Tag: food and drink

Enjoy a more sustainable Scottish Christmas from Craigies Farm

Experience a festive feast like no other this year from family-run Craigies Farm in South Queensferry. Fourth generation farmer and owner John Sinclair promises a selection of high-quality, locally grown produce alongside largely Scottish-sourced food and drink items for a greener Christmas celebration this year. 

Craigies is committed to reducing food miles by growing their own produce or sourcing from local suppliers as much as possible. The Sinclair family raises their own pork and lamb on the farm, guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and provenance. Highland beef comes from the neighbouring Dalmeny Estate, just a stone’s throw away. To guarantee freshness, all meat is prepared by Craigies highly-skilled on-site artisan butchers. 

Customers can shop an array of delicious vegetables including potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and carrots – all cultivated on Craigies Farm. Buy them loose or oven-ready as Christmas sides with options like traditional roast potatoes and maple-roasted root vegetables. You’ll find homegrown ingredients in the popular Craigies range of homemade condiments, including windfall apple chutney, red onion marmalade and festive spiced cranberry sauce. 

Satisfying sweet tooths, Craigies have a mouthwatering selection of home-baked goods with traditional Christmas cake, indulgent chocolate yule log, and mince pies all on offer. 

Craigies Farm Shop proudly stocks a range of products from local Scottish producers such as Ramsay of Carluke bacon, Mellis artisan cheeses, and Cairn O’Mohr craft wine. 

For the main event, this year Craigies has opted to stock free-range, organically reared turkeys from fellow family-run farm, Northumberland Poultry.

Striving to locate the best in poultry as close to Scotland as possible has not been easy due to widespread shortages, but Craigies are confident their turkeys from the North East are the very best in quality and taste. 

Lastly, in addition to its wide range of delectable food and drink, Craigies Little Farmers on-site toyshop stocks a menagerie of wonderful toys and unique gifts like high-quality Bruder farm toys, Orange Tree wooden toys, and adorable Keel cuddly toys. 

Key deadlines:  

Christmas orders can be made up until Sunday 10th December for delivery up till 24th December, or customers can book for click & collect for a convenient festive shopping experience. 

John Sinclair, owner of Craigies Farm, commented: “At Craigies our focus is always on quality. We want to give our customers the very best produce for a memorable Christmas. We raise our own meat and grow our own veg where possible, and only choose suppliers that are as committed to quality as we are.  

“We’re thrilled to be offering our own pork and lamb as well as beef from our neighbours. With a focus on quality and provenance, we’re confident that a Craigies Christmas offers the very best for festive feasting this year!” 

SOS: New campaign launched to save Scottish Hospitality

‘This is an SOS – we need help to make sure Scottish hospitality can survive’

  • The Scottish Hospitality Group has launched a new campaign, warning the Scottish Government that there is just five weeks to save the Scottish hospitality industry.
     
  • The campaign calls for the Scottish Government to use the Scottish Budget to provide emergency support for the hospitality industry and a new long-term deal to support the sector to thrive.
     
  • The Scottish hospitality sector has been struggling to recover from the double economic punch of COVID-19 and rising energy prices and inflation, and the campaign warns that many local venues could be lost without new support. 

The Scottish Hospitality Group has launched a new campaign to Save Our Scottish Hospitality. Launching the campaign, the Scottish Hospitality Group warns the Scottish Government that there is just five weeks to save the Scottish hospitality industry from disaster. 

The Scottish hospitality sector faces a crisis, with many businesses struggling to recover from the double economic punch of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of rising inflation and energy prices.   

This double economic punch has disproportionately hit the hospitality sector – more than any other sector of the Scottish economy. Since March 2020, over 15,000 hospitality businesses venues have shut across the UK[1].

According to the Scottish Government’s own survey[2], three in five (60%) hospitality businesses have seen production, suppliers or both affected by higher energy prices and almost half have been forced to pass these higher costs on to consumers. 

The SOS: Save Our Scottish Hospitality campaign calls on the Scottish Government to use the Scottish Budget in December to provide emergency support for the hospitality industry to survive, and a new long-term deal to support the sector to thrive.

