Tag: food and drink

¡SALUD! Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Patron raise a glass to Cinco de Mayo and it’s Courtyard launch

Eve, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s all day dining venue, is excited to announce the grand launch of its Courtyard in partnership with Patrón Tequila – one of the world’s leading tequila brands.   

The launch will coincide with the beloved Cinco de Mayo celebration, taking place tomorrow (Friday, 5th May) between 5pm-10pm followed by an entire weekend of thrilling festivities on the Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th May between 3pm – 10pm.  

The Eve Courtyard is set to be a haven of blissful entertainment and delight, offering guests the opportunity to relax in the warm glow of the sun while sipping on tantalizing tequila creations and indulging in traditional Mexican small plates, known as ‘Botanas’, curated exclusively for the Courtyard launch.  

Patrón Tequila has transformed the Courtyard into a homage to its Mexican roots and tequila-making tradition, providing an exclusive food menu that includes Lamb Shoulder Barbacoa Taco and Smoked Mushroom Taco. We will also provide a selection of Margarita and Paloma cocktails crafted with Patrón Silver, offering guests the perfect way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style.  

As the sun sets and the stars come out, the Courtyard will come alive with the sounds of live music from Los Chichanos and Pilgrims Society, two vibrant and energetic bands that bring the party to Edinburgh’s late-night fiestas. With performances all weekend long, they will elevate guests’ experience with an unforgettable soundtrack to their weekend.   

There will also be pinatas bursting with prizes and Mexican bingo for some friendly competition, to name but a few. Plus, Patrón popcorn and frozen cocktails will be on offer to keep guests cool and refreshed.   

David Moth, Virgin Hotels Vice President of Operations and Interim General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said: “We are thrilled to bring the vibrant spirit of Mexico to life at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh with our Eve Courtyard launch event in partnership with Patrón for Cinco de Mayo. 

“It’s an exciting celebration with delicious cocktails and food that will transport guests to the flavours of Mexico. But that’s not all – we have surprises and delights planned all weekend, including the chance to win an overnight luxury stay in Sir Richard Branson’s flat. It’s going to be a weekend filled with fun, festivities, and unforgettable experiences.”  

For more information about Eve’s Courtyard, please visit:
https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/event/cinco-de-mayo/all/ 

Cinco de Mayo is just one of many events hosted Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is hosting. Eve will be host of many seasonal activations and brand takeovers throughout the year with Patron taking over the Eve Courtyard for the next 3 months of summer. To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s Eve channels on social media here:  

  • Instagram @eveedinburgh 
    @virginhotelsedi 
  • Twitter@virginhotelsedi 

Coronation celebrations fit for a King at Strachan House

The excitement was is in the air at Strachan House Care Home in Edinburgh this week as residents and staff notch it up a gear to celebrate the coronation of our king in a right royal way.

Throughout the week on the lead up to the big day, Strachan House has a week full of royal themed activities from baking up red, white and blue cakes to intergenerational fun within their local community with Cargilfield Nursery and Blackhall Primary.

“The week will certainly be one we remember” said Mandy, Head of Activities.

Paul Dow chef at Strachan House said: “Baking up an array of cuisine will be great fun and certainly ensure it will be fit for a king! It has been a whole team effort ensuring we are ready for the King’s Coronation on May 6”.

Staff and residents at the home put their heads together and came up with a week-long plan of royal activities for their residents. Over the bank holiday weekend the home will hold afternoon tea whilst screening the Coronation live.

On Sunday 7th May at 2pm they are hosting The Big Picnic in their wonderful gardens and will play host to the entire Blackhall community as they open their home to friend’s family and staff.

With live music from Diane Fields a BGT contestant as well as the local councillor, Christine Jardine, it is set to be an outstanding day for everyone who plans to attend.

Armed with picnic baskets and rugs resident, families, staff and local visitors are invited to join us for an afternoon sharing in the wonderful atmosphere.

All you need to do is bring your picnic and a rug and enjoy a afternoon amongst friends.

Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House said: “We are looking forward to a brilliant time celebrating the Coronation, it is such a momentous occasion.  Our staff and residents love the Royals and so they are all so excited about the upcoming week. 

“It has been a real collaborative process – thinking about how we want to celebrate, from planning our activities, decorating the home and creating an event for our whole community to join in”. 

David Lesueur, resident at Strachan House said: “I can just about remember the Queen’s Coronation, I was very small but I remember the street party we had then and this will be just as much fun. 

“We all want to pay our respects to the new King and create new memories, it is such an important occasion to mark.”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.

Gorgie shopper scoops over £1000 for local foodbank in Aldi Supermarket Sweep

Aldi Scotland’s popular Supermarket Sweep challenge recently returned to Gorgie, and lucky local winner has raised £1,210.98 for a foodbank of their choosing, while picking up £605 in Aldi favourites for herself. 

