaper.

HAGGIS pakora may be the most famous example of Scottish- Indian cuisine, but it is not the only one.

Yesterday, chefs created such delicacies as scallops cooked in a tandoor oven, naan bread stuffed with smoked haddock and curried mince and tatties.

The "fusion food" was cooked up to celebrate St Andrew's Day tomorrow, and to highlight the benefits - in terms of the arts, business, religious tolerance and diversification - brought by the estimated 55,000 people of Indian origin living in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, joined members of the community to launch a St Andrew's Day food festival at the restaurants Suruchi and Suruchi Too in Edinburgh. (part of the Eatcotland scheme).

As the MSP for Glasgow Govan, home to the largest Asian community in the country, Ms Sturgeon is a big fan of authentic Indian food. She said the mixture of Scottish and Indian ingredients was an example of how the two countries could share knowledge, adding: "I have never met more patriotic Scots than in that [Asian] community because they have chosen to make Scotland their home, so they take a pride in it that perhaps those of us born here do not have."

She went on: "We celebrate St Andrew's Day this year at a time of growing confidence, there is a feel-good feeling, something exciting in the air. I think one of the things that has contributed over the years to Scottish confidence and feeling more comfortable in our own skin is the wonderful multiculturalism we have been privileged to enjoy here in Scotland. Our cultures are becoming more integrated and both are being enhanced.

"Nowhere is this more evident than the fusion of Scottish ingredients with Indian recipes and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate St Andrew's Day."

Herman Rodrigues, Suruchi's owner, said Indian food was no longer just "post-lager entertainment", as diners become more discerning and demand authentic dishes. He said: "Our master chefs experimented with vegetarian haggis, venison, turnips, parsnips, Arbroath smokies and salmon. The only thing the chefs did not improve on was deep-fried Mars bar."

Berries for all seasons

I would like to think of myself as a regular at Craigie’s Farm Deli, a stone’s throw from Barnton off the A90. A farm that has been in the Sinclair family for generations and has now prospered into a great foody location offering customers some relaxation, great views across the Forth and a range of tasty meals on the menu, fresh baking, range of local and Scottish foods and a select range of cheeses.

Each time I visit the farm I learn something new or see a new product. In fact – I now know what a “wummle” is - a very tasty cheese from Kincardineshire which goes down very well with the Hebridean Oatcakes they stock. The café overlooks rows of raspberry canes and in the summer you can see excited children off to pick berries with their families or play in the little garden in full of view of their parents. Some days are muddier than others however.

The Craigie Farm staff clearly enjoy their work and I like the way they offer up descriptions of food or offer a taste of some cheese or chutney. Maybe it is the extra boost from the berries, but there is a real energy about the place that draws me back time and again.

Craigie Farm is as good as its word on the website http://www.craigies.co.uk/
when it comes to the seasons and this is reflected in all they do there. This autumn there were a great list of berries; jams and chutneys and seasonal vegetables enough to entice any visitor.You just need to check the blackboard at the door to see what is fresh fruit and veg are available.

It is a short drive from Ecclesmachan towards Cramond Brig and the views across the Firth of Forth are worth seeing. Most days it is picture perfect and you can see right across to Inchkeith Island. John Sinclair the owner and farmer was happy to chat as I asked about his venture – I had already visited when it was a much smaller operation working out of one the out building.
West Craigie was originally a dairy farm, selling milk direct to customers in Edinburgh. As the dairy industry became less profitable, they diversified into fruit farming.

The Sinclairs started growing fruit in the mid 80’s, encouraged and helped by a friend from Alyth. A small farm shop sold fruit, potatoes, jams and not much more. In the early 90’s, they converted a barn for more space to sell their own vegetables and ever-increasing range of their own jams. The shop was only open six months of the year. These days, they are open all year round and produce their own fruit for nearly half the year.

This Christmas we will be eating a range of food from Craigie Farm including Wummle and oatcakes.

