Tag: food and drink

Buried in a peat bog … a truly groundbreaking Ardbeg

Earthy, experimental whisky released on BlockBar is Islay malt’s first NFT (non-fungible token) edition

Ardbeg has revealed a truly groundbreaking limited edition, buried in a peat bog for more than two years.

The Islay single malt’s first subterranean spirit, Ardbeg Fon Fhòid (Scots Gaelic for ‘under the turf’), is being launched as its inaugural NFT (non-fungible token) edition – (Eh? – Ed). Tasting more earthy, mossy and herbal than Ardbeg has ever been, this extreme experiment will be available exclusively at BlockBar.com.

Established in 1815, Ardbeg has long been revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. And the idea of taking its smoky, balanced spirit all the way back to its peaty roots, had for years been submerged in the mind of Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden.

In 2014, that idea resurfaced. And Ardbeg’s team, led by then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, took two casks of whisky aged in second-fill bourbon casks and buried them in a secret, peaty location near the Distillery. Two years and 10 months later, they unearthed Ardbeg Fon Fhòid. 

Ardbeg Fon Fhòid’s limited release of 456 bottles is available to purchase exclusively on BlockBar.com on 19th April 2022. BlockBar offers NFTs – digital assets – directly from luxury wine and spirits brands and carefully stores the real thing. 

Those lucky enough to lay their hands on the whisky will receive a digital certificate that verifies their ownership and the authenticity of the bottle, which will be stored at BlockBar’s facility in Singapore until redeemed.

The buyer may also choose to safely trade their NFT within the BlockBar.com marketplace, keep it in their virtual bar or gift the NFT through BlockBar’s new gifting platform.

Dr Lumsden said: “I think it’s safe to say we’ve unearthed a truly special Ardbeg here. Ardbeg Fon Fhòid is earthy and mossy with one hell of a herbal nose!

“Good luck to all those hoping to secure some of Ardbeg’s own buried treasure – I hope you land a bottle!”

Thomas Moradpour, President & CEO of The Glenmorangie Company which owns Ardbeg Distillery, said: “We’re so excited to be launching this exclusive and first NFT release from Ardbeg  ̶  one of the world’s most collectable whiskies.

“Our whisky makers are always pushing the boundaries of experimentation; this is a chance to own one of their most intriguing creations to date, a true piece of Ardbeg history.”

Dov Falic, CEO and Co-founder of BlockBar, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the iconic Ardbeg Distillery to launch its first ever NFT.

“We hope whisky fans new and old will take the opportunity to join our community and discover this peaty experiment, which BlockBar will keep in perfect condition until the owners are ready to enjoy it.”

Recipe: An Easter Feast with a taste of the Middle East

– JAMES STRAWBRIDGE’S HARISSA ROAST LAMB & HERBY COUSCOUS –

Forget the abundance of chocolate eggs or a buttery hot cross bun. If there’s one thing that screams Easter, it’s a traditional lamb roast dinner!

But if you’re looking to spice  things up a little this year with something  a bit more special, celebrity chef and 44 Foods partner, James Strawbridge has you covered, with an epic Easter feast that combines traditional roast lamb with a taste of the Middle-East. 

Think warm, smoky, spiced tender lamb laid on a bed of zingy, herby couscous, guaranteed to silence everyone at the Easter dining table… In a good way of course!  

Recipe:

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

For the lamb:

2 kg Scotch rolled shoulder of lamb 

300ml red wine 

250g chopped tomatoes 

250g Medjoul dates 

230g Odysea sun-dried tomato meze 

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 tbsp harissa paste  

1 tbsp Tracklements traditional mint sauce 

1 tbsp Tracklements fresh chilli Jam 

1 bulb of garlic, broken into cloves but keep the skins on 

1 bulb of fennel, roughly diced 

For the couscous:

200g Suma couscous 

½ pomegranate seeds 

½ cucumber, diced 

4 tbsp chopped fresh mint 

4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander 

4 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley 

2 tbsp Crespo capers 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Pinch of sea salt 

To serve: 

200g Odysea feta & Greek yoghurt spread 

2 tsp Tracklements traditional mint sauce 

1 tsp Odysea PDO Kalamata extra virgin olive oil 

Pinch of cumin seeds 

Method:

  1. Rub your rolled lamb with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sear in a hot pan on all sides to brown the meat. 
  2. Next, brush the lamb with a mixture of harissa, mint sauce and chilli jam. Place in a roasting tray on top of a bed of garlic cloves, roughly chopped fennel and a full jar of sun-dried tomato meze. Pour in a tin of chopped tomatoes and half a bottle of good red wine.
      