Aldi’s popular gameshow inspired Supermarket Sweep arrived in Gorgie and lucky shopper Maryanne who was chosen as the winner of an in-store competition, took part in the five-minute trolley dash for charity on Sunday 9th of April.  

As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Maryanne successfully found the hidden inflatable in store, meaning Aldi Scotland doubled the total value of her haul and donated the lump sum to her nominated charity, The Salvation Army. 

Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Maryanne Fitzpatrick, said: “The Aldi supermarket sweep was an amazing experience, and I am glad the Salvation Army have received an amazing amount of money from it.” 

Elizabeth Young, Community Project Coordinator at The Salvation Army, said: “Over the past few months we have seen the need for our foodbank continuing to grow at an alarming rate.

“So much so, that on top of the very generous donations received from church members, members of the general public, schools, corporate groups and supermarket permanent collection points, we find ourselves having to spend hundreds of pounds nearly every week buying food to top up our food parcels.  

“So, you can imagine how pleased we were to hear that we had been selected to benefit from the supermarket sweep at the Gorgie branch of Aldi close to our foodbank. Then to our great surprise, we were informed that Aldi were going to double the amount of the trolley dash, resulting in a donation to us of £1,210! 

“I would like to thank Aldi for this very generous donation and to your customer who chose our foodbank to benefit from the donation. This will help us to continue giving out food parcels to those who are finding life difficult now and enable us to show a love and kindness to them.” 

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said: “We are proud that the Aldi Supermarket Sweep is a firm favourite across the country, and we are so pleased to bring it back this year.

“Congratulations to Maryanne who managed to raise an incredible £1,210.98 for The Salvation Army and snap up a whole load of Aldi treats for herself.”

Divino unveils new summer menus overflowing with seasonal Italian favourites

Award-winning restaurant and wine bar transports guests to an Italian summer holiday from the heart of Edinburgh

The award-winning Italian restaurant hidden in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Divino, is welcoming the changing seasons with an array of new summer menus filled with vibrant dishes perfect to see in the longer days and warmer nights.

Divino has revamped their lunch, dinner, and drinks menus to introduce new showstoppers and elevated favourites inspired by the celebrated ingredients of the season. The menus boast authentic Italian cuisine, where undying tradition and modern flair runs through each fresh, vibrant dish for a unique experience to see guests through the summer months.

To fuel summer nights with bountiful fresh and colourful ingredients, Divino’s new dinner menu offers a variety of dishes including soft gnocchi served with fresh clams and beef cheek braised in Barolo wine. A range of vegetarian and vegan options are available including a southern Italian delicacy of deep-fried aubergines slow cooked in tomato and basil sauce.

For sociable souls this summer, Divino have introduced an array of new sharing dishes including crispy roman-style focaccia and platters of Italian cheese and charcuterie to be paired with a selection of drinks from its new drinks menu featuring cocktails of ‘Sicilian sun’ and fruity, fresh wines, all best enjoyed on the newly renovated outdoor patio, perfect for soaking up the sun.

Available every Saturday, Divino’s new lunch menu features indulgent starters like an Apulian burrata with pickled wild mushrooms and mains like roasted chicken with pancetta wrapped asparagus and desserts. Guests can enjoy two courses for £22 or three courses at £30, offering great value in a beautifully refurbished and relaxed dining experience.  

Alongside a la carte options, Divino has curated three set menus all available for groups over 8, each offering an array of antipasti, mains and desserts to suit any pallet and budget. The Montepulciano menu a compact selection at £29 per person, while the Chianti menu priced at £45 per person elevates this offering to include options like Beef cheek braised in barolo wine. For those who prefer to sample from a wider range of dishes, the Barolo menu priced at £60 per head provides the widest variety.

Divino pride themselves on a truly immersive Italian experience, which is why guests can also enjoy monthly dedicated regional and wine nights, showcasing the very best produce and wines from different regions of Italy’s diverse culture and cuisine. For non-stop entertainment, Wednesday nights present Jazz Night at Divino, where guests can enjoy the finest Italian cuisine and an evening of jazz sessions from some of the best musicians in the city.

Quality Meat Scotland: Scotch on the menu at Scotch Chefs event

Selected chefs from across the country recently put their ‘Scotch’ knowledge to the test as they attended Campbells Prime Meat at their facility near Linlithgow for a presentation on Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork. 

Hosted in collaboration with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), the objective of the day was to inform the ten chefs on the unique distinctions among the three Scotch brands and to clarify the parameters of what it takes to be classified as Scotch. 

Topics such as The Scotch Difference, assurance schemes, traceability, DNA testing, pricing, supply chain and breed specificity were discussed during the presentation by Gordon Newlands, Brands Development Manager at QMS. The attendees on the day included chefs from independent restaurants, restaurant groups, and major stadium kitchens. 