Directions

Coming from Edinburgh
Turn left at the first main flyover junction on the A90 (Forth Bridge road) just a couple of miles from the Barnton lights.This is signposted Kirkliston and 2nd Division Army HQ. Carry on westwards for about 1 mile and the farm road is on your right.

Coming from the Forth Bridge
This same junction is the 3rd flyover junction from the Bridge (counting the one just at the Bridge).Go off the dual carriageway at the Kirkliston and 2nd Division Army HQ sign, then turn right to cross over the dual carriageway.Carry on westwards for about 1 mile and the farm road is on your right.


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Scottish Food in Season

Scotland has an enviable reputation for producing some of the finest food in the world. Langoustines from the West Coast of Scotland are eaten at tables all over Europe; Scottish Aberdeen Angus has long been the byword for quality beef; Scottish soft raspberries and tayberries are considered the finest available and so the list goes on!

In addition to our seasonal larder, we have some of the finest suppliers and food producers in the land. Just think of Loch Fyne oysters, Fletchers of Auchtermuchty, the wonder that is the Arbroath Smokie!

With all of this in mind, VisitScotland and EatScotland have launched our latest tool: http://www.scottishfoodinseason.com/ A guide to the wonderful ingredients available and the food heroes that farm, produce and supply them…all in season.

The site also includes recipes from EatScotland businesses. Visitors to the site can also upload their own favourite recipes. There is also information on food festivals and events throughout Scotland.

So, have a browse through our world renowned produce, meet Scotland's food heroes and, most of all, experience the taste of Scotland first hand!

http://www.scottishfoodinseason.com/

P.S – Feedback is most welcome about our new seasonality tool. Let us know what you think and tell your friends!

Help us create The Scottish Café Trail

VisitScotland are creating – with your help – The Scottish Café Trail.

To have your say on Scotland’s best café experiences, simply tell us where in Scotland you have enjoyed a great café experience, along with the story of what made it so memorable.

Did you find a gem of a teashop after a walk through beautiful scenery? Or did you enjoy the best cake ever when you hit dry land after a day’s dolphin and whale watching? Share your memories and the best overall description in the eye of the judges will win a luxury break for two to The Pierhouse Hotel in Argyll, Scotland.

To enter visit www.visitscotland.com/cafetrail . Competition closes 30th September 2007, for full terms and conditions see website.

Dine Around Glasgow 2007

Eat for only £15 in over 50 top restaurants in Glasgow during August!

As part of Gourmet Glasgow 2007, VisitScotland, in partnership with Glasgow Restaurateurs' Association, is pleased to introduce Dine Around Glasgow 07.

Sponsored by Auchentoshan Distillery, Glasgow's Malt Whisky Distillery, Dinearound runs from the 1st to the 31st August inclusive, The 50 participating restaurants are offering special dining deals, the majority priced at £15 per person. When booked online the offer will also include a complimentary dram of Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The packages will vary in each restaurant but represents excellent value.

This is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself, family and friends and have a superb value meal in some of Glasgow's finest restaurants!

Visit the DineAround Section on EatScotland.com

Let us know what you think of Dine Around Glasgow. Post your comments, suggestions feedback and tips here!

Room with a view - Aberdour

VisitScotland's Fiona Stewart visits Room with a view in Aberdour.

Saturday mornings are always slow in our house, after a busy week of work and commuting, so the thought of heading into the city once again for a fine lunch or bar meal requires a bit of effort. We are urbanites during the week - country-dwellers at the weekend. Our nearest village Ecclesmachan has no pub or restaurant so we have to look ever so slightly further afield.

Over the years we have eaten many great pub meals in the Four Mary’s in Linlithgow and our favourite local restaurants are Marynka’s also on Linlithgow High Street and Bruntonside, Torphichen. South Queensferry, too, has a wealth of restaurants and bistros to choose from along the main thoroughfare but we are always looking for something new but not too far away as there is always shopping and gardening to be done.

On a friendly foody recommendation, we added “Room with a View” in Aberdour for our next free weekend without friends and family - so this weekend it was time to explore. It is a surprisingly quick journey from West Lothian to Fife to the Forth View Hotel – about 25 minutes –with a view of the bridge from a different perspective. In fact – a view of the bridge from a “Room with a View” at Hawkcraig Point.

