Reviews
A comprehensive account of Scotland’s art
Have you ever wondered about the backstory of James Guthrie’s ‘To Pastures New’ painting? Or indeed the tale of Henry Raeburn? Here to fill the art history void in our lives is Lachlan Goudie with this wonderful snapshot of Scottish art through the centuries – a comprehensive account of the nation’s creative history that caters…
Read MoreAnother success from Alexander McCall Smith
It is a rarity to find each book in a long series as enjoyable as the last, and yet McCall Smith’s 21st instalment of his much adored No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has captured the imagination once more. Grabbing the attention from the get-go in a stifling Gaborone setting, McCall Smith’s intelligent yarn is woven with…
Read MoreOpening our eyes to the wonders of the past
To see the world through the eyes of acclaimed archaeologist and television presenter Neil Oliver, if only for a day, would be a true gift – and this tome is about as close as it gets. It pays testament to Oliver’s enthusiasm for the history woven into every square inch of Scotland’s romantic landscapes, and…
Read MoreReview: When venison meets beef
What happens if you combine venison with beef? Peter Ranscombe finds out – courtesy of Mac & Wild’s ‘venimoo’ kit. I’VE always had a soft spot for Mac & Wild. Scots Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon opened their first restaurant in London in 2015, adding a second site the following year. I’ve interviewed Waugh for…
Read MoreREVIEW: Damiani grazing boxes
Peter Ranscombe takes delivery of some tasty Italian treats. ONE of the few bright spots amid the coronavirus restrictions has been the explosion in the number of grazing boxes being ferried around the country. As businesses switch from welcoming guests into their premises to delivering treats to their homes, there seems to be no limit…
Read MoreReview: ‘Sittingsuits you, sir!’
Elis Elliot climbs inside a Sittingsuit to put the ‘sleeping bag you can wear’ through its paces. TIME spent in the great outdoors has always been instrumental in improving our physical and mental health, but that’s never been more important than it is right now. As the seasons change and we are forced to socialise…
Read MoreReview: Robertsons Gin
John Boyle shares his first impressions of Robertsons Gin. EWAN McIlwrath of Robertsons of Pitlochry has judged my Scottish Field magazine gin and whisky blind tasting challenges for many years so, when he told me he had a gin coming out, I was very keen to give it a try. I gave Ewan a call,…
Read MoreA crime thriller on a Scottish island
We didn’t have to wait long for the next instalment of Inspector Angus Blue’s whodunnits, and it doesn’t disappoint. Called to Jura after an attempted assassination on a Cabinet Minister, the inspector finds himself in a series of fantastically eerie landscapes and is forced to overcome several unexpected hurdles. As with The Pead Dead, the…
Read MoreReview: L’Escargot Bleu takeaway
Richard Bath tucks into a takeaway from L’Escargot Bleu in Edinburgh. THE reimposition of lockdown in all but name – certainly when it comes to restaurants in the central belt – has led to a whole slew of restaurants quickly starting up their mothballed home delivery service. For those of us who come home from…
Read MoreReview: Barolo, Glasgow
Elis Elliot visits a Glasgow institution that’s reopened recently following a refit. IT’S still a novelty, eating out, meeting friends and travelling. So it’s safe to say that I was a little bit excited by the prospect of taking a bus and a train to Glasgow to meet an old friend and enjoy cocktails and…
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