Iain Brown, Campbells Prime Meat Director, and Christopher Campbell, Managing Director of Campbells Prime Meat, welcomed the chefs, along with factory manager Darrin Leslie and supervising butcher Jordan Hanley. 

The presenters took guests on a culinary journey of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, demonstrating different cuts and explaining which part of the carcasses they came from. The chefs paid close attention throughout and were impressed by the showcase of cutting and seaming methods by the two master butchers. 

The final item on the agenda was a tasting lunch of all three proteins under the QMS umbrella: Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork. Campbells Prime Meats chef, Stevie Cheape, prepared Scotch Lamb racks, Specially Select Pork fillet and Scotch Beef sirloin and fillet for the attendees to sample. The quality of the products, both in flavour and tenderness, were highly praised by all. 

Gordon Newlands, Brands Development Manager at QMS, signed off the event by thanking attendees for taking the time to learn, observe and taste the famous brands. 

Gordon Newlands said: “The Campbells Prime Meat Scotch Chefs event, held in collaboration with QMS, was an engaging session that aimed to educate chefs on the unique distinctions between the Scotch brands and what it means to be classified as ‘Scotch’. Feedback post-event has been really positive from the chefs, so hopefully we can hold another event of the same calibre in the near future.” 

Iain Brown, Director at Campbells Prime Meat, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the ten chefs to our recent Scotch brands event with Quality Meat Scotland. It was a successful session and provided valuable insights into all three Scotch products. The showcase of cutting and seaming methods, as well as the delicious tasting lunch, truly highlighted the exceptional quality of these products. We are delighted with the positive feedback we’ve had from those who attended.” 

Speaking post-event on LinkedIn, Stuart Aitken, Regional Culinary Lead at BaxterStorey, said: “Thank you to Campbells Prime Meat Limited and Quality Meat Scotland for the invite today. A great insight into Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb accreditation, which holds the coveted PGI status and rightly so. Seeing the butchers do their thing never gets old, sadly a skill that is slowly leaving many kitchens. I look forward to continuing our partnership.” 

Kieran Wight, Head Chef at Scottish Rugby Hospitality Elior UK, wrote: “Delighted to attend a fantastic collaboration with Campbells Prime Meat Limited and Quality Meat Scotland. A fantastic insight into Scotch Beef, Lamb and Specially Selected Pork and the knowledge and experience from the skilled butchers. Engaging with suppliers, ensuring the best possible product reaches us and learning about its background is key.” 

For more information on QMS or the Scotch brands, visit www.qmscotland.co.uk.  

Local care home resident relives her night ‘on the toon’!

Audrey Ross move to Strachan House just over a year ago. Being a primary school teacher in Aberdeen for many years she loved nothing more than meeting up with her girlfriends on a Friday night for a good catch up in her younger days.

She often talks about her nights just sitting, sharing her laughs of the weeks gone by with her friends and reminiscing over their life adventures together. It was clear that she held very fond memories of her younger days and missed those days so much. Through reminscence and one to one sessions she could be often heard explaining about “how friendships are important and must be nurtured and never taken for granted or forgotten “.

So with a combination of what was important to Audrey and of course her love of  curries the team jumped into action and recreated a special moment for her with their Gone Fishing 23 project.

Audrey was joined by another resident that she really enjoys spending time with in the home and the surprise on both their faces when Audrey realised she was in for the night of her life.

The team did some community engagement with a local business in Blackhall called The Cove.

Local Indian restauranteur Jahedd upon hearing her story was quick to jump on board and support the team in making Audrey enjoy a stroll back down memory lane. Jahedd was able to give Audrey and her friend an evening to remember by offering them the VIP experience in his beautiful establishment.  

Audrey and her friend Isobel were whisked away to The Cove where they enjoyed a fine selection of Indian cuisine along with an evening fondly sharing their life stories and adventures together. 

Mandy Head of Activities said: “It was an amazing night for Audrey. She was in disbelief of what we had organised not to mention surprised. Our Gone Fishing 23 project is partly about the element of surprise but more importantly it’s about recognising our residents as individuals, along with their desires and more importantly recognising what’s important to them. ”

“The local community support has been amazing and it is humbling to see how much attention our project has received. We can’t thank The Cove enough for the amazing night they gave Audrey and her friend.” 

In response to this wonderful surprise, Audrey said: “I was astounded. It was so amazing to see how others picked up on what was important to me and for them to go out of their way to make me feel so special.

“It truly was like a good old Friday night just as I remember them and they even got my favourite cuisine right. Ten out of ten!”