  3. Cover the roasting tray with tin foil and roast for 15 mins at 200˚C. Then reduce the heat to 160˚C and cook for 4-5 hours. 
  4. While the lamb is resting, make the couscous by cooking it in a saucepan with hot oil for 1-2 mins and then cover with boiling water. Place a lid on the pan, take it off the heat and after 10 mins, fluff up the couscous with a fork. 
  5. After a further 5-10 mins once the couscous has cooked and started to cool down, toss it in a large bowl with plenty of chopped herbs, pomegranate seeds, cucumber, capers and a pinch of salt.   
  6. Serve the lamb at the table by spooning the couscous in a lovely serving platter and laying the lamb on top. Spoon over the sauce to keep the lamb moist and the juices to soak into the couscous.

    7. Mix some extra mint sauce into the feta yogurt to accompany as a side and sprinkle with a pinch of cumin seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with the spiced lamb for a cooling dip.


Fancy giving it a go?

The majority of ingredients can be found at www.44foods.com or, why not save yourself some time with the 44 Foods recipe bundle that gives you everything you need for your perfect Middle-Eastern Easter feast – all you’ll need to do is the cooking.

Easter opening times at Fort Kinnaird

For those looking to enjoy a day out with family and friends or pick up some last-minute Easter gifts and decorations, Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its Easter weekend opening times.

With a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as ODEON cinema, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the Easter break at Fort Kinnaird.

From Friday 15th – Monday 18th April the centre’s shopping hours will remain the same as normal: 

  • Good Friday – 15th April: 9am – 9pm
  • Easter Saturday – 16th April: 9am – 6pm
  • Easter Sunday – 17th April: 9am – 6pm
  • Easter Monday – 18th April: 9am – 9pm

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people will be looking for ways to spend quality time with family and friends during the Easter break, and we look forward to welcoming them to the centre.

“To help them make the most of this time together, we’re open every day over the Easter weekend, so visitors can spend a day or evening out at the centre.”

Fort Kinnaird is home to more than 70 retailers and restaurants, including Primark, M&S, ProCook, Next, Smyths, Wagamama, Nando’s and Fridays. There are also over 2,600 free parking spaces.

It’s recommended to check the opening hours of individual retailers before setting off to avoid disappointment.

For more information to help plan your Easter trip to Fort Kinnaird, including what’s on head here.

The Ivy on the Square launches Easter Specials celebrating Spring

The Ivy on the Square is celebrating the Easter season with a series of delicious specials incorporating limited edition cocktails, a spring lamb dish and showstopping Easter Nest dessert.

The enticing offering will be available to guests for Easter weekend only (Friday, 15 until Monday, 18 April) alongside the brasserie’s inimitable classics, fusing fresh seasonal ingredients and delectable culinary twists.

The Grilled Lamb Cutlets (£25.95) will be served with a crushed pea and herb purée with slow-cooked  lamb shoulder, asparagus, baby courgette, sun-blush tomatoes, red wine and olive sauce, while chocolate lovers will go crazy for the Easter Nest (£9.25), a nod to the humble bird’s egg, featuring a divine chocolate sponge, piled with dark and white chocolate mousse and Kataifi pastry and topped off with chocolate eggs and lemon balm. 

Complementing the dishes in true style is the limited edition cocktail menu – featuring an Easter twist on three classic aperitifs, a Chocolate Negroni (£10.25), an Easter Egg Martini (£10.95) and a White Rabbit G&T (£10.25).