We had a quick pit stop on Aberdour high street and had a quick look at the gift shops and gallery but next time will also visit Aberdour Castle and St Fillans Church.

Room with A View is not far from the high street but definitely follow the instructions from the web-site and don’t be thrown off guard if the car park attendant walks towards you – the road splits just as you enter the car park. He is obviously used to it and very kindly pointed us in the right direction of the hotel and said it was further on. So continue on until the road narrows and twists a bit then you have a choice of parking up and walking down the steep lane to the hotel or driving to the front door of the hotel right at the water’s edge.

Off-shore there is a dramatic mix of islands – Inchcolm and Inchkeith with the presence of Arthur’s Seat in the middle distance. Just outside the front door of the hotel is the old wooden pier, at least in part, once a drop off point for visitors from the Edinburgh Steamer. It is a reminder of elegant times gone by and in the nearby seafood restaurant that elegant feeling has definitely been recaptured.

The seafood restaurant Room with a View – namesake of the Merchant Ivory classic - is one year old and is run with the magical touch of Hannah Norman and Tim Robson, known for his freshly cooked fish and seafood. Her family home for many, many years, she welcomes all her guests at the front door as though they were an old family friend. After kicking off our walking boots, we settled at our table with views of the sea and setting vanity apart I popped my specs on to boat watch before we started our meal.

I love my food but sometimes struggle over the menu when it is complicated or has lots of rich sauces. The menu was fantastic and was frustrating for my partner as he waited for me to make up my mind.

Arran Cheddar & Sun-dried tomato parcels with a Basil dip went down easily followed by seared Tuna Steak with a Maple Syrup and Sweet Chilli Drizzle (I asked for my tuna to be cooked through - no problem at all was the reply) and pan-fried Halibut with whole grain mustard & brandy sauce. Not all for me of course – and to finish off we tried to share the chocolate fudge pudding with vanilla ice-cream but it was too good to share. Hannah had kindly pre-empted the request for more cutlery – I did allow a couple of morsels off my plate but next time I am having the entire portion for myself.

One of the things I liked most was the slate table settings and the little touches of tiny ceramic pots for dips. The busy atmosphere was easy going with lots of chattering from nearby tables clearly at ease with themselves.

As we left the restaurant we took some photos of the coastline and made our way round to Silver Sands beach and sat on an old log and digested our meal. This restaurant is a real treat and easy to reach from West Lothian and Edinburgh. Word of mouth is the best endorsement and we will definitely be spreading the word about Room With A View and encourage people to make a day of it in Aberdour.

http://www.roomwithaviewrestaurant.co.uk/
Tel: 01383 860 402

Opening hours: Lunches: Weds – Sunday 12 – 2.30pm
Dinner: Weds – Saturday
Closed: Monday and Tuesday
Menus reflect weekly fish market

Fiona Stewart 15 July 07

50 places to eat in the great outdoors

The Times newspaper recently produced a list of 50 places to eat in the great outdoors throughout the UK. The Scottish element of this list is replicated below. There are some great recommendations here, go ahead and spoil yourselves!

46. The Seafood Restaurant at St Monans and St Andrews - These modern restaurants have about 30 seats outside each. The St Monans terrace overlooks the Firth of Forth, while the St Andrews branch is a spectacular glass cube overlooking the bay. 16 West End, St Monans, Fife (01333 730327). The Scores, St Andrews, Fife (01324 479475)

47. Royal Botanic Garden Café - Good, fresh food — cakes, salads, stews, pies, and the Spanish chef's special tortillas — is served at this family-friendly café in the lovely Botanic Gardens a mile to the north of Edinburgh city centre. Entrances on Inverleith Row and Arboretum Place, Edinburgh (0131 5527171; www.rbge.org.uk)

