Tag: food and drink

Football ‘Pieoneer’ kicks off 25th World Pie Championships at Hampden Park

Scotland’s Baker and Butcher ‘Pieoneers’ Tackle Pie-Fuelled Challenge to Mark Silver Anniversary

*** Sandy Young/scottishphotographer.com***

Scotland’s love affair with pies and savouries reached fever pitch last week (Wednesday 29 January) as football legend Kris Boyd kicked off the countdown for the 25th annual World Championship Pie Awards at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park.

Celebrating a quarter of a century of pie-making excellence, Scottish Bakers, the organisers of this iconic competition, staged a friendly showdown with butchers and bakers going head-to-head in the home of Scottish football.

This year’s competition welcomes the launch of Scottish Bakers’ new campaign, ‘Pieoneers’,  celebratingthe passion, skill, and dedication of bakers, butchers, and pie makers across the UK and beyond.   Designed to shine a spotlight on the pie and savoury industry trailblazers, the silver anniversary awards will showcase these pieoneers’ craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to keeping Scotland’s culinary heritage alive.

Under the watchful eye of head judges Gordon Newlands, Brands Development and Scotch Butchers Club Manager, Quality Meat Scotland* and Kyle Rogers, UK Sales Manager of Rainbow Dust*, bakers and butchers faced off in a series of fun, Tough Mudder-inspired challenges, refereed by football star Kris Boyd. The Tough Mudder inspired mini tournament featured:

  • Scotch Pie Hurl: Distance challenge with ultimate bragging rights on the line.
  • Tug o’ Pies: A pie-fuelled tug-of-war showdown.
  • Pie-nalty Shootout: Score as many goals as possible—with pies in play!


Commenting on the 25th anniversary awards launch, Lesley Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers, said: “As we celebrate 25 years of the World Championship Pie Awards, we take pride in reflecting on the incredible talent and innovation within Scotland’s baking and butchery industries.

“This year, the competition see’s the launch of our new Pieoneers campaign which celebrates the camaraderie between our Bakers, Butchers and Piemakers. 

“I call on all Pieoneers to visit scotchpiewards.com to enter, and I am excited to see who this year’s winners will be.  I would also like to thank our strategic partner, BAKO Group for their support, without our sponsors the event would not exist.”

Gordon Newlands, Brand Development and Scotch Butchers Club Manager at Quality Meat Scotland, added: “I am proud to be selected as one of the head judges in the year’s competition. 

“It celebrates the very best in modern butchery and further showcases the passion to a craft that blends traditional skills with innovation and technology.”

Kris Boyd, sports presenter and footballing icon, commented: “This is a big shout to all the bakers, butchers, and pie makers out there to get your entries in for this year’s World Scotch Pie Championship Awards!

“What you do takes dedication, passion, and hard work – it’s not so different from what we aim for on the football pitch.  Just like in football, teamwork, resilience, and striving for excellence are at the heart of what you do. I wish you all the very best of luck in the competition.”

Since its inception in 1999, the World Championship Pie Awards has set the standard for Scotland’s pie industry, with thousands of pies and savouries assessed by expert judges across multiple categories.

Competitors can enter across the following categories with the Scotch Pie award, the ultimate prize for the World Champion title, which is currently held by Blairgowrie-based James Pirie & Sons.

  • Football Pies & Savouries
  • Macaroni Pie
  • Steak Pie
  • Sausage Roll
  • Hot Savoury
  • Vegetarian Savoury
  • Haggis Savoury
  • Bridie
  • Apple Pies

Key Dates for the 2025 Competition:

  • 29 January: Entries open
  • 3 March: Entry deadline
  • 26 March: Product Judging and shortlist at Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline
  • 10 May: Awards Event at Hilton, Glasgow

For more information or to enter, visit https://scotchpieawards.com. 

PICTURES: Sandy Young

Scottish Edge champions Tailored Spirits release first whiskies

Single malt whisky-lovers are raising a glass as there’s an innovative new spirits start-up in town; Leith-based Tailored Spirits Co. have launched their first-ever whisky range under the brand name The Experimental Series.

The whisky bottler’s inaugural release aims to ‘redefine tradition’, with a belief that single cask spirits are not just about heritage, but also ‘curiosity, exploration and innovation’.

The Experimental Series* are one-of-a-kind micro-batch experiments, limited-edition whiskies chosen to push the boundaries of what a single cask whisky can be. The series consists of a Croftengea Loch Lomond 7-year-old costing £59.50 producing only 52 bottles, a Fettercairn 13-year-old release of 84 bottles priced at £74.50, and an Ardmore 8-year-old limited to just 60 bottles priced at £64.50 each – all available on the company’s website:

 https://www.tailoredspirits.co.uk/shop

The meticulous design style is inspired by travel luggage labels, provoking memories of places whisky-lovers have visited, with the bottle shape being a nod to those found in a scientific lab. A removable tab or ‘lab ticket’ containing a four-letter-code in alphabetical order per release, offers a collectors item for spirits enthusiasts to track each experiment.