To book a table visit TheIvyEdinburgh.com

Scottish Government consultation on adding calories to menus

The public is being invited to have its say on plans to add the number of calories to menus in the out of home food sector including cafes, restaurants and takeaways.

Mandatory calorie labelling is part of action to address obesity which, with two-thirds of the population living in Scotland recorded as living with overweight or obesity, continues to be one of the biggest and most complex public health challenges.

Eating out is common place with almost everyone in Scotland (98%) consuming food outside the home, however nutrition information is not always available.

A 12-week consultation, which sets out the broad types of food and drink that would be covered, will seek views on how this could apply to:

  • food and hospitality businesses, depending on their size
  • public sector institutions such as hospitals and prisons
  • pre-packed food such as filled sandwiches
  • online takeaway menus
  • children’s menus

It will inform whether legislation is introduced to make it a legal requirement for calories to be included on menus and forms part of the government’s wider actions to ensure Scotland is a place where we eat well and have a healthy weight, including our aim to halve childhood obesity by 2030. 

Mandating calorie labelling at the point of choice could support the food and hospitality sector to make a key contribution in improving dietary health.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Before the pandemic, people living in Scotland were consuming more and more food and drink out of home or ordering it in.

“Whether it’s breakfast at a roadside café, grabbing a lunchtime soup and sandwich from a local convenience store or ordering food online from a restaurant, most of us were increasingly buying food outside the home – a trend I expect to resume as we recover from the pandemic.

“Two-thirds of the population living in Scotland is recorded as living with overweight or obesity – a key factor in our plan to address this is calorie labelling. We know that giving people more information, such as the number of calories in meals will enable people to make healthier choices when eating out, or ordering in. This is not novel practice – calories are already required on retail food purchases and calorie labelling for out of home sites is mandated in many other countries.

“Many food companies in Scotland have already taken this significant step voluntarily.  We want to learn from those experiences and I would urge everyone to share their thoughts in this consultation.”

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) Head of Nutrition Science and Policy Dr Gillian Purdon said: “We welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on mandatory calorie labelling for the out of home sector.

“FSS has long proposed the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling as part of a suite of recommendations to address the nation’s poor diet. Alongside the consultation, we published the findings of two reports which highlight that overall, calorie information at point of choice can reduce the amount of calories ordered or consumed.

“With eating out is now an everyday occurrence and nearly a quarter of our calories coming from food and drink purchased outside of home, mandatory calorie labelling is one way to support people to make healthier options.”

Head of Policy and External Affairs at the Scottish Retail Consortium Ewan McDonald-Russell said: “Our members in grocery and food-to-go have led the way in providing calorie and nutritional information to consumers, over and above the action they have taken to promote healthier alternatives and reformulate products to reduce their salt, sugar and fat content.

“Ensuring customers of all organisations serving food understand exactly what they are consuming empowers them to make the right choices to ensure they maintain a balanced diet.

“Introducing a mandatory approach to calorie labelling is therefore a reasonable proposition, provided it is implemented in a sensible manner and is applied to all businesses serving food and drink.

“The pandemic has laid bare many of the health inequalities in Scotland – measures need to apply across industry to ensure the most effective outcome and ensure firms which have taken positive action in this area are able to compete on a level playing field.”

Consultation paper ‘Mandatory Calorie Labelling in the Out Of Home (OOH) Sector in Scotland’.

The Best Whisky Bar in the World!

Edinburgh’s Kaleidoscope Bar scoops top prize at Whisky Magazine Awards

OPEN TO ALL: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Kaleidoscope Bar at 28 Queen Street Edinburgh has been announced as Global Whisky Bar of the Year at the prestigious Whisky Magazine 2022 awards. A visit is a must for all whisky adventurers in the city

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s (SMWS) Kaleidoscope Bar in Edinburgh has been named the Icons of Whisky, ‘Global Whisky Bar of the Year,’ in Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards 2022 in London. A huge achievement for the SMWS and superb timing as we head into a restriction-free summer.