Gordon Philp, General Manager at the home, said: “We want everyone we care for to know how important they are to us here at Strachan House It was so nice to see how happy Audrey was – our staff love making moments like this happen in our project”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Care home’s new cooking class is better than sliced bread!

Bread making masterclass inspires creativity amongst home’s residents

Residents at a local care home have enjoyed a series of cooking classes as part of the bustling events calendar, with the programme kick-starting with a bread making masterclass.

The sessions held at Cramond Residence, courtesy of the home’s Chef Paul Cowley, hope to inspire creativity and reignite a passion for cooking amongst the residents.

This month’s masterclass focused on bread making with future sessions set to feature foods from all over the globe – following residents’ wishes.

Cooking is just one of the activities the home provides as part of its events calendar which is tailored to the residents’ interests, with the aim of improving their wellbeing and independence. Other activities include exercise classes, arts and crafts and frequent day trips.

Paul, who alongside the head chef leads the catering department at the 74-bedroom home, said: “I love seeing the smiling faces of our residents as they take part in activities that remind them of home comforts such as cooking.

“Residents enjoyed a step-by-step session on how to make bread from scratch. We sampled the bread, tasting the different types of loaves and comparing it to shop bought bread.

“Many of our residents already have a passion for cooking so we wanted to introduce the classes to continue that enjoyment while allowing some of the group to learn new skills and try different cuisines.

“As well as the pleasure of cooking, the class also provides a fun setting where residents can enjoy socialising with others in the class. The buzz of happy chatter in the dining room is ample payback for the work we do.”

This month’s activities include garden archery and golf sessions, spa and relaxation mornings and physio classes, organised by Cramond Residence’s dedicated Lifestyle Coordinators who are committed to providing fun and engaging activities for the residents to enjoy.

Len Skelton, a resident at the home said: “I always enjoy the meals cooked up by chefs at Cramond, however it is really nice to be given the opportunity to get back in the kitchen again.  Who doesn’t love the taste of fresh bread out of the oven?”

In addition to freshly prepared nutritious meals and a robust excursions and activities calendar, residents are provided with deluxe accommodation, best-of-class facilities and a wide range of entertainment.

The medication and care provided is based on a detailed personal care plan, which is continually assessed and revised by health care professionals and other experts to ensure that the best possible care is being delivered.

Facilities provided include a cinema and function room, a dedicated games room and also a sensory experience which offers therapeutic activities for those with dementia.

Cramond Residence offer tours of its quality accommodation and facilities, allowing potential residents and loved ones to see the residence for themselves, meet the team and discuss requirements.

To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Aldi support during Easter holidays

Aldi donated 391 meals to local good causes to help people in need over the Easter school holidays. 

The supermarket’s stores across the UK have paired up with local charities, community groups and foodbanks through its partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.

More than 550,000 meals were donated throughout the UK, with almost 2,000 UK causes benefitting from the initiative in total.

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We understand that the school holidays can be an especially challenging time for families, particularly amid the current cost-of-living crisis.

“Neighbourly carries out such vital work in the community, so we’re proud to be able to support them and the charities, foodbanks and community groups they work with in Midlothian in their efforts to support those who may be struggling.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “The impact of the cost-of-living crisis has intensified, meaning that the demand on foodbanks is continuing to increase, particularly during the school holidays.

“The donations from Aldi are a lifeline for many and provide the essential boost good causes need to continue supporting their local communities.”

What’s on at Divino in April 

Edinburgh Restaurant Named Venue in AA Restaurant Guide 2023

Award-winning Italian restaurant Divino has just been named a top destination in the prestigious AA Restaurant Guide 2023.

There are some great events happening at Divino this month, all offer a unique night out and a fun way to get together with friends or family and enjoy great food and wine without the need for a special occasion to celebrate!

Veneto Regional Menu Nights – April 20th and 27th – Chef Andrea has developed a three-course menu with canapés, mains and petit fours for £39 celebrating the northern region known for its fresh seafood and famous cicchetti. Guests can add paired wines for an additional £26.

Sardinia Wine Night – April 30th – Featuring 5 fabulous wines from the island of Sardinia paired with matching canapes, guests at Divino will experience the rich & complex flavours of the region for just £25 beginning at 5pm.

Wednesday Jazz Nights – Every single Wednesday, enjoy live jazz from 7:30pm onwards, the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine and good company.

Events can be booked here. 

Stagg’s is Lothians Pub of the Year

Stagg’s in Musselburgh has won many CAMRA awards over the years and it’s ‘same again’ with the Award of Lothians Pub of the Year 2023.

The framed certificate will handed over to licensee Nigel Finlay on Wednesday 19th April at 1945 hrs at the pub. 

Runner-up was the Dean Tavern, Newtongrange and in third place was the Grey Horse, Balerno.

Further announcements about awards ceremonies in Edinburgh and in the Borders will be made later.