A seat at the chef’s table at Commons Club Edinburgh

VIRGIN Hotels Edinburgh’s flagship restaurant, Commons Club, is gearing up for a new era with the launch of its new seasonal menu and a range of immersive dining experiences including The Chef’s Table which gives guests a front row seat to experience the creativity behind the craft. Created by chef de cuisine Emma Hanley and…

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Master Chefs of Great Britain raises £30,000

MORE than £30,000 was raised during last week’s Master Chefs of Great Britain Annual Fundraising Lunch at Gleneagles Hotel to support young chefs and apprentices in the hospitality industry. Lots in the auction included: fine dining experiences in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Perthshire; a signed guitar by Sharleen Spiteri from rock band Texas; and a framed…

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Drinks for Mothering Sunday

Drinks blogger James Robertson recommends bottles for Mothering Sunday. SINCE the Middle Ages, a celebration of motherhood has taken place on the fourth Sunday in Lent – hence Mothering Sunday. This is not to be confused with Mother’s Day, which started in the United States in the 1900s on the second Sunday in May. I…

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Glencairn Glass short story competition results revealed

THE Glencairn Glass – the world’s favourite whisky glass, produced by Scottish glassware company Glencairn Crystal – has today revealed the winner and runner-up of its Scottish-themed crime short story competition, in association with Scottish Field. Having supported and celebrated Scottish crime writing talent with its ongoing sponsorship of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland…

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Scots brands at No 10 and parliament

SCOTTISH coffee and beer brands are making waves at the heart of government. Perth-based Mhor Coffee will be served at the next cabinet meeting, while one of Arran Brewery’s beers was recently poured at the Stranger’s Bar in the Palace of Westminster. Tricia Fox, who founded her online coffee retailer with her husband during the…

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Review: The Malt Vault at Karma Lake of Menteith

James Robertson visits the Malt Vault at the Karma Lake of Menteith hotel. AS SPRING emerges on the horizon, many distilleries start to gear up for an increase in whisky tourists. Nestled at the foot of the Trossachs is the Karma Lake of Menteith, a hotel that is now part of a collection of worldwide…

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Review: St Patrick’s Day whiskey

James Robertson reviews St Patrick’s Day whiskey for his drinks blog. THERE was a brief moment on Sunday watching the rugby unfold that I thought maybe, just maybe we – as in Scotland – were going to get our hands on the Triple Crown. But as in years past that moment disappeared as the men…

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Jump Ship steams ahead with alcohol-free brewery plan

JUMP SHIP has smashed through its fundraising target ahead of its crowdfunding scheme closing tomorrow. The beer brand now plans to build an alcohol-free brewery at Rosemain Steadings, near Pathhead in Midlothian. By this morning, the company had raised £330,000 from 272 investors. Sonja Mitchell, who founded the business in 2019, said: “Within two days…

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REVIEW: The Holey Roast

Megan Amato fills her hole with “The Holey Roast”. THE Broughton and Bross bagels are two of Edinburgh’s culinary treasures – one of which is a regular in the Michelin guide and the other so popular that new locations are popping up faster than dandelions. Together, they have created “The Holey Roast”: Bross’s signature “everything”…

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Company Bakery wins Scottish Bread Championships

THE Scottish Bread Championships crowned a New York rye sourdough made by Company Bakery in Edinburgh as “supreme champion”. A beremeal boule made by Anne Keenan – better known as “The Culinary Kiwi Bird” – from Insch in Aberdeenshire was selected as the “reserve champion”. The contest received a record number of entries, with three…

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