Tag: food and drink

Edinburgh Shopper scoops over £600 for CHAS in festive edition of Aldi Supermarket Sweep

Aldi Scotland’s much loved Supermarket Sweep challenge recently returned to Edinburgh with a festive twist, and one lucky local winner spread some Christmas cheer by raising £606.18 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) while bagging the same amount in Aldi favourites for himself.

Aldi’s popular Supermarket Sweep, inspired by the legendary gameshow, arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday 14 December. Lucky shopper Tom Garrat, who was chosen as the winner of the competition, donned a Santa costume for his five-minute trolley dash for CHAS at the retailer’s Portobello store – where CHAS representatives got into the festive spirit dressed as elves.

As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Aldi Scotland matched the cash value of Tom’s haul, donating all proceeds to CHAS to help support over 500 babies, children and young people across Scotland with life-shortening conditions and their families. In 2025, every penny raised through the initiative has gone directly to CHAS, with £10,000 pledged in support.

Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Tom Garratt, said: “It was a pleasure to raise over £600 for CHAS with the help of Aldi.

“A special thanks to Sarah from CHAS for being my eyes and ears as I dashed through the aisles filling the trolleys!”

Sarah Dannfald, Senior Community Fundraiser, CHAS, said: “Turning up to Aldi’s Portobello store dressed as Santa and an Elf isn’t something you do every day, but the team there welcomed us like absolute stars.

“Tom’s fantastic effort in the Supermarket Sweep, along with the brilliant support from all the staff, brought so much festive fun and raised a wonderful amount for CHAS.

“Their generosity will help bring comfort, care and Christmas magic to the children and families we support all year round. We can’t thank them enough for getting behind us with such spirit and good humour!”

Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Our first-ever festive edition of Supermarket Sweep has been such a good way to celebrate the season and spread some Christmas cheer, while also finishing a fantastic year of fundraising on a high. Congratulations to Tom, who raised an incredible £606.18 for CHAS while grabbing a bundle of Aldi favourites for himself.

“CHAS is an incredible organisation that does invaluable work for families across Scotland.

“We’re proud to support them and help raise as much as possible so they can continue to provide vital hospice care for children with life-shortening conditions, and unwavering support to families during the most difficult moments imaginable.”

‘Hauf and hauf’ revival as Edinburgh drinks partnership hits the pub

Independent brewing and blending duo unveil citywide collaboration

A MODERN twist on a traditional Scottish serve is being poured across Edinburgh this festive season, as two of the city’s leading independent drinks producers announce a flavour-led collaboration.

Wemyss Family Spirits and Stewart Brewing have joined forces to launch a new partnership rooted in shared values of independence, craftsmanship and community.

To celebrate the launch, the two brands have revived the iconic half and half serve – a dram of whisky served with a half pint of beer – with curated pairings across a hand-picked selection of the capital’s most beloved pubs.

The initial rollout sees the Edinburgh-based firms partnership activate in 10 venues citywide, with plans already in place for further expansion into the New Year.

Wemyss Family Spirits was established by siblings Isabella and William Wemyss in 2005 and has since carved out a reputation for exceptional single malts and blended whiskies. Stewart Brewing, founded by Steve and Jo Stewart in 2004, has grown from a small operation in Loanhead into one of Scotland’s most recognisable craft breweries, while remaining fiercely independent.

Both businesses have proudly remained family-run, rooted in local communities and guided by a deep passion for quality and innovation.

William Wemyss, Co-Founder of Wemyss Family Spirits, said: “This partnership is about more than just great drinks – it’s about celebrating Edinburgh’s independent spirit and reviving a uniquely Scottish tradition in a way that fits modern tastes.

“The half and half is steeped in pub culture, traditionally served as a quarter gill measure of whisky alongside a half pint of beer. It’s about slowing down and savouring each sip – something worth championing, especially during the festive season.

“Both Wemyss Family Spirits and Stewart Brewing were built on strong family foundations, and that shared ethos shines through in everything from how we work to what we pour.

“Our half and half drinks pairings reflect the diversity of both our ranges and of the city’s venues.”

The new pairings are available now across 11 local venues:

  • The Black Cat, Rose Street
  • The Auld Hundred, Rose Street
  • Whighams Wine Cellars, Hope Street
  • The Cambridge Bar, Young Street
  • The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant, Rose Street
  • The Ensign Ewart, Lawnmarket
  • 56 North, West Crosscauseway
  • Teuchters, William Street
  • O’Connors, Broughton Road
  • Athletic Arms (Diggers), Angle Park Terrace
  • The Bow Bar, Victoria Street

A recommended combination includes Stewart Brewing’s 80/- ale alongside Wemyss’ Spice King blended malt. Another popular match sees the rich Edinburgh Black Stout paired with the smoky Peat Chimney.

