Scran (The Scotsman)

It's finally here - the first of our Christmas specials. Rosalind has been getting out and about to talk to businesses and producers about all things Christmas - how they are preparing, what it entails, recommendations, tips and tricks - the Scran Christmas specials have it all!  Across the two episodes Roslaind looks at the option of dining out on Christmas day with a trip to One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel Du Vin Glasgow. She investigates some of the best food and drink gifts available with long established retailers Valvona and Crolla and Mellis Cheese. Anyone for cocktail tips? Rosalind gets the inside track on creating festival tipples and boozy gifts this year from The Good Spirits Company.  On Part 1 Rosalind visits the UK's longest running Italian deli - Edinburgh's Valvona and Crolla. Mary and Francesca Contini, who run the business, tell Rosalind all about the fascinating history of the business, the produce their customers keep returning for as well as tips for gifts and how they will celebrate a traditional Italian Christmas themselves. Each Christmas here at Scran we like to celebrate the work of an organisation who is helping those in need all year round. This year Rosalind visits social enterprise, The Big Issue in Glasgow to hear all about how the magazine came about as well as its purpose and aims from editor Paul McNamee. She also chats to Matthew Costelloe who is a Vendor Outreach Worker and Deborah Prow who is a Sales and Outreach Worker to hear more about the practical support they provide to people at risk of experiencing homelessness. Later in the episode Rosalind meets Brigitta, one of the vendors who works with the Big Issue on a pitch outside Marks and Spencer's on Argyle St, who tells her how she came to work with The Big Issue and the difference it's made to her life. You can find out more about The Big Issue and support them on their website www.bigissue.com Thanks for listening - lots more Christmas content coming soon in part 2 of this year's Scran Christmas specials! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up Rosalind speaks to Louise Elder, Director of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland and Chief Steward of Scotland's Larder. Louise has been involved in the show for many years and talks about how it represents so many different things to so many different people. Su Cox also joins Rosalind on this episode. Su who comes from some serious foodie lineage and is the Communications and New Business Development Director at Bakkafrost Scotland & Scottish Hebridean Salmon. Su has been involved with the Royal Highland Show in different ways over the years from simply attending to education and now as a producer and sponsor. She tells Rosalind about why the event as a gathering of rural communities is so important. Rosalind's final guest is Aylett Roan, Director and Chief Steward of Scottish Championships at the Royal Highland Show. She also runs Roan's Dairy in Dumfries and Galloway. Aylett tells Rosalind about how she ended up in dairy farming despite the challenges it presented at agricultural college and talks about what it's like to judge food competitions and the Scottish Championships at the RHS which awards best cheese, dairy, butter, ice cream, honey and new for this year, milk and cream. And she has some great tips on buying vanilla ice cream! The Royal Highland Show runs from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd June 2024. You can find more information about it and buy tickets here. You may see Rosalind there with her microphone if you make it along! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special partner episode of Scran Rosalind pays a trip to an historic hostelry in the South of Scotland - the one and only Globe Inn in Dumfries and Galloway. Famed as the favourite haunt and second home of Robert Burns, it was purchased by David Thomson and Teresa Church in 2018. Their investment in this famous bar and restaurant has seen it go from strength to strength.  Rosalind's visit starts with a tour of this fascinating establishment, guided by Kathleen Cronie (Mostly Ghostly), the resident storyteller who regales her with stories of the Bard and his fondness for the inn.  Following the tour Rosalind was treated to an outstanding tasting menu lunch prepared by Head Chef Fraser Cameron and Head of Cuisine at Annandale Distillery and The Globe Inn, Johnathan Brett. She talks to them about their experience of running the kitchen and what plans lie ahead for The Globe Inn and the 1610 restaurant. Michelin star anyone? Finally, Rosalind sits down with owners David and Teresa to talk about the Inn's new lease of life. They fill Rosalind in on their relationship with this famous venue and how they have now become 'custodians' as they like to be called for this and future generations. You can book a tour of The Globe Inn or a table in the 1610 restaurant by visiting www.globeinndumfries.