The journey of discovery when tasting whisky can be overwhelming but Kaleidoscope Bar offers something quite magical for both SMWS members and non-members compared to rival whisky experiences. From the bar’s remarkable and captivating building to offering guests can’t-buy-anywhere-else whiskies and experiences, a visit to the bar is a must for all whisky adventurers in the city.

Kaleidoscope Bar is a warm, welcoming whisky bar located on the ground floor of 28 Queen Street, an elegant four-story Georgian town house in the heart of Scotland’s capital city. The award-winning bar is open to all, offering fantastic welcome deals to not-yet-members including ‘Membership and a bottle for £99’.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s focus is always on flavour and Kaleidoscope Bar love to experiment with sensory elements to enhance the enjoyment of drinking whisky. Every visit brings something different with a new selection of rare whiskies to explore almost every week alongside creative food pairings, music matches, one-of-a-kind cask cocktails to playing with aroma.

A recent collaboration with Kingdom Scotland, Scotland’s first fragrance house, incorporated guests’ olfactory systems to show how your sense of smell is key to discovery when enjoying whisky.

Kaleidoscope Bar’s expertly trained staff guide visitors through the colourful world of SMWS whiskies and recommend the best dram for them based on their flavour preferences. It’s the perfect way to discover and learn about SMWS whisky, but also the benefits of being an SMWS member.

The bar is home to an ever-changing collection of more than 500 exclusive single malts from Scotland and beyond – the SMWS recently celebrated its 150th distillery release, from Ireland. The bar also offers the finest craft beers, artisanal spirits, cocktails and wines.

The 28 Queen Street venue hosts a busy programme of colourful whisky tasting experiences, previews of new SMWS bottlings, one-off whisky events and masterclasses as well as private bookings – there’s something for everyone.

Commenting on the prestigious award, Sarah Prior, Venue Manager at 28 Queen Street, said: “To win ‘Global Whisky Bar of the Year’ is an outstanding achievement and to gain that highest level of recognition is amazing.

“We pride ourselves on being a warm and welcoming bar with expertise in whisky, but Kaleidoscope is a fantastic bar for anyone to visit, whatever their level of whisky knowledge. If you’re a whisky lover already, it’s a must-visit location.

“The passion our staff have for the Society is embodied in our friendly and first-class service. Being open to non-members gives us the chance to show this love for the world’s most colourful whisky club.

“From ever-changing unique single malt and one-of-a-kind single cask drams to a range of summer cocktails and delicious bar snacks, there’s something to please every guest. As we welcome more visitors to our beautiful city over the summer months, Kaleidoscope Bar will be the place to visit in Edinburgh for locals and tourists alike.”

Begin a discovery of flavour with the Society now and find out more about visiting Kaleidoscope Bar here: smws.com/venues/28-queen-street



CONTACT DETAILS

28 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX

0131 220 2044

E: queenstreet@smws.com

F: @SMWSQueenStreet

T: @SMWSQueenStreet

I: @SMWS_queenstreet

Over The Bridge: Local residents to launch music festival in Stockbridge

A new three-day music event, Over the Bridge, is set to take place in Edinburgh this summer. The event will see some of Scotland and the UK’s biggest music acts take to the stage including James Arthur, Ella Eyre, Feeder and Razorlight, over one weekend from Friday 29th – 31st July at Raeburn Place sports ground in Stockbridge. 

Day and weekend tickets go on sale this Friday 8th April via Ticketmaster. Each day, live music will start at 1pm, ending at 9pm. 

On Friday 29th July, Over the Bridge will be headlined by Say You Won’t Let Go singer James Arthur (above), with Ella Eyre, Cassia, RATS, Alex Amor, Stina Marie Claire, and Aaron Smith completing the days line up. 

Saturday will see Glasgow rock band Twin Atlantic headline (below), with Feeder, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, Liz Lawrence, Zuzu, Beren Olivia and Swiss Portrait also on the bill. 

Following the recent announcement of a reunion of the original lineup, the final day will see Razorlight (below) take to the stage, made famous for hits including America, Golden Touch, andIn the Morning to see out Over the Bridge after a day of music from Sports Team, Sam Ryder, Daytime TV, Luke La Volpe, Charlotte Jane and False Friends. 