Jo Stewart, Co-founder of Stewart Brewing, said: “Both our businesses have grown from the same foundations – family values and flavour-first products.

“By combining the flavour-pairings of Wemyss Family Spirits and Stewart Brewing, we’re giving Edinburgh’s clientele the opportunity to mix and match their favourite combinations while showcasing two of Scotland’s best-loved drinks.

“It’s a celebration of the city’s pubs and their staff, who play a huge role in making these pairings come to life.”

With the initiative already generating interest among customers and trade partners, Wemyss Family Spirits and Stewart Brewing are planning further activation for 2026, including tasting events, influencer campaigns and potential online product launches.

The duo hopes that this first wave of festive and New Year pairings will lay the foundation for a longer-term programme that celebrates independent businesses, sustainable practices and Scotland’s vibrant pub culture.

How a cheap fizzy drink could take your mash to new levels!

  • Kitchen experts have revealed their top 5 hacks to jazz up Christmas dinner this year.
  • Christmas dinner might be a time-honoured tradition, but even the most seasoned home cooks can sprinkle a little extra magic over the feast with a few clever twists.
  • Kitchen expert Liv Reed from Prestige Granite has shared her favourite hacks

Christmas dinner might be a time-honoured tradition, but even the most seasoned home cooks can sprinkle a little extra magic over the feast with a few clever twists. 

This year, kitchen experts at Prestige are encouraging hosts to think beyond the basics and try out some fun, unexpected touches that boost flavour, texture and festive flair, all without adding any extra stress to the big day.  

“Christmas dinner doesn’t need to be complicated; it just needs a few clever touches. Things like a herb-butter injection for the turkey or giving your roasties an ice-water dunk might sound unusual, but they make such a difference to flavour and texture,” said Liv Reed. 

“I love these kinds of hacks because they’re fun, a bit unexpected, and they make you feel like you’ve got a few chef secrets up your sleeve. It’s all about enjoying the process and adding those little twists that make the meal feel extra special.” 

  • Ice-water trick for crisp roast potatoes
    • After par-boiling your potatoes, plunge them into ice-water for 1-2 minutes, then return to the hot oven.  
    • This rapid cooling and re-heating gives an extra-crisp shell and fluffy centre. 
  • Hidden herb-butter injection for turkey flavour
    • Mix softened butter with chopped fresh herbs (sage, thyme, parsley) and a little garlic paste.  
    • Using a squeeze bottle or small piping bag, inject the butter into the turkey breast before roasting.  
    • This keeps it moist and infuses flavour deep inside. 
  • Make gravy in the roasting tray early
    • After the turkey comes out, instead of re-using the old tray, wipe excess fat, place the tray on the hob, deglaze with red wine or stock while still hot (scraping up the browned bits) and use that liquid as the base for your gravy.  
    • Saves time and enhances flavour. 
  • Use sparkling water to fluff up mashed potatoes
    • Instead of plain milk, stir in a splash of chilled sparkling water just before mashing potatoes.  
    • The bubbles help make the mash lighter and fluffier, giving a better texture for the side dish. 
  • Chill glasses with a spritz of citrus for better wine pairing
    • Pop wine glasses in the freezer for 5–10 minutes, then spritz each with a little lemon or orange peel inside before serving your wine.  
    • It keeps the glasses cold without diluting the drink and gives a subtle festive aroma. 

Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts: Community Meal TODAY

Menu for Friday the 12th of December 

🥣

We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding. What’s on the menu today:

Tomato and root veg soup
Fish pie with veg
Pea and lemon bites
Chocolate and coconut slice

Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens.

And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy.

Thank you!

Empty Kitchens Full Hearts: Still time to donate to BIG GIVE appeal

7 days of match-funding closes at NOON TODAY – any donation you make before the 12pm deadline will have twice the impact!

If you donate £20 before midday, you will support a person in need with healthy meals and wraparound care for two weeks.

To donate to our Big Give appeal, please click here:

https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005BQfSYAW

Thank you for your support.

Over 300 people queue for the opening of MINISO for four hours

Over 300 people turned up in their droves to The Centre, Livingston at the weekend, (29th November), for the opening of the pop culture retailer, MINISO, over four hours before the store opened, including the first customers, mum Helen Cornwell from Linlithgow and her daughters, Bonnie, (10) and Andie, (8) who are big fans of the brand.

The opening was marked with a celebratory ribbon cutting at 12noon, live music and a visit from MINISO’S mascot PenPen. The first 200 shoppers who spent £5 also received a goody bag worth £25. 

