TASTE OF SCOTLAND NEWSLETTER
March 2010
 HAVE A BALL ON COLL WITH A SPECIAL COOK’S TOUR
Award-winning Coll Hotel co-owner and Chef Julie Oliphant opened up her kitchen to share some of the ingredients of her success when she held an adults’ cookery class in February.
For the first time in the hotel’s 25 year history Julie ran three days of tuition for a group of 12 guests. Most of the guests were from the Glasgow area but two had flown up specially from Hertfordshire. Not surprisingly, some of the lessons focused on how to prepare and serve Coll’s splendid seafood.
“The food was fabulous and to see how it's created and get Julie’s recipes made it all the more special,” said Sheena and Douglas Patrick from Bridge of Weir. “We had a ball on Coll. It was all so much fun - cooking, walking, eating and drinking! This was a great wee holiday.”
Due to the popularity of the class it has now been added to the winter activities for the Coll Hotel. Cookery classes are due to be held from November this year until March 2011 at a cost of £65 per person per day.
For further information contact Julie at: www.collhotel.com
  ENTERTAINING WITH CONFIDENCE
Book now for a Cookery School with Hyndberry and Letham House.
23rd - 25th March & 5th - 7th October 2010
Book now for an all-inclusive three night break combining cooking classes with luxurious accommodation, set within the beautiful surroundings of Letham House near Haddington, East Lothian.
Creative simple cooking for the perfect dinner party.
Over the course of two days, guests will learn many clever and imaginative ways to prepare for and serve a delicious dinner to their guests. They will also get guidance on how to remain cool and relaxed in the heart of the kitchen and able to enjoy those special dining occasions.
For further information please see www.lethamhouse.com and www.hyndberry.co.uk
 EAST LOTHIAN FOOD & DRINK ‘MEET THE SUPPLIERS’ EVENT
March 16th marks yet another East Lothian Food & Drink Event.
Highlights of the morning will include:
- Cookery demonstration with Tom Kitchin
- Pairing wine with food by Sandy Ramsay
- Light lunch and networking
The event will be held at The Maitlandfield House Hotel, Haddington
To book a place contact Gemma Boyle on 01620 827916
Email: gboyle@eastlothian.gov.uk
 BEERS FLIGHTS FROM MICHELIN STARRED KINLOCH LODGE
Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye, owned by bestselling cookery writer Claire Macdonald, is offering ‘beer flights’ on its recently Michelin-Starred menu.
Sixteen beers have been selected for the list, and fifteen of these are from Scotland.
If, like our Taste of Scotland team you are not totally familiar with Beer Flights, let me explain the ‘flight’ is a selection of beers traditionally served on a wooden paddle type tray. [No Connection to Easyjet or Ryan Air. (Ed)]
Tom Eveling, who manages Kinloch Lodge with his wife Isabella, selected the beers so as to offer guests a wide and gastronomically appealing list. It is one of the most extensive bottled beer lists of any restaurant in Scotland. The beer flights have been matched to every dish on the menu and sit alongside the restaurant’s established wine flights, malt whisky flights and the ‘beer and a dram chasers’.
The Scottish beers from the islands of Skye, Black Isle, Orkney and Arran are on the menu whilst the Scottish mainland is represented by Edinburgh, Alva, Alloa and Fraserburgh. Sam Smiths raspberry beer from Yorkshire is the only English beer. All manner of beers are on the list with ingredients as exotic as heather, seaweed and raspberries – historic beer ingredients popular in Britain before the arrival of hops in the 1500s.
Tom Eveling comments: “Choosing the best flights to match each dish has been a real eye-opener. People still seem to think that wine is smart and wonderful with food and that, for some unknown reason, beers are not. They are wrong. The reaction from our diners has been very positive. Several have expressed both surprise and delight at the pairings, and there has been genuine interest in trying the new experiences which our beer flights offer.
“Scotland now brews a myriad of fantastic beers. I believe we should be proud of what we brew and match it to all our wonderful Scottish food. It would have been a real oversight not to offer this choice on our menu."
www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk
 EXCLUSIVE USE VENUE NEAR OBAN
Celebrate that special occasion in the privacy of Barcaldine House, a charming country mansion near Oban available for exclusive use events and private parties. This hidden gem, set in stunning Argyllshire countryside is just 10 miles from Oban and makes the perfect venue for all sorts of occasions and celebrations.