48. The Seafood Cabin - For 20 years this shack has sold simple seafood near the sandy beach on Skipness Castle Estate. With a beautiful view of Arran, you eat crab rolls on wheaten bread, home-made cakes or a £15 seafood platter (langoustines, scallops, crab, four kinds of salmon). The cabin is part of a seafood trail around this part of the west coast of Scotland. Skipness Estate, Tarbert, Argyll (01880 760207; www.theseafoodtrail.com)

49. Anstruther Fish Bar - Organic farmed cod, monkfish, lemon sole, dressed crab and lobster are among the unusual options at this award-winning quayside fish-and-chips shop, declared the Best in Scotland in the latest Seafish Industry Authority awards. Everything is fresh and cooked from scratch. 43-44 Shore Street, Anstruther, Fife (01333 310518; www.anstrutherfishbar.co.uk)

50. Fisherman's Pier Fish and Chip Van -This fish and chip van on the pier at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull is famous for its scallops and chips, as well as haddock and cod. Everything is cooked to order and people sit by the Victorian clock tower and creels and look out at the sea as they eat. Fisherman's Pier, Tobermory, Isle of Mull (www.silverswift.co.uk)

Readers choice: The Ship Inn, The Toft, Elie, Fife (01333 330246; www.ship-elie.com) Outdoor beachside beer garden with large round tables which encourage gregariousness among locals and visitors. Watch the pub's beach cricket team on Sundays from April to September. Enjoy a hearty lunch, seafood barbecue, or just a drink with friends. Anne Brobbel

A full list of UK recommendations can be found here: http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/best_of_britain/article1866613.ece

If anyone has any recommendations of their own, please post them here!

Champion beer of Scotland

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has announced that Orkney-based Highland Brewery's Dark Munro has been voted Champion Beer of Scotland at the Scottish Traditional Beer Festival held in The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh.

The final results were:
1st Dark Munro: Highland Brewery, Birsay, Orkney
2nd Maverick : Fyne Brewery, Cairndow, Argyll
3rd Piper's Gold: Fyne Brewery, Cairndow, Argyll

Highland Brewery was founded in January 2006 by Rob Hill, a brewer with 25 years' experience in the brewing sector. He said: “I am absolutely over the moon. Dark Munro has been selling extremely well as it is a very drinkable ale with loads of malt and a wonderful balance of flavour at around 4% abv.”

CAMRA's Regional Director for Scotland, Ken Davie, congratulated the winner, saying: “The judges agreed all the eight beers in the final were in very good condition and well presented and the score was extremely close. “But Dark Munro was the deserving winner and the years of experience Rob Hill has in brewing shone through in this fantastic, traditional style Scottish dark ale.”

Talking of dark ale, I have to say that Orkney does Scotland proud. Dark Island is a favourite real ale of mine. Perhaps not a summery ale but it definately adds some warmth to the soul in the Winter!

Any suggestions for favourite ales and Scottish pubs from our readers?

UKTV Local Food Hero 2007

For the second year - Gary Rhodes and UKTV Food have launched a nationwide search to discover Britain’s ultimate food champion. Now’s your chance to get involved – there’s £40,000 for the ultimate food champion.

These awards celebrate home-grown local success stories. From farm shops to tea rooms, to bakers and butchers Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes 2007 asks food lovers to vote for, and reward, their food heroes’ passion for putting quality food on our plates.

To nominate, vote and review your favourite food business simply log onto http://www.uktvfood.co.uk/. Voting ends on 20 August when the final shortlist is announced. Find out more about how to vote and also the exciting wildcard category – it’s all on the website.

Quote from Gary...
"UKTV Food's Local Food Hero 2007 is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the very best of food and produce across Britain. The awards are a tribute to everyone who puts great British produce onto plates, into shops and markets, and on pub and restaurant tables."

What makes a UKTV Food hero?

Passion

We’re looking to support small-scale businesses that exhibit pride and passion for their craft and don’t compromise on quality.

Quality
Great taste scores - as does sound business practice. For example, the coffee shop owner who roasts and grinds beans on-site, the deli manager who sources outstanding olive oil direct from the grove; and the butcher who sells meat from locally reared animals.