The company has announced that customers who collect six of the The Experimental Series lab tickets will gain exclusive access to a very special upcoming experimental release.

Tailored Spirits Co. is a groundbreaking new start-up that specialises in privately owned whisky casks. The company has been tipped by business leaders to transform the way owners of single cask whisky understand and realise the value of their rare spirits. After launching in 2024, Tailored Spirits Co. immediately gained recognition and momentum by winning the top spot at the coveted Scottish Edge nation-wide entrepreneurial competition, landing the business with funding of £100k. 

The line-up of Founders are a trio of industry professionals who all bring their own unique expertise to the table; Tom Costello covers all things Brand & Creative, with Carl Johnstone managing Commercial & Operations and Adam Harding leading the Spirits, Sales & Strategy.

The highly-experienced team stand by one clear mantra ‘From the warehouse to your house’ with one very clear vision – ‘to bridge the gap between the commercial scale of whisky and the needs of a single cask owner’. 

Commenting on their first-ever whisky launch, Adam Harding, Co-Founder & Director, said: “We are beyond delighted to release our first-ever whisky range. This release is all about redefining tradition, honouring heritage but championing curiosity, exploration and innovation.

Since launching Tailored Spirits Co. in 2023, we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the whisky industry. It is such a warm & welcoming environment and we are so excited to release our first spirits into the whisky world.” 

Adding his thoughts on the meticulous bottle design, Tom Costello, Co-Founder & Director, said: “We love making whiskies look as attractive and eye-catching as possible.

“The Experimental Series was a dream to design. It showcases the beauty of experimentation, something that’s not bound by tradition, a true exploration of flavour and design. For me the fact they can never be replicated made our first release really special.” 

Carl Johnstone, Co-Founder & Director, gave his vision for the future of the company: “As a business, our story is one of continued growth and development. We have an awareness of a growing demand in a rapidly changing industry.

“This allows us to work closely with private clients all over the world. Our business started with a dram, and that’s exactly where our clients’ dreams and passions begin. Our role is to make the journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible.” 

Tailored Spirits Co. are experts in spirits, specialising in whisky supply, creating exceptional brands and bottlings. An Edinburgh-based, global-serving company who guide clients through the complexities of spirits bottling projects and ensure their dreams are achieved. 

Ronaq serving up tapas treats for lunch

Ronaq, one of Edinburgh’s most popular Indian restaurants, is spicing things up with the launch of a lunchtime tapas menu.

Available from this weekend (Saturday, 1 February), the new menu at the Comely Bank BYOB will feature four sections – starter, mains, accompaniments and afters. 

The usual traditional classics such as pakora, chicken biryani, lamb jalfrazi and vegetable korma will all be featured alongside an array of other mouth-watering meals, while fans of fish curry won’t be disappointed by the Machli Balti, haddock cooked with green peppers, coriander, cumin, cardamoms, pimento and cinnamon.

Diners can choose one dish from each section for £9.95.

There is also a children’s menu offering chicken tikka, chicken curry, chicken korma and fish fingers from £6.95. 

The tapas will be served from 12-2pm Monday-Friday, and from 2pm-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We’re excited to introduce this new lunchtime offering for our customers,” said owner Mohammed Shoaib.

“Tapas are a fun way to enjoy a number of different dishes and there is something for everybody on the menu. It’s an ideal way to taste a variety of the flavours which we are renowned for.

“They can also be served quite quickly, ideal for people who may be on their lunch break from work and a little short of time.”

Eat Out Edinburgh returns this March

Back with a bang, Eat Out Edinburgh returns to the city this March offering a month of incredible deals, discounts and events from the capital’s best bars and restaurants.

Following the hugely successful 2024 campaign, which saw the celebrations last for the whole month, Eat Out Edinburgh 2025 will once again bring family, friends and colleagues together from across the Lothians to support the city centre’s vibrant hospitality scene with over 50 venues expected to get involved this year.

Founded in 2022 by Essential Edinburgh, the city’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID), Eat Out Edinburgh offers diners a chance to sample new cuisines and take advantage of discounts and curated offers, ultimately bringing more footfall to the city centre. 2024’s campaign saw Edinburgh’s hospitality sales boost an incredible 9.2% for the month of March.

Once again, the campaign highlights a host of restaurants, cafés, and bars from Princes Street to George Street, to Charlotte Square and St James Quarter to take part with both established city favourites including Chaophraya, Lady Libertine, BABA, and Bonnie & Wild returning for another year after a successful 2024, and exciting new additions to the campaign like Dishoom, Manahatta, SUSHISAMBA, The Dome and Roxy Lanes among others.