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special partner episode of Scran with 'Eat Drink Hebrides' Rosalind visited Uist for the first time and had the wonderful opportunity to sample just a little of what this unique island has to offer.  First up Rosalind chatted to DJ Cameron from Long Island Retreats. A sixth generation crofter, DJ tells Rosalind all about his business and how visitors come from all over to understand their farming methods from field to fork. DJ explains that despite the challenges of trading on the Western Isles, their high quality product and singular location keeps customers coming back for more. Next up Rosalind met Mick Huda at Charlie's Bistro in Benbecula. Mick is a Production Manager at Salar Smokehouse. He explained how the business came to be and why their product is so singular whilst they tucked into some delicious salmon and scallops.  All that running around Uist is thirsty work y'know - so the next stop was welcome - North Uist Distillery - set up in 2019 by Jonny Ingledew and Kate McDonald. It's home to Downpour Gin and in time, some of the first whisky ever to be distilled on the island legally. Whilst there Rosalind enjoyed a gin tasting, a tour of the facilities in this historic building and a chat with founder Jonny. The final stop was at Lochmaddy Bay Prawns located at Clachan Sands where Rosalind met Tina Nicholson to hear all about their unique business which was a positive result of the impact of covid-19.  If you are looking for somewhere to get away from it all and enjoy a wonderful welcome and delicious local produce, Uist is for you. You can find out more by visiting www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk and searching for 'Food and Drink'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week is the second part of our Scran on the road series.On this episode, Rosalind travels from Speyside to the Moray coast to speak to business owners and staff about reopening following lockdown.Firstly, Rosalind chats to owner of Bootlegger's Bothy and the Bothy Bistro, Ruth Scott and head chef Andy Fyfe about the pop up kitchen overlooking the Moray coast and how the pandemic has made them become more creative.Rosalind then heads to Elgin to speak to brand ambassador for Glen Moray, Iain Allan about their dial a dram service.A bonus from last week's episode, Danny Grant head chef at the Craigellachie talks about why Scotland’s food larder is more than enough to cook up a storm.Finally Charles Gladstone from Glen Dye cabins and cottages talks about the rising popularity of a staycation and why Scotland is a dream destination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we'll get you out of the January blues and into the rhythm of 2020, and we'll talk about Veganuary and Chinese New year all in the same episode.Host Rosalind Erksine chats to Lychee Oriental founder and chef, Jimmy Lee about his Chinese New Year traditions, his childhood exploring the drinks cabinet and his new gluten free menu.Rosalind also chats to Edinburgh Evening News what's on and food reporter Caitlyn Dewar about new foodie finds in the capital and her thoughts on the Veganuary trend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran we are banishing thoughts of dry January and focusing on two of Rosalind's favourite topics - music and booze. Rosalind is joined by Dougie Payne from Travis to talk about his recent beer collaboration marking their new album L.A.Times. 'Raze the bar' was created with Signature Brew and Dougie tells Rosalind about how the beer came about and how it is inspired by music from the album. Founder of Signature Brew Sam McGregor also joins the podcast to talk about the project, as does Felipe Schrieberg of The Rhythm and Booze project. Felipe and the other guests consider how music and drinks combine perfectly and the challenges faced by both industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this bonus episode of Scran we celebrate an exclusive collaboration between Johnnie Walker Princes Street and the two Michelin-starred team of James and Maria Close. STIR is a ground-breaking cocktail and cuisine concept for the Explorer's Bothy Bar which serves up a unique menu of stunningly innovative small-bite plates alongside meticulously curated cocktails by Head Bartender, Miran Chauhan. This collaboration aims to completely redefine the concept of whisky and food pairing and on this episode Rosalind samples the menu. She discovers flavours unlike anything she has encountered before in terms of originality, ingenuity and flavour. You'll hear excerpts from a launch event which took place earlier this summer, as well as interviews with James and Miran. Miran has worked with James and Maria in this collaboration pairing whisky from the four corners beautifully with delicate and evocative dishes. Rosalind talks to him about where he gets his inspiration from when designing new cocktails and drinks menus and how he works with the team to deliver such singular pairings. Owners of the renowned global experience restaurant, Raby Hunt, Maria and James have created something very special for STIR. James tells Rosalind all about this exciting new partnership and how, he has in fact, worked