The campaign calls for: 

  • an emergency 75% business rates relief to match the support that hospitality businesses in England & Wales have received over the last year; 
  • creation of a new hospitality category for business rates, which would recognise the unique challenges faced by hospitality and ensure that rates don’t cripple hospitality businesses; 
  • a new partnership between the hospitality industry and government to develop a plan to grow Scotland’s much-loved hospitality industry and address the challenges it faces. 

Stephen Montgomery, Director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: “The hospitality industry – our pubs, bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels – makes a vital contribution to Scotland’s economy and they are embedded in the heart of our communities. 

“But the hospitality industry faces a crisis and we can’t go on like this. Without government support,  there will be higher prices for consumers, a loss of jobs, and many of our best-loved hospitality businesses closing their doors forever.” 

“We need to back our hospitality industry to survive and thrive. A new, fairer deal on business rates would be one step the Government can take in the Budget to give our hospitality industry a fighting chance.

“A freeze in rates or the status quo won’t be enough. We need both emergency support and long-term reform. This is an SOS – we need help to make sure Scottish hospitality can survive”.

As part of the campaign, members of the public and politicians are asked to show their support for Scottish hospitality.

The Scottish Hospitality Group represents many of Scotland’s best-loved, family and independently-owned hospitality businesses – from bars, pubs, and cafes to restaurants and hotels.

The Group was recently relaunched with an expanded membership, in every area of Scotland and collectively employing more than 6,000 people.  

The Botanist Hosts Festive Workshops Throughout November and December

The festive season is just around the corner, which means it’s officially time to get excited for Christmas!

To help create lasting memories throughout the season, award-winning bar & restaurant The Botanist is hosting a series of creative workshops and competitive events throughout November and December. 

From wreath-making and bauble-painting to Christmas quizzes and a festive twist on its signature musical Botanist Bingo, the botany-inspired venue has created cosy events perfect for catching up with friends or winding-down with colleagues after a busy year, all whilst enjoying the Botanist’s feel-good food and expertly crafted drinks.  

Wreath Making 

What better way to cosy up and get into the festive spirit than by crafting your own botanical Christmas wreath with natural seasonal foliage? 

In partnership with a local Florist, guests will get everything they need to create a perfect handmade decoration, ready to hang in the home throughout the festive season. Alongside the workshop, the ticket includes a selection of bar nibbles and either a glass of wine or a bottle of Peroni Red. 

For available dates and times and to book your spot, visit: The Botanist Wreath Making 

Baubles and Brunch 

Want to give your Christmas decorations a personal touch this year? Book a table with friends for The Botanist’s Baubles and Brunch and enjoy a choice of brunch dish whilst you get creative painting your own festive design on a Christmas bauble, ready to hang on your tree throughout the festive season or gift to a friend.  

Tickets are priced at £20 per person and include a dish from The Botanist’s brunch menu, a bauble and painting equipment. For available dates and times and to book your spot, visit: The Botanist Baubles & Brunch  

Christmas Quiz 

‘Tis the season for getting together with loved ones for festive cheer (and friendly competition!) 

Enjoy an evening of seasonal trivia at The Botanist’s Christmas quiz nights throughout the season. Entry is FREE and the bar & restaurant’s host will be giving away tasty prizes, so this is not one to miss.  

For event dates and to book, visit: The Botanist Christmas Quiz 

Christmas Botanist Bingo 

On Wednesday 6th December, The Botanist’s monthly musical Botanist Bingo has a festive takeover. Know your Wham from your Mariah? Be quick with your bingo dabber as the bar’s resident musicians belt out Christmas classics live, corresponding to the artists on the card in front of you.  

Entry is FREE and there are prizes to be won for the first to get one line, two lines or a full house. Visit https://thebotanist.uk.com/botanist-bingo to secure your spot.  

The bar & restaurant is also set to launch a limited-edition cocktail menu for Christmas with details of the seasonal drinks coming soon. 

Flight Club to give away £500 Bar Tab

Flight Club, the award winning bar and Social Darts venue, is opening its doors at its new Edinburgh location on 17th November. To celebrate, the Flight Club team will be giving away hundreds of prizes, as they join the buzzing Edinburgh scene and add to the ever-growing Flight Club family.