Interested businesses within the BID are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible, whether they participated in 2024 or would like to be a part of the 2025 campaign for the first time.

A full list of participating Edinburgh venues and offers will soon be available to browse on Eat Out Edinburgh’s website, with special tasting menus, events and exclusive offers for city centre workers. 

Diners are encouraged to sign up for regular updates on participating venues and the best deals available at www.eatoutedinburgh.com.

With support from Scotland Food & Drink, this year’s campaign highlights Scotland’s incredible fresh, seasonal produce through the menus and offers created by each restaurant.

Lothian Buses returns as the major transport partner with city centre offers open to Lothian Bus employees, and promotion for the event to be shown on bus screens across the city throughout the campaign.

Emily Campbell Johnston, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications, Essential Edinburgh, said: “2024’s Eat Out Edinburgh event was a huge success, particularly as our first month-long campaign, with a fantastic turn out filling tables throughout the city centre so well, and a staggering 18,700 bookings made throughout the month of March.

“With some of Edinburgh’s most exciting new restaurants opening in the BID, we anticipate an even wider range of venues taking part this year, with menus and offers to suit any occasion – giving locals, city centre workers and visitors from further afield a reason to get out, have fun and support the local hospitality industry.”

For more information, and to keep up to date with the campaign, visit: 

www.eatoutedinburgh.com

Edinburgh shoppers show that healthy eating is more than a New Year’s resolution

Shoppers in Edinburgh are eating healthily to live healthily, according to the latest data from Tesco.

The supermarket giant has revealed the top 20 items bought by customers across the region, with a variety of fruit, veg and milk being the main favourites.

Included in the top 10 items bought by shoppers in Edinburgh are milk, bananas, red peppers and avocados.

Tesco’s figures coincide with its recently published Clubcard Unpacked review, which analyses the shopping habits of its Clubcard users.

It shows the strong preference for fresh, locally sourced items among Edinburgh’s residents.

Oonagh Turnbull, Head of Health and Sustainable Diet Campaigns, said: “The trend in what people in Edinburgh are buying most of at our stores has taken more of a turn towards the healthy option.

“Nutrition has become important for customers, with the majority of them putting an emphasis on good-quality fruit and vegetables.

“A lot of this is down to people having an enthusiasm for home-cooked meals and for experimenting with what they prepare in the kitchen.”

Also included in the top 20 items bought by shoppers in Edinburgh are red grapes, raspberries, blueberries and free range eggs.

Oonagh added: “We’re all aware that eating a healthy diet can help to reduce our risk of developing coronary heart disease and stop us from gaining too much weight.

“That’s why we at Tesco are always keen to promote the understanding that having a balance of different foods to provide all the nutrients your body needs is key when it comes to healthy living.”

The top 20 items bought at Tesco stores in Edinburgh are:

  • Tesco British Semi Skimmed Milk 2.272L, 4 Pints
  • Banana Each (C)
  • Tesco Whole Cucumber Each
  • Tesco British Whole Milk 2.272L, 4 Pints
  • Tesco British Semi Skimmed Milk 1.13L, 2 Pints
  • Tesco Red Peppers Each
  • Tesco Broccoli 375G
  • Tesco Bunched Spring Onions 100G
  • Tesco Large Free Range Eggs 6 Pack
  • Tesco Ready To Eat Large Avocados Each
  • Tesco Medium Free Range Eggs 6 Pack
  • Tesco Ripe Bananas 5 Pack
  • Tesco Red Seedless Grapes 500G
  • Tesco Clementine Or Sweet Easy Peeler Pack 600G
  • Tesco Raspberries 150G
  • Tesco Sweet Vine Ripened Tomatoes 255G
  • Tesco Small Bananas 6 Pack
  • Tesco Lemons Each
  • Tesco Strawberries 400G
  • Tesco Blueberries 150G

Celebrate the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh invites fans to their VIP Big Game Event on Sunday, 9th February 2025, to mark this year’s Super Bowl in style.

Held in the VIP Back Room, the event will feature two Big Game screens, with festivities kicking off at 9:00 PM and running late into the night (alcohol served until 3:00 AM).

Tickets include a carefully curated game-day experience:

  • Four beers
  • One Big Game Eat and one side
  • Half-time Jumbo Soft Pretzel with beer cheese and mustard sauce
  • A Hard Rock Cafe goody bag

The Big Game menu offers classic favourites such as Classic Nachos, Signature Wings, and Loaded Tater Tots, paired with sides like Twister Mac & Cheese and Cheese & Smoked Bacon Fries.