Environmentally sound
From ethically sourced ingredients to animal welfare - we’d expect our food heroes to be aware of seasonality, sustainable food issues, and to respect the land and people who farm it.

Contributing to local communities
Whether celebrating local food traditions, making superb sandwiches for office workers or helping farmers at home stay afloat – we’re looking for heroes who give something to the community they live in and work with.

It’s easy to vote for your local food hero. For more information simply click on to www.uktvfood.co.uk.

Why not let EatScotland visitors know about your local food hero, post your comments here!

EatScotland Dining Out - A Restaurant Mini Journal

Have you ever eaten out and wished you could remember all the details?

Well now you can!

EatScotland has created its own Dining Out Journal.

It's a great gift idea for anyone who loves to eat out.

Keep a record of your dining out experiences so you can return to restaurants where you had a great meal with excellent service and, occassionally, avoid the ones where you didn't.

Remember the details of your first visit and use the information to make the next visit even better.

Available to purchase now from the EatScotland office - £6.00 per journal

If you wish to purchase please call +44 (0) 131 335 6608 with your credit/debit card details. Alternatively, send an email with your details to eatscotland@sfqc.co.uk plus details of a postal address.

A 10% discount is available on purchases of 10 journals or over in any one transaction.

Dimensions : 3" x 5" inchesPage Count : 120

Hi and Welcome

Hi and welcome,

Firstly congratulations goes out to all our Gold, Silver & Individual award winners who have worked so hard to receive one of our first round of EatScotland awards> These awards are not given out easily, so well done.

Apologies if I did not speak to you personally on the day.

For those of you who did not receive these awards time round please keep working hard and your hard work will be rewarded. We all need to keep raising the standards.

Looking forward, we have in Edinburgh the Taste of Event which will show case Scotland’s pride in its food and drink. Featuring Edinburgh’s finest, Martin Wishart & Tom Kitchin will both be there plus other top chefs and food producers. It’s an event not to be missed so get your tickets now.

See you there!

Kevin

Dine Around Aberdeen - Fixed price dining for £15!

Are you going to be in Aberdeenshire during the month of June?

If so, you should be aware of VisitScotland's Dine Around festival, taking place at various restaurants from 2nd June to the 1st July. Dine Around offers £15 fixed price meals at some fantastic restaurants. It's a great excuse to sample the great restaurant scene in Aberdeen city and shire...as if you needed an excuse!

For more information, check out EatScotland.com's dedicated Dinearound section: Dine Around Aberdeen.

We will, for the first time, be running a dine around blog. Please drop us a line and let us know about the best venues.

M.

The List Awards

I had the pleasure of attending The List Food and Drink awards last night, a pleasurable experience where wine and good conversation flowed. Now in its 14th edition, The List eating and drinking guide has become a popular guide for eating out in the Central Belt of Scotland.

Over 800 restaurants, cafes and bars are represented by The List and it is really pleasing to see the diversity and quality in Glasgow and Edinburgh's dining scene.

And so to the awards!

Edinburgh's restaurant of the year was named as The Kitchin. Well, who would be surprised at that? Carefully sourced, seasonal Scottish ingredients find their way onto a very pleasurable menu. Tom Kitchin managed to bag himself a Michelin star in double quick time and his restaurant and staff are a credit to him.

Glasgow's restaurant of the year is Bistro at One Devonshire Gardens. Again, wonderful ingredients, inventive dishes, attentive staff and Paul Tamburrini.

The Edinburgh newcomer of the year is Abstract. You might recognide the name, Loic Lefebvre, who appeared alongisde Gordon Ramsey in his 'kitchen nightmares' series. Well, word is that only sweet dreams will come from visiting Abstract on Castle Terrace. A wonderful addition to the fine dining club in Edinburgh.

Glasgow newcomer of the year is The Left Bank. In the words of The List, 'On Gibson Street, Hillhead, it is one of the most talked about newcomers in some time. There's often a heady buzz but it doesn't distract from a globally-influenced menu in a foodie neighbourhood that now offers no shortage of worthy places to go.'

