Food and drink news round-up

Chefs, sherry, and fizz are among the flavours in Peter Ranscombe‘s latest food and drink news round-up.

CHEF Michele Di Bonito from Sicilian restaurant Battimandorlo will visit Glasgow on 16 November to cook a six-course tasting menu at Eusebi Deli.

Owner Giovanna Eusebi said: “We are so proud to welcome Michele into our kitchen all the way from Sicily.

“It will be a fabulous evening of food – an opportunity to really show off how we can use Italian ingredients to create elevated, contemporary dishes.”

The event is part of “World Week of Italian Cuisine” – or “Settimana Della Cucina Nel Mondo” to its friends – which runs on 14-20 November.

Also cooking in Scotland this month is Steven Doherty, former head chef at the three Michelin-starred Le Gavroche restaurant in London.

Doherty will be reunited with Derek Johnstone on Wednesday when he cooks in 18 at Rusacks St Andrews.

Johnstone, who won television’s MasterChef: The Professionals competition, worked with Doherty under the late Albert Roux at Le Gavroche.

“I’m really looking forward to reuniting with Steven in the kitchen and honouring our mentor, the late Albert Roux,” said Johnstone.

Staying with TV chefs and Jimmy Lee is opening his third permanent Salt & Chilli Oriental restaurant.

Lee has picked Glasgow’s Southside for his latest endeavour, which follows on from sites Glasgow’s West End and Edinburgh’s St James Quarter, and a pop-up in Hamilton.

Salt & Chilli Oriental Southside is due to open in the former McFly’s Chicken on Kilmarnock Road on Sunday 13 November.

“Shawlands was recently named as one the coolest neighbourhoods in the world and I’m delighted that we’re able to expand our portfolio to Glasgow’ Southside,” said Lee.

Fizz Feast, Scotland’s only sparking wine festival, returns to The Edinburgh Academy on Saturday 19 November.

Around 100 fizzy wines from 18 producers will be on show at the event, including Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Italian Franciacorta, Crémant, South Africa’s Cap Classique, and more.

“After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we can’t wait to open the doors, pop a few corks, share some wonderful sparkling wines, and see people enjoy themselves again,” said Diana Thompson, the festival’s organiser and founder of Wine Events Scotland.

“One of the reasons for starting Fizz Feast was that I felt there were lots of opportunities for people to try new still wines, but it was much more difficult for people to try different sparkling wines.”

From sparklers to sherry, and sherry expert Isobel Salamon is hosting a supper and masterclass at Lind & Lime’s gin distillery in Leith on 13 November as part of International Sherry Week.

“Sherry is such a special drink; salty, sappy, and amazing with food,” said Salamon, who runs wine consultancy firm Slonk. “I can’t wait to show Edinburgh how versatile it is and have them experience its gastronomic potential for themselves.”

As well as the chance to try five sherries, Galician-born chef Pablo Sensat of Mandas Huevos fame will be serving tapas made from Scottish ingredients.

“We are a business based in Midlothian and we cook Spanish tortillas and tapas with a Scottish twist,” explained Sensat. “We work directly with the local farmers, all our main ingredients come from the fields around our kitchen.”

Read more news and reviews on Scottish Field’s food and drink pages, in association with Cask & Still magazine.

Plus, don’t miss Masterchef finalist Sarah Rankin’s recipes in the November issue of Scottish Field magazine.