On the 14th and 15th November, the Flight Club team can be found at St James Quarter offering passers-by the chance to win over 350 incredible prizes, including an epic £500 bar tab.

Flight Club will be taking to the bustling St James Quarter in the heart of Edinburgh, from 11am-3pm, equipped with a Spin the Wheel game and hundreds of exciting prizes including a £500 bar tab, brunch tickets for 4 people, tickets to the official launch party, oche hire vouchers and pizza and prosecco. 

Flight Club, renowned for revolutionising the game of darts for the 21st Century, is an award-winning bar and competitive socialising concept. The launch of Flight Club Edinburgh marks the 15th UK opening for Flight Club and the second in Scotland.

The new location promises to deliver a social experience like no other, brimming over with unexpected, ridiculous, joy. Flight Club combines the nostalgia and warmth of a pub with the energy and excitement of a fairground in its atmosphere and decor.

To book your spot, visit HERE. Reservations are now open.

Morrisons cuts the price of festive favourites

– Prices will be locked at new price until 31st December –

– Morrisons is investing over £4 million in these new price reductions –

Morrisons is cutting the price of 58 popular festive items and is committing to keeping the prices low until the end of the year.  The cuts are being made well in advance of December 25th so that customers can stock up and spread the cost of their Christmas grocery shopping.

Key festive items such as stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce and tin foil have been cut in Morrisons latest wave of price activity – its tenth of the year.  

Morrisons is investing over £4 million to cut the price of the products by an average of almost 20 per cent from current prices. The items have all been chosen because they were particularly popular at Christmas last year – with an average uplift in sales of over 90 per cent throughout the festive period.  

The total price of all 58 items in Morrisons festive basket is nearly two pounds cheaper than the same basket of items would have cost in Christmas 2022, despite the significant inflation over the last year.

The cuts cover Christmas dinner must-haves and trimmings as well as drinks and nibbles including Bucks Fizz, tonic and peanuts.  Festive hosts can also stock up on kitchen essentials such as kitchen foil and napkins while key ingredients needed to create seasonal bakes have also been cut such as mincemeat, sultanas and pastry – as well as cream. 

These lower festive prices introduced in Morrisons supermarkets and online this week are on top of  further 62 price cuts made last week on items such as chicken wings & drumsticks, frozen chips, bread and smoked fish.  Those prices will be held for at least eight weeks and form part of the commitment Morrisons has upheld since January to always have over 1,000 prices lowered and locked each week. 

Rachel Eyre, Morrisons Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, said: “We know that Christmas is an expensive time of year and that our customers are having to make tough choices about what to put in their baskets. 

“We are working hard to help them when it comes to their festive grocery shopping and want to protect them from rising costs so despite the significant inflation we have seen over the last twelve months, our basket of 58 festive items is cheaper than it was in 2022.” 

KEY DEALS ON CHRISTMAS FAVOURITESWASNOW
Morrisons Cocktail Prawns 300g£4.30£3.59
Morrisons Raspberry Sherry Trifle 900g£4.00£2.99
Winter Warmer Mulled Wine 75cl£3.00£2.50
Morrisons Cranberry Sauce 200g£1.09£0.59
Morrisons Mincemeat 822g£2.79£2.15
Morrisons Dry Roasted Peanuts 450g£2.50£1.59
Morrisons Yorkshire Wensleydale with Cranberries 200g£2.19£1.99
Morrisons Kitchen Foil 300 mm wide 10 Metres£1.80£1.45
Morrisons Sage & Onion Stuffing 170g£0.75£0.49
Morrisons Potatoes 1kg£1.25£0.95
Harveys Bristol Cream 1l£12.00£10.00
Morrisons Bucks Fizz £3.00£2.50

Feliz Navi-Dog: Morrisons unveils biggest supermarket festive pet range

– Morrisons has the largest supermarket Christmas pet range this year –

– The dog and cat range will include almost 30 products, from advent calendars to Christmas dinners and festive jumpers –

– 10% of sales of the Morrisons Rudi Reindeer Iced Dog Cookies go to charity partner Together for Short Lives –

– The range is available in-store and online now nationwide –

With more than half (57%) of British households owning a furry friend, animal companions are an integral part of Christmas festivities for much of the nation. Morrisons is making sure Christmas 2023 is the ulti-mutt celebration for pets as it unveils its biggest festive pet range to date.

Comprising nearly 30 products, pet owners will be able to pick up advent calendars, Christmas dinners, jumpers and more so furry friends don’t miss out on the festive fun. With prices starting from just £1.49, there’s a pocket-friendly treat for every pet owner to pick up.

For those looking to share the Christmas countdown with their pets, shoppers can grab the Morrisons Pawsome Meaty Christmas Dog Treat Advent Calendar and Morrisons Purrfect  Meaty Christmas Cat Treat Advent Calendar, both £3.99, filled with tasty treats for pets to enjoy each day.

Customers can also kit their pets out in the finest festive wear with the Gifts for Pets Dog Festive Jumper (£4.99) and Gifts For Pets Reindeer Headband for Dogs & Cats (£2.99).

For a delicious Christmas Eve treat, pups can chow down on Morrisons Rudi Reindeer Iced Dog Cookies (£3.99), adorably shaped like festive reindeer. 10% of sales from the Rudi range go to charity partner Together for Short Lives, giving shoppers even more reason to pick up the tasty treats.

Pets don’t need to miss out on the big day itself either, as the range boasts all of the ingredients needed for a paw-sitively delicious pooch Christmas dinner. Customers can choose from Morrisons Turkey and Bacon Hot Dogs for Dogs (£1.99), Morrisons Sausages in either Christmas Dinner or Pork & Apple Stuffing Flavour for Dogs (£1.99), Morrison Pigs in Blankets for Dogs (£2.99), and of course Morrisons Mince Pies for Dogs (£2.99) to top it all off.

The range also includes plenty of treats purr-fect for stocking fillers, such as the Morrisons Merry Poochmas Rawhide alternative Chew sticks (£1.99), available in the shape of Christmas trees, or Gingerbread people. Cats can tuck into the Morrisons Tasty Tuna Meowy Christmas Cat Sticks or Morrisons Delicious Duck Christmas Quackers Cat Treats, just £1.49 each, and there are pet safe crackers for both cats and dogs (£2.49).

Andy Whiteman, Product Developer at Morrisons, said: “Santa Paws is truly coming to Morrisons this year as we introduce our biggest and best Christmas pet range.

“We know pets are an important part of so many families, so now shoppers can pick up everything they need to share the celebrations with their cuddly companions, without breaking the bank.”

For more information on the wider Morrisons Christmas range, visit: 

https://groceries.morrisons.com/browse/christmas-189206

Dare to spin the Spice Wheel?

MORRISONS LAUNCHES WICKEDLY HOT WING ROULETTE FOR HALLOWEEN

Morrisons is turning up the heat this Halloween with the release of their sizzling sensation – the limited-edition, Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette – perfect for anyone looking to spice up their Halloween party. 

Inviting all spice lovers who dare to spin the wheel of flavour, each pack of Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette contains 10 chicken wings, split between two flavour coatings – but which is which?!

First up is ‘Hot as Hell’, with a 4-chilli rating – these wings aren’t for the faint-hearted and are eye-wateringly hot according to the Scoville Heat Scale which measures the pungency of peppers and chillies. Next is described as ‘Hot and Spicy’, with a tingling 3-chilli rating that provides a perfect blend of heat and flavour.

Nicole Olive, Buyer of Poultry & Turkey at Morrisons, said: “We know our customers love our extra spicy creations and the new Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette will not disappoint – they pack a punch!

“Perfect for Halloween parties, these chicken wings are a great way to bring together friends for a bit of fiery fun!” 

The Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette costs £4.45 and is available in Morrisons stores and online now. 

Toast the 10th edition of Sherry Week

6th – 12th November: Discover Sherries with food across the UK

Across the UK, sherry lovers are ready to toast Sherry Week 2023, happening from 6th to 12th November.

This year is the tenth anniversary of the largest annual festival of Sherry Wines in the world, which sees a week-long series of events planned nationwide. 

Tastings and pairing dinners in bars, restaurants and wine shops are being hosted for food and wine fans looking to discover the full range of Sherries and find out what makes them a perfect match for big food flavours.

All Sherry Week UK 2023 events are on the dedicated website where fans of Sherry can find out more and book tickets to wine tastings, food pairings and cultural events, plus plenty more besides. 

Sherry-lovers looking to sip their way around Edinburgh can follow specially designed routes – or ‘Sherry Rutas’ – that take in a number of bars, restaurants and wine stores across the capital.

 The Sherry Week website lists events and venues, helping locals in Edinburgh to choose and book as applicable, and then simply glide from one Sherry pairing menu or tasting, on to the next, experiencing the scope of versatile Sherry wines and matched gastronomy.

A few Edinburgh highlights of this double-digit birthday – expected to be the biggest, most exciting and best tasting Sherry Week yet – include:

·        Sherry Week In-store Sampling at Woodwinters– withthree different Sherries open to taste all week, along with a selection of cheese and olives to pair;

·        Store Tastings at Great Grog Wine– complimentary and with small tapas pairings;

·        A 4-Course Sherry Dinner at McLarens On The Corner – a guided discovery of why Sherry is a favourite wine for food pairings;

·        A Sherry Pairing Experience at Fin & Grape – a very special pairing flight paired with delicious sharing plates;

·        A Tapas Sherry Experience at Indaba Café Bar – with five incredible tapas plates and five delightful Sherries.

First launched in 2014 as a word-of-mouth series of events over the course of one week, Sherry Week has grown exponentially. 

The past nine years have seen half a million wine-lovers participating in more than 18,000 events in 40 countries and 4 continents* – all with the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla D.O.’s official stamp of approval.

Sherry Week’s total tally of impressions on Twitter is an astonishing 157 million, with almost 74,000 social media posts with the hashtag #sherryweek, and over 240,000 likes on Instagram**.

More exciting events and activities are being announced from now right up to Sherry Week.

Visit www.sherry.wine/sherryweek to find out about and book onto Sherry Week events and create your own Edinburgh Sherry Ruta.

*Source: sherry.wine website

** Sources: BrandMentions, Tweetbinder, Twitter, Google Analytics

Opportunity to comment on proposals for £10m. countryside leisure park

The public are to be given the chance to view and comment on exciting proposals for a new £10 million countryside leisure park at the former Couston Quarry site in West Lothian. 

Being undertaken by SRD Rural Ltd, Couston Country and Water Park includes plans for water-based activities, adventure playgrounds, restaurant and café facilities, and an outdoor event space for historical enactments and nature displays.   

Luxury short stay eco-lodges and houseboats, in addition to those already on site, are also part of the plans to revitalise the location. 

The public consultation event will be held in the Bridgehouse Village Hall on Tuesday 24 October between 4.00pm and 7:30pm  

Couston Country and Water Park will create an attractive and compelling destination within the Central Belt for locals and visitors from across the country.  

With an absence of similar attractions in the area, the development will also bring a significant boost to tourism in West Lothian, and it is anticipated that the £10 million investment will create around 65 jobs onsite (based on a conservative estimate), with an additional number created offsite. 

SRD Ltd is committed to being a responsible developer and to engaging with the local community at every stage of the development.  

Those with questions, comments, or feedback on the proposals are warmly invited to attend the consultation event, which will be attended by representatives from the project who will be happy to provide answers. There will also be the opportunity to leave feedback.  

All material from the event, including the consultation boards, will be available at www.coustonpark.co.uk 

A spokesperson for SRD Rural said: “We are very excited to bring forward our exciting proposals for Couston Country and Water Park, which amounts to a £10 million investment in West Lothian, creating around 65 onsite jobs and with a countless number created offsite. 

“Couston Country and Water Park will be a highly attractive destination for families and others looking to enjoy the great outdoors and enjoy Scotland’s history in an exciting and creative way.  

“Even though our proposals are at a very early stage, early and sustained engagement and consultation is very important to us at SRD Rural, and public consultation events such as this are a key part of this commitment.”  

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School launches festive courses

Festive Foodies at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School  

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School (ENTCS) has launched its always popular 2023 Christmas courses and gift vouchers – ideal presents and experiences for foodies. 

This year’s December courses include inspiration for entertaining with the Christmas Canapes demonstration with a glass of fizz; Christmas Baking, which includes homemade mincemeat and a Christmas Cake;  a new Gluten Free Christmas Baking Day and the ever-popular children’s baking morning and afternoons.    

For those keen to build more cooking into their Christmas repertoire and learn some new dishes, there are also opportunities to learn easy entertaining from the experts with the Christmas Entertaining demonstration and lunch, which is always a good way to catch up with friends ahead of the season.  

Fiona Burrell, principal of ENTCS, comments: “The smells of Christmas baking are always wonderful and it’s a good time to find some inspiration, learn new skills or just enjoy meeting up with friends.  A Christmas course is a great way to entertain the kids or just learn from our friendly, expert teachers.” 

ENTCS also offers vouchers which are the ideal foodie Christmas present. Whether it’s to learn a new skill, help a friend to fall back in love with cooking, or encourage teenagers to learn their way around the kitchen, a voucher just lets them choose.  ENTCS offers courses at all levels from beginner to professional and the vouchers are redeemable in 2024. The school is also expert in providing corporate away days and teambuilding events, so is a good option for a Christmas party with a difference, or to entertain clients.  

ENTCS is a professional cookery school based in Edinburgh’s New Town.  The school was founded by Fiona Burrell, formerly Principal of Leith’s School of Food and Wine. She began her career in Edinburgh and has been teaching professional cookery courses for over thirty years.  

Her enormous experience, has given Fiona a very clear vision of what the students need to learn and the best way to teach it. With courses on offer from one day tasters for amateurs, to six month professional courses, many graduates have gone on to work in some the UK’s top kitchens.  For more details: www.entcs.co.uk   

 

Festive courses this December include: 

Christmas Baking Day 

Saturday 2nd December 2023; 9.45am – 3.30pm 

Spend a day at The Edinburgh New Town Cookery School baking lots of treats for Christmas. On this one day Christmas Baking Day we will show you how easy and quick it is to make your own mincemeat and pastry so that you will never use shop bought again, we will be making a Christmas cake with a difference – it contains chocolate as well as fruit – and we will make stollen, a European favourite Christmas cake/bread. 
Cost £185 

Christmas Canapés Demonstration 

Wednesday 6th December 2023;  10.30am – 12.30pm

A morning’s treat, starting with coffee and shortbread and ending with a glass of fizz, the Christmas Canape demonstration at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is an entertaining morning. The demonstration starts at 10.30am and lasts 2 hours, during which you will be shown how to make several festive savoury and sweet canapes which you will taste at the end of the demonstration with a glass of prosecco. 
Cost: £60 

Christmas Entertaining Demonstration and Lunch 

Thursday 7th December 2023; 10.30am – 1.30pm

At Christmas time it is good to have a few tasty but easy recipes up your sleeve whether for canapés, starters, main courses, puddings or for using up leftovers. These recipes will become reliable standbys. Most of the recipes can be prepared in advance but the others are quick and easy to put together. Come and join us and bring friends so that you can have your own pre- Christmas celebration. 
Cost: £75 

Gluten Free Christmas Baking 

Saturday 9th December 2023; 9.45am – 3.30pm

Christmas is a time when the house is usually full of baking to offer family and friends over the holiday period. Just because you are a coeliac or intolerant to gluten doesn’t mean you should miss out. On this day we will be showing you how to bake a variety of gluten free bakes from yeasted dough, gluten free home-made mince pies and a lovely Christmas Cake. 
Cost £185 

Children’s Christmas Baking Morning / Afternoon 

Thursday 21 / Friday 22 December 2023 ; 9.30am – 12.00pm / 1.30pm – 4pm 

For children who love baking, and for parents who are looking for a different way to entertain their children during the holidays, these December half day courses are the perfect antidote to winter holiday boredom. Children learn how to make delicious cakes and biscuits which they can pack up and take home. They may turn out to be the perfect Christmas present for Granny! 
Cost: £60 

Easy Entertaining 

Sunday 17th December 2023; 9.45am – 2.30pm 

Learn to cook new dishes at a Sunday practical cookery class in our stunning kitchens. These cookery courses are designed to inspire you with new ideas for dinner party dishes. 
Cost: £130 

Full details of the Christmas courses, and a flavour of the 2023/2024 programme, are available on the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School website – http://www.entcs.co.uk/calendar