This special event provides the ultimate setting for sports enthusiasts to enjoy the Super Bowl in a vibrant atmosphere with great food, drinks, and entertainment.

Tickets are available to book on Opentable for both general admission and the VIP event.

Famed Old Town Pub turns Five on Burns Weekend

Following five years of nationwide success, The Piper’s Rest in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town is celebrating its fifth birthday on Burns weekend by inviting their loyal fans for a night of live music, and the chance to win Scottish-themed prizes including a VIP day at the Six Nations plus a whole keg of Tennent’s Lager.   

Edinburgh pub-lovers rejoice as The Piper’s Rest celebrate their fifth year in business by hosting a huge party to say thank you to their loyal customers.

Located just off the Royal Mile, the pub opened just before the global pandemic, and has maintained a devoted fan base throughout the last five years by championing traditional Scottish produce and supporting local live music. 

Over the last five years The Piper’s Rest’s welcoming reputation and high-quality service has earned the pub one of the top-rated spots on Trip Advisor’s ‘Best Bars & Pubs in Edinburgh’ and even caught the eye of the Come Dine With Me: The Professionals producers where the pub not only starred but was victorious in Season 2 Episode 20. 

Friday 24th January will be an open-to-all night of traditional Scottish celebration as customers will toast to Burns weekend and raise a glass to an outstanding five years for The Piper’s Rest.

Lucky locals will have the chance to win two platinum Six Nations tickets to see Scotland host Wales at Murrayfield, including breakfast at Piper’s, transport to the game, and then dinner and a party back at Piper’s afterwards.

The night will also see a tasting from Scottish moonshine brand Highland Moon and a prize-draw to win a whole keg of Tennent’s Lager. 

An advocate for Edinburgh’s live music scene, The Piper’s Rest is one of the only pubs in the city to host different local artists 7-nights-a-week. Regular appearances from cult favourites such as Acoustic David and Ted Christopher have made the venue a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. 

Commenting on the fifth birthday, Frazer Henderson, General Manager at The Piper’s Rest, said: “When we opened Piper’s, we had the vision to utilise the best Scottish produce available, the best local live music out there, and serve customers with a smile on our face.

“Five years on, the welcoming, warming nature of the pub is what makes us proud. We can’t thank our loyal locals enough for making The Piper’s Rest what it is. Here’s to the next five years!”  

Merchant Leisure owns bars & restaurants across the city including The Newsroom, Burgers & Beers Grillhouse and The Railbridge. Their speakeasy venue Jackson the Tailor, located at the top of Leith Street and inspired by the speakeasy culture of the early 20th century, was recently shortlisted for a prestigious design award by the British Institute of Interior Design. 

Most recently the bar and restaurant group took over Gordon’s Trattoria after a 43-year ownership as the sixth venue to be listed under the Merchant Leisure umbrella, which plans to continue serving authentic Italian cuisine for now in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. 

The Piper’s Rest is located just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile with a menu consisting entirely of Scottish favourites, using recipes passed down from parents & grandparents, with a modern twist – “Hearty, warming, traditional and comforting.”

Take 5 Tuesdays at PCHP

If you’d like to know more about healthy, sustainable and affordable food that is also DELICIOUS, then this is the group to come along to.

Anyone living in the area is welcome to join Sally on Tuesdays at 10am for this relaxed but fun activity.

We’ll start preparing and cooking from 10am, then at around midday we can either sit and enjoy the food together, or you can pack it up and take it away!

Edinburgh pizza restaurant serves up treat with first lunch menu

Edinburgh pizza restaurant Fired Dough is serving up a delicious new treat for customers with its first lunch menu.

The Lothian Road eatery opened its doors four months ago, promising to bring the ‘rich flavours of Naples’ to the city.

The traditional menu features a variety of classic hand-made woodfired pizzas using Neapolitan-style dough, which has been left to prove for up to 48 hours.

Now customers can enjoy a slice of the action at lunchtime with the new menu launching on Monday (January 20).

As well as the usual variety of antipasti and 10” pizzas, among the highlights of the menu are panuozzo sandwiches. These are pizza breads folded over with fillings such as prosciutto, buratta and rocket; pulled chicken, fior de latte mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes; or roasted vegetables with tomato pesto, rocket salad and fior di latte mozzarella.

Lunches are available in the 40-seater restaurant as well as takeaways from noon-5pm, seven days a week, with two courses costing £11.95 and three courses £13.95.

The new menu has been crafted “with passion and precision using traditional techniques and the finest ingredients”, according to owner and head chef Vinu Murugan, who is hoping to appeal to the busy office scene in that area of the city as well as the passing tourist trade.

“I’m really pleased to be able to expand our culinary offerings to the people of Edinburgh.

“We took our time to design what we think will be a great lunchtime menu and I’m sure our customers are going to love it!”