Whether it is for small, intimate weddings, special family gatherings, birthday parties, an anniversary, Christmas festivities or themed weekends, escape to the west coast of Scotland and add a little highland magic to your event. Barcaldine provides a designated event co-ordinator and ensures you receive the best quality of service and entertainment.
Accommodating small parties of up to 40 this delightful house boasts elegant common areas, an outstanding restaurant, lounge bar with a reserve of the finest Cohiba cigars, an oak panelled billiard room, eight luxury guest rooms and six delightful cottages.
Resplendent, historic features, roaring log fires, a well stocked bar with the finest single malt whiskies in Scotland and a traditional piper playing in the enchanting gardens will make your exclusive use of Barcaldine that little bit extra special.
Barcaldine House is also perfect as a magnificent, Highland retreat for exclusive use corporate events as well as for a birthday or anniversary party. The house offers an informal and relaxed atmosphere for board room meetings, team building activities and fun weekends away from the office. Refresh your hard working team or treat important clients to a relaxing break or activity fuelled adventure in the Oban and the Highlands of Scotland. Make your corporate team building something to remember.
To discuss ideas and requirements for your occasion please contact us on 01631 720 219. We look forward to hearing from you.
www.barcaldinehouse.co.uk
 PERTH FARMERS’ MARKET HOSTS FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY COOKERY DEMO
Perth Farmers’ Market is staging a cookery demonstration in conjunction with the Food Standards Agency in Scotland at their next market on Saturday 6th March.
Designed to take its key messages on food safety and healthy eating directly to the Perthshire consumers, the cookery demonstration will be given by award-winning food writer and venison producer, Nichola Fletcher. Nichola will be producing a range of tasty dishes including; Tweed Kettle, Barley Risotto, and Spiced Venison.
Charles Milne, Director Scotland, Food Standards Agency said “Our research with consumers shows that more and more people are taking an active interest in the food they eat - so the Farmers’ Market provides an ideal platform to demonstrate how to cook nutritious food and prepare food safely.”
Perth Farmers’ Market Manager Adeline Watson explained “The remit of the Food Standards Agency falls broadly in line with our own ideals and we are delighted to be able to give them the platform to show how produce available from the market can be cooked in a safe and healthy manner.”
www.perthfarmersmarket.co.uk
 HIGHLAND COTTAGE GETS STAR BILLING
The award-winning Highland Cottage on Mull has just been awarded four Gold Stars by VisitScotland.
This ‘restaurant with rooms’ already holds two AA rossettes for food and is celebrating the start of the 2010 season with a special £199 dinner, bed and breakfast package for two during March and April.
Mull’s many attractions mean the island can get busy during the Summer but March and April are good months to visit before the crowds arrive.
For more details or to make a reservation call 01688-302030 or email davidandjo@highlandcottage.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS TO OPUS ONE / NEW COUNTY HOTEL
 Opus One Restaurant in the New County Hotel, Perth recently won 'Urban Restaurant of the Year' category at the Scottish Restaurant Awards 2010 in Edinburgh's Corn Exchange.
To celebrate, Opus One Restaurant and Inverarity Wines are hosting a special 'Wine Tasting Gourmet Dinner' on Friday 12th March. Will Nicholson of Inverarity will talk through his selection of New World Wines, carefully chosen to complement each delicious course. Cost per person £60 all inclusive.
To reserve a table at this special event, call 01738-623355.
Opus One at the New County Hotel, 22-30 County Place, Perth, PH2 8EE.
email - enquiries@newcountyhotel.com Web: www.newcountyhotel.com
FOOD IN SEASON - MARCH
As the days get longer and the weather gets milder, the first fruits of the season, such as rhubarb, will be finding their way to market. Leeks, lemon sole, parsley and radishes also make an appearance. Try these and other fresh flavours. Cockles, Mussels, Cod, Oysters, Salmon, Sea trout, Lemon sole, Leeks, Purple sprouting broccoli, Parsley, Radishes, Spring onions, Broccoli Cauliflower, Lemons, Oranges, Passion fruit, Pomegranate, Forced Rhubarb
  
And don’t forget to check out our March 2010 Special Offers
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