Grape&Grain
Bross x Pilot x JFC: Beer and bagel matching
Mama Bross tells Peter Ranscombe to fill his hole as they pair bagels with beers. FOR some, she’s a social media star whose irreverent videos brightened up lockdown. For others, she’s a visionary who’s bringing together like-minded businesses in Edinburgh. For me, she’s the maker of some damn tasty bagels. Larah Bross launched Bross Bagels…
Read MoreDolomites: Where co-ops are thriving
The Dolomites stand guard over a land of small farms that are proving the co-operative model is alive and well, says Peter Ranscombe. “THESE wines are all about mountains,” explained Diana Thompson as she introduced bottles from Mezzacorona during one of her recent Wine Events Scotland online tastings. That mountain influence shone through in the…
Read MoreWine to Dine – July 2021 – Salt Café
Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe picks five bottles to rub shoulder to shoulder with the recipes from Salt Café. SUPPORTING local businesses is more important than ever as Scotland emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why it was heartwarming to see the recipes from Salt Café in Edinburgh’s Morningside starring in the food feature…
Read MoreLe Miccine: Showing Chianti’s cooler side
Le Miccine winemaker Paula Papini Cook is celebrating her Scottish roots in Tuscany, writes Peter Ranscombe. FOR Scots living abroad, there’s always once thing they miss more than anything else. For some, it’s Irn Bru; for others, it’s haggis. For Paula Papini Cook, the winemaker at Le Miccine in Tuscany, it’s tattie scones. While she…
Read MoreTesco: Seven of the best summer wines
The summer Tesco press tasting gave Peter Ranscombe the chance to select his seasonal recommendations. AFTER press tastings with Aldi and Marks & Spencer, Tesco was the next supermarket chain to unveil its spring and summer selection. I came away feeling more positive about Tesco than I have done for a while. The focus on…
Read MoreEast Coast: Where land meets sea and wine
Peter Ranscombe visits East Coast in Musselburgh to put the restaurant’s wine list through its paces. EVERYONE has their favourite chippies. One of mine used to be The Coral Reef in Musselburgh. My guilty pleasure was its southern fried chicken goujons. Carlo Crolla took over the chip shop in 2002 from his parents, who had…
Read MoreBelvedere vodka: going organic with infusions
Peter Ranscombe tries Belvedere vodka’s new organic infusions range, which kicks off the brand’s full organic conversion. BELVEDERE today unveiled plans to make all its vodkas using organic rye by 2030, starting with its new organic infusions range. The Polish rye vodka’s brand ambassador, Mike Foster, told an online tasting this morning that all the…
Read MoreCold Town glory: Reconnecting beer to pubs
Peter Ranscombe visits Edinburgh’s Cold Town brewery to hear how head brewer Ed Evans takes inspiration from pubgoers. WHAT inspires brewers? For some, it’s the hops, and the arrival of more and more varieties from around the world. For others, it’s the malt, and the challenge of balancing the depth with the freshness. For Ed…
Read MoreAldi: Toasting reliable fizzy favourites
Peter Ranscombe salutes Aldi for the consistency of its sparkling wines. SUPERMARKET shopping is – let’s face it – boring. Don your face covering and trudge down the same aisles, week after week, month after month. Pick up the same milk, the same bread, the same giant bag of crisps that you promise yourself will…
Read MoreMarks & Spencer: If you like that, try this…
After the excitement of an in-person wine tasting subsided, Peter Ranscombe found interesting Marks & Spencer alternatives. A PRESS tasting. An actual, real life press tasting. With wines and people and everything. Novelty aside, yesterday’s press preview of spring wines from Marks & Spencer was a great chance to catch-up with the ongoing refresh of…
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