Over the Bridge will also support Edinburgh’s favourite food and drink traders for guests to enjoy over the three days. The event will be using a reusable cup scheme to remove single use plastic waste. This will help improve sustainability, as well as reducing litter generally on and off the site.

Taking place at Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, Over the Bridge has been developed by Stockbridge residents Edward Wilson and Preston Mommsen.

Two years ago, the duo brought The Neighbourgood Market to the same location with the popular, vibrant food and drinks market returning last year over a twelve-week period.

The market showcased some of Scotland’s best food and drink offering from the likes of Stockbridge favourite Good Brothers Wine Bar, Innis & Gunn, The Peruvian, Pizza Geeks, Stag Bites, Edinburgh Gin and many more whilst visitors were also able to enjoy live music from local artists.

As residents who live and run businesses in Stockbridge, the pair recognised the potential impact that the event could have on local residents. They went through a thorough public consultation process with locals and the wider community to ensure Over the Bridge is a positive event that everyone can enjoy. This included liaising with the major community groups, letters to residents, door knocking and face to face Q&A sessions in the area.

Over the Bridge co-founder, Edward Wilson, said: “We’re extremely proud to be Edinburgh locals, and two years ago we wanted to bring something special to the city, which is when The Neighbourgood Market was born.

” After two tough years for Edinburgh, including a scaled back version of Fringe Festival, live music and arts have been on hold. This year, we wanted to bring live entertainment back to the city, so we are excited to announce the launch of the three-day music event, Over the Bridge.

“With a line up of amazing local and national acts, and with day and weekend tickets available, we hope it will be one of the highlights of this Summer in Edinburgh.”

Tickets for Over the Bridge go on sale at 10am on Friday 8th April, with day tickets starting at £50.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit: 

https://overthebridgeedinburgh.com/ 

Innovative Bon Accord drinks arrive in Morrisons’ Edinburgh stores

 

Edinburgh shoppers with a thirst for unique Scots drinks can now get a taste of the innovative Bon Accord brand in Morrisons after the company signed a new deal to supply their unique, naturally sweetened range to Morrisons supermarkets. 

100% naturally sweetened with real fruit juice and organic coconut nectar, Bon Accord contains no refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, making them the only soft drinks company to use this innovative, natural way of sweetening their drinks.  

Perfect for the health-conscious and environmentally-aware consumer, they’re sold in recyclable glass bottles, enhancing the company’s natural green credentials. 

Bon Accord co-founder Karen Knowles said: “We’re delighted that now even more customers will have the opportunity to buy our fizzy drinks.

“Our whole ethos is to inject a bit more joy into juice and that’s why we are committed to creating products that are not only tasty and good value but also a healthier option for our customers.

“With our 100% sweet by nature range, we’re aiming to help health-focused consumers take small steps to reduce refined sugar in their diet and feel good about fizz.” 

Bosses at the family-owned firm have also had a bit of fun compiling their own tasting notes, suggesting how the sparkling drinks can best accompany food. Forget a robust red – anyone for blue cheese with Rhubarb Soda? 

Five delicious varieties from the Bon Accord family will be available to buy in Morrisons across Edinburgh: 

  • Rhubarb Soda – 750ml bottle: Crisp and refreshing, with real rhubarb flavour, it’s a bestseller for a reason.  
  • Cloudy Lemonade – 750ml bottle: Tangy and tart with a zesty zin, exactly how lemonade should taste. This Cloudy Lemonade has all the hallmarks of a classic drink.  
  • Ginger Beer – 750ml bottle: Made with real ginger for a flavour that gently tingles and builds without overwhelming. 

    Rhubarb Soda and Ginger Beer will also be available to purchase in a handy 4 x 275ml pack. 

    Angus Bell, Senior Local Buying Manager, Scotland comments, “We are excited to introduce Bon Accord into 10 Morrisons stores in the East of Scotland as part of our Local Foodmakers programme.  