Edinburgh budget restaurant of the year is First Coast, a great local bistro on Dalry road with great prices to match.

And Glasgow's buget restaurant of the year is 'the perennially popular Cretan taverna': Konaki, with a wide selection of Mediterranean Greek cuisine which is maredly affordable.

Thanks to everyone at The List.

Higher Awards...and welcome!

Welcome to my first ever EatScotland blog...or, in fact, my first blog ever!

I am pleased that EatScotland has recently launched its higher awards, which are to be known as the Silver and Gold Awards. These additional awards were created to recognise eateries that were achieving superior results or going that extra mile.

An official launch will be going ahead on the 14th May 2007 which all current Silver Award winners will be invited to attend. At the event Gold award winners will be announced as well as announcing individual awards.

We at EatScotland, feel that the Silver & Gold Awards marks a real step forward for the Scottish food and drink industry as a whole. The scheme will reward our most innovative and quality driven establishments with the recognition they deserve, be they a local tea room or your bistro down the road. We really feel that these awards will, in time, provide an incentive across the industry to strive to improve standards.

The guide lines for silver are discretionary but are largely guided by the grades received within the EatScotland report. However, the full guidelines are available on www.sfqc.co.uk/food if you wish to view at your leisure.

Kevin MacGillivray leaves "heat" of the kitchen for SFQC

Award winning chef Kevin Macgillivray has left the “heat” of the kitchen at Ballathie House Hotel, Perthshire and accepted a role with SFQC (Scottish Food Quality Certification), to become EatScotland Director today (Wednesday 13 September 2006) - in a move that is seen as a real step change in the development of EatScotland.

As a hugely respected professional with over 25 years of experience garnered from the British Transport Hotel, Gleddoch House and Ballathie House Hotel, Kevin throughout his career, has endeavoured to put Scotland on the map as a first class culinary destination. He has worked with the Scottish Culinary Team and its participation at competitions worldwide, demonstrated his culinary skills in the Vanderbuilt Hall in New York during Tartan Week and won several awards including Scottish Chef of the Year, the Flavour of Scotland Awards and the Macallan Taste of Scotland Country House Hotel of the Year Award to name just a few.

As a new director of EatScotland, the quality assurance “where to eat” scheme owned by VisitScotland and run by SFQC, Kevin will “develop and progress the EatScotland scheme on a truly national level”. Fiercely passionate about Scottish cuisine and produce Kevin’s impetus in accepting the role was to “to do something to improve people’s perceptions at home and abroad of the quality of Scottish food and eating establishments”

Since its launch last year SFQC and the EatScotland scheme has now over 400 participants within the scheme with the aim to secure another 1,000 members to provide consumers with “a real guide of where to eat.”

The EatScotland scheme run by the SFQC is to help Scots and visitors easily find places to eat in Scotland and to continue to raise standards. Managing director Peter Brown commented: “It’s through the process of competent, professional certification, essentially helping consumers know more about the food they ea,t and in doing so, helping the food industry illustrate the depth of skill, care and enthusiasm that goes into producing food.”

Initially Kevin will be managing the SFQC team of assessors who carry out reviews of participating businesses evaluating characteristics such as quality, service, ambiance and of course hygiene. Long term there are plans for the scheme to launch an awards scheme, a training scheme and an advice package in order to help businesses grow and develop.
SFQC directors Margaret Seaton, David Whiteford and Peter Brown are hugely enthusiastic about the arrival of such a key, credible individual joining the team to help pioneer the scheme through a time of development and innovation.

Kevin who will work closely with SFQC Managing Director, Peter Brown commented “We’ve had a great response to EatScotland in the first year and the next couple of years promises to be a hugely exciting time of us at SFQC in developing the scheme to raise standards through Scotland on a national scale as well as providing businesses with the opportunity to gain first class advice and direction from someone as highly respected and passionate about Scottish produce and cuisine as Kevin.”