in the same building before in a very different capacity long before his cheffing days. You can find out more about STIR and book a table here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Rosalind chats to a range of whisky experts in the lead up to World Whisky Day on 16 May.Blair Bowman, author, whisky consultant and founder of World Whisky Day, talks about why and how he founded the day, his journey into whisky and how you can train your nose to pick up on the subtleties of a dram.John McCheyne, Master Brand Ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, chats about his whisky memories, what members can expect from the society, how to host a tasting at home and his favourite drams.Finally, founder of the Edinburgh Whisky Academy Kirsty McKerrow discusses her career in whisky, what courses are available at the academy and how people can take part online from home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel is a mum of two and the Managing Director of Hidden Lane Brewery in Glasgow. Rachel started her career aged just 13 working in hospitality and this sparked a lifelong passion for the industry. She worked in cafes, hotels, bars and nightclubs, building a rich understanding of the various environments and styles of customer service. Eventually she worked for Budweiser and Diageo, where her love of and passion for beer developed. She took a career break to look after her kids and support her husband in his business enterprises, before returning on the other side of the hospitality industry with Hidden Lane Brewery - a real passion project for her. She is hugely enthusiastic about all things food and drink and her brewery's organic nature using only the best of ingredients perfectly sums up her ethos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unless you've been living under a rock, you won't have escaped the seemingly unstoppable rise of Scottish gin.One brand that seems to encapsulate the ethos of championing not just local produce but a sense of community is the Isle of Harris Gin. Produced on the island at the newly opened distillery, the gin is known for its unique flavour - created with the main botanical sugar kelp - and eye-catching blue bottle.This week Rosalind Erskine chats to Harris gin's brand ambassador Iona Cairns about the gin's creation, rise in popularity, what happened when thy ran out of bottles, and why you should visit the distillery if you have a sweet tooth.Gaby Souter, The Scotsman restaurant critic, is also in the studio with her must-visit restaurants of the month (and some to avoid). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can nearly smell the gorgeous roast coffee from this episode. Rosalind visits Dear Green Coffee Roasters in this episode to hear what's hot in the coffee world. Recent high street chains have been experimenting with olive oil. Rosalind finds out if these fads stand up. Michele Mariotti Gleneagles, Head of Bar, also joins Rosalind on this episode to talk about all things cocktails. He has spent much of his career fine tuning his cocktail skills and talks to Rosalind about how cheese and sushi rice are getting a look in in recent trends. He also talks about changes at Gleneagles and the launch of a brand new cocktail menu this autumn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode Rosalind takes a trip to The Pitt in North Edinburgh - named after its birthplace on Pitt St, this street food and community hub is doing things a little differently. Rosalind met with founder Hal Prescott who told her all about how the popularity of The Pitt has grown since its beginnings in 2015 and how expansion and a change of location has brought many opportunities and its fair share of challenges. Rosalind also chats to some of the traders who are working out of containers on the new site in Granton. First up is Nicole and Ameer Limbu of Choola, who make amazing bhajis. Robin Strigner of The Buffalo Truck tells Rosalind about being with The Pitt since its inception. Finally, Andi Spiers Fergusson and Euan Casserley share how their passion to travel has influenced their cooking and the lifestyle choice of running a number of street food businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whisky is one of Scotland's major exports as well as a huge tourism driver. But did you know that some whisky history also includes illicit distilling, pirates and vagabonds? This week we delve into just that with the Glengoyne story, as told by their whisky experiential ambassador, Gordon Dallas.Rosalind finds out how Glengoyne was inextricably linked to the rapid rise of Glasgow as an industrial powerhouse, through violent vagabonds and Victorian entrepreneurs to modern day pirates.Rosalind also chats to Sean Murphy, editor of Scotsman Food and Drink, about distilling's murky past in Scotland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to this very special partnership episode of Scran where we have teamed up with Johnnie Walker Princes Street to bring you news of a fascinating collaboration. 2 years in the making, Johnnie Walker, a brand synonymous with