    “Many will remember the iconic Bon Accord delivery lorries and I’m sure that the reinvented, healthier and naturally sweetened range will be a big hit with our local customers. Morrisons’ Local Foodmakers programme searches for local food and drink makers of known and locally loved products and we have started working with over 100 new local suppliers through the programme, supporting local communities and economies.”

    Originally established in 1903 by the current founder’s great-great-grandfather in Arbroath Bon Accord delivered soft drinks to communities all over Scotland for over 100 years on their iconic lorries. Reimagined – and refreshed – in 2016, Bon Accord Soft Drinks is still a family-owned and run business, but times have changed and with a new generation at the helm, they are championing a new and exciting approach to pop.  

    For further information please visit www.bonaccordsoftdrinks.com 

Funding for local food initiatives

Projects that celebrate locally sourced and produced food and drink are being encouraged to apply for funding.

The Regional Food Fund aims to support the food and drink sector’s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with £110,000 of Scottish Government funding.

The fund, managed by Scotland Food & Drink, provides grants of up to £5,000 to applicants across the country.

Last year the fund was allocated across 42 projects, which varied from helping regional food group producers in Argyll & Bute grow their sales, to supporting the expansion of the Bowhouse market in Fife to allow more local producers to showcase their food and drink offerings.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands said: “This government is committed to supporting and promoting Scotland’s local produce, which is some of the finest in the world.

“I would encourage eligible groups and businesses to apply for this year’s Regional Food Fund.

“Since its launch in 2018, the Regional Food Fund has provided over £550,000 to 121 projects, and this additional funding will support many more projects and initiatives.”

Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “The Regional Food Fund has already played an important role in promoting food and drink in local communities and delivering benefits to Scotland’s local food and drink sector over the long-term.

“It’s great to see the fund reopen and continuing to promote and encourage great local food initiatives by supporting regional activities, networks and collaborative initiatives across the country.”

Regional Food Fund information and application

Who can apply?

  • individual businesses in the food and drink sector, including primary producers, on behalf of a collaborative group or project
  • regional and community groups (both rural and urban)
  • individuals on behalf of a collaborative group or project

The deadline for applications is 5pm, 9 May 2022.

Sizzling Pubs team up with Make-A-Wish UK to make dreams come true

Sizzling pubs, including The Robin’s Nest in Edinburgh, are teaming up with Make-A-Wish UK to help make dreams come true for seriously ill children across the UK. 

As part of the ‘Sizzling Community Change’ campaign, the pub chain has set themselves the goal of collectively raising one million pennies for their charity partner Make-A-Wish UK, and other local community good causes, through a series of fundraising activities.

With over 243 pubs across the UK, Sizzling prides themselves on their sense of community spirit – and this partnership with Make-A-Wish UK will help make a real difference to the lives of children in the local communities that their pubs are at the heart of.

Currently, around 63,000 children across the UK are eligible for a wish because they have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. And Make-A-Wish UK aims to create hope, happiness and memories for the whole family to cherish by empowering children with the chance to choose a wish that’s unique to them.

The pub chain’s fundraising activity is set to kick off with the introduction of Sizzling’s ‘Light Nights’ menu, which will feature a charity dessert. The special Eton Mess Sundae will help raise money for Make-A-Wish UK, with 25p from each pudding being donated to the charity.

Tom Redwood, Operations Director at Sizzling Pubs, said: “Supporting local charities is part of what gives us our Sizzling spirit, and we hope this new partnership will help make a big difference to the lives of children and their families across the UK.

“We’re so proud to be supporting Make-A-Wish UK as part of our Sizzling Community Change campaign, and our charity dessert is just the beginning when it comes to the exciting fundraising activities we have planned for this year.”

Jason Suckley, Chief Executive at Make-A-Wish UK, said: “The power of a wish can revive a childhood stolen by critical illness. We are very grateful for the generous support of Sizzling Pubs, which will help Make-A-Wish UK be a light in the darkness for more children and their loves ones, granting wishes that leave a profound and lasting impact on all their lives.”

Discover which seriously ill children need help in your area and help make a wish come true using the Make-A-Wish UK ‘Wish Map’:

https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/wishes/wish-map/