The brand is known for its colourful and trendy design-led lifestyle products, including unique collectables, fun stationary, plush toys and figurines from brands like Hello Kitty, Harry Potter and Friends, and its beauty and homeware range.

Mum Helen who was in the queue before 8am, said: “My daughters love everything about MINISO, including the soft toys and keyrings, so I thought I’d make their day and start queuing up early with them to get a first peek and the wait was well worth it!

“They both loved browsing the store and getting a goody bag too. I have a feeling we’ll be regular visitors!”

The opening of MINISO follows on from three other launches at the shopping centre over the past three weeks, including the Danish global brand, Flying Tiger on Friday 28th November, where over 200 people queued for over an hour and The Works the day before.

The opening of Wingstop on the 10th November also attracted huge crowds, with over 200 fans queuing for over two hours to be first in line to get their hands on the famous wings.

The new arrivals follow on from additional recent openings, including the jewellers, F.Hinds at The Centre, Livingston, 

The shopping centre, which is one of the largest in Scotland, is owned by LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading privately owned commercial property development and management companies and welcomes over 14.8m visitors a year. 

It has over 150 shops and restaurants, all under one roof, including River Island, Flannels, H&M, Pandora, Hotel Chocolat, wagamama and Nando’s, and 7,000 parking spaces.

Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager of The Centre, Livingston, said: “This has been a really exciting time for us and our shoppers at The Centre, Livingston as we welcome four new brands to the shopping centre, including MINISO, Flying Tiger, The Works and Wingstop.

“There was such a fantastic buzz in the air at the weekend, not only with shoppers turning up to get a first glimpse of the new stores but also to enjoy some of the Black Friday sales.

“Our new openings continue to further enhance our offering for visitors to enjoy a great day out shopping and dining out at their favourite stores and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas.”

Simon Howie’s Chocolate Haggis to make a return for Hogmanay

Three of Scotland’s best loved brands collaborate on the new recipe of the relaunched pudding

Pictured from left to right: Lauren Paterson, Mrs Tilly’s; Simon Howie; Richard Walker, Walker’s Shortbread

Unveiled on St Andrew’s Day and back by customer demand, Simon Howie’s famous chocolate haggis is making its return in time for two of Scotland’s biggest celebrations, Hogmanay and Burns Night. 

This time around, Simon Howie has collaborated with two of Scotland’s best loved brands, Walker’s Shortbread and Mrs Tilly’s, on a new and improved recipe featuring delicious chunks of all-butter shortbread and fudge, creating an indulgent and unique dessert that’s sold as a haggis!

Simon Howie’s Chocolate Haggis was originally launched in 2024 as a limited-edition pudding for Burns Night. While the brand was keen to bring it back for January 2025, legal dispute with Cadbury’s over the products previous purple packaging made this impossible.

Simon Howie said: “For our wee limited edition Chocolate Haggis to worry the biggest players in chocolate, shows the success of the 2023 launch.

“While we were disappointed not to be able to bring it back straight away, we used the time we needed to change the packaging to also improve the recipe by adding in chunks of shortbread and fudge from our friends at Walker’s and Mrs Tilly’s.

“The Scottish food and drink community is known for its collaboration, and this is a perfect example of three like-minded family-owned manufacturers teaming up to create a unique and innovative product.

“We’re grateful to Walker’s and Mrs Tilly’s for their support and look forward to hearing the reaction from our customers.”  

Richard Walker of Walker’s Shortbread said: “Chocolate Haggis is such a unique and fun celebration of Scotland and we’re delighted to be part of the new recipe development.

WWe are sure it will be enjoyed by many as the perfect pudding for Burns Night.”

Lauren Paterson of Mrs Tilly’s said: “We’re excited to have our Scottish fudge added to Simon Howie’s Chocolate Haggis dessert and that people across Scotland will be able to enjoy this sweet treat with their friends and families for Hogmanay and all the way through to Burns Night.”

Chocolate Haggis is an indulgent chocolate brownie dessert sold in the shape of a haggis. Simon Howie recommends removing all the packaging and microwaving the pudding for about 3 mins before serving with ice cream or cream. The pudding can also be cooked as a regular haggis would, and the casing cut open to serve.

Simon Howie is the UK’s number one haggis brand and sells more than 1.3m haggis during January in the run up to Burns Night. 

The brand’s previous work on Chocolate Haggis recently won Campiagn of the Year at the 2025 Scotland Food and Drink Awards.

Chocolate Haggis will be available in Tesco from the 26th December and from Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Scotmid from 1st January.

The product is limited edition until Burns Night so will be unavailable after the 26 January. RRP £5.00. You can find more information on Chocolate Haggis here.

Vittoria Group supports young people with first Giving Back donations

The Vittoria Group has revealed the first two beneficiaries of its new Vittoria Giving Back programme, launched last month in honour of the group’s 55th anniversary, to support local organisations making a difference across Edinburgh.

The inaugural recipients Teens+ and Prospect Bank School were selected from the first round of applications, with each receiving donations worth up to £1,000. Rather than providing cash, the Vittoria Group chose to fund specific items requested by each organisation, ensuring the support would deliver long-term, practical impact.

Teens+, a transitional education service, based beside Vittoria on the Walk on McDonald Road, supports young adults with complex learning difficulties across its four centres in Edinburgh and East Lothian, helping learners gain confidence and prepare for life beyond school.

As technology becomes central to everyday independence, whether communicating online, completing coursework, making bookings or working toward qualifications, Teens+ highlighted the growing need for accessible IT equipment. The group will receive a specialist laptop to help students build essential digital skills and engage safely in an increasingly online world.

The second recipient is Prospect Bank School in Leith, which supports primary-aged children with complex, long-term additional support needs, including intellectual disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The school focuses on helping pupils communicate, manage sensory input, and participate in meaningful learning experiences. Funding from Vittoria Giving Back will enable the purchase of a SENSIS Cube – a piece of sensory play equipment designed for spinning, swinging and climbing, offering pupils calming or stimulating activities tailored to their needs.

The Vittoria Group is encouraging local schools, charities, youth groups and community organisations to apply for the next round of support.

Applications can be submitted via givingback@vittoriagroup.co.uk.

Research reveals only one in four Edinburgh residents celebrate Saint Andrew’s Day

A national survey has revealed that just 25% of people in Edinburgh celebrate St Andrew’s Day, and at a national level almost four in ten (39%) Scots are unable to identify the date of St Andrew’s Day, highlighting a surprising gap in awareness surrounding the country’s patron saint.

The research by ScotPulse which was commissioned by Aldi Scotland, found that while most Scots recognise St Andrew’s Day as the country’s national day, many are unsure of the date, and even fewer mark the occasion.

Just one in four (26%) Scots say they celebrate St Andrew’s Day, held annually on 30 November, with confusion rife across the nation about what date it actually falls on. Some mistakenly believe it happens on 25 November (11%), 29 November (8%), with an additional 8% also believing it falls on 31 November – a date that doesn’t exist. Others mix it up with Burns Night in January.

The survey also found:

  • Women are more likely than men to know the correct date (64% vs 57%).
  • Younger Scots are the least likely to know what date it falls on, with just 43% of 16–34-year-olds answering correctly.

Aldi is a prominent champion of Scottish food and drink, and Scotland’s leading supermarket for locally sourced products. In October, it was named in the NFU Scotland’s ShelfWatch 2025 Mid-Year Report as the most prominent retailer to support Scottish produce, with 41% of its shelf stock now sourced locally.

In honour of its position as the nation’s most trusted supermarket of Scottish goods, the retailer is helping Scots to celebrate St Andrew’s Day this year with a feast including locally produced food and drink, which has all been approved by modern day Andrews.

After surveying hundreds of Andrews, Andys and Drews across Scotland on their favourite festive flavours, Aldi Scotland has revealed the results of its nationwide search for the “Andrew Approved Feast.”  

Following a social media vote, it was revealed that the most popular meal selection for St Andrew’s Day is:

  • Starter: Haggis Bon Bons with 52% of the votes
  • Main Course: Steak Pie with 66% of the votes
  • Side: Crispy roast tatties with 44% of the votes
  • Dessert: Scottish apple crumble with 42% of the votes
  • Drink: IRN BRU with 53% of the votes

Shoppers can pick up Aldi’s Andrew Approved Feast for less than a tenner, with the total cost coming to just £9.75:

  • Haggis Bon Bons: Specially Selected Haggis Bon Bons, 240g £2.29
  • Steak Pie: Frasers Small Top Crust Steak Pie, 400g £2.99
  • Crispy Roast Tatties: Scottish Baking Potatoes 4 pack, £0.79
  • Dessert: The Dessert Menu Bramley Apple Pie, 550g £2.99  
  • Drink: Vive Iron Brew 2L £0.69 

Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland said: “St Andrews Day is a key moment in Scotland’s cultural calendar and gives Scots the chance to reflect on our history and traditions. We were surprised to see that so many Scots don’t know when St Andrew’s Day is, and that so few actually take the time to celebrate it.

“At Aldi Scotland, we truly believe we have some of the best food and drink in the world, and we are proud to be a champion of local producers.  

“St Andrew’s Day on 30 November is the perfect opportunity for everyone to come together, enjoy fantastic local food, raise a glass, and celebrate everything that makes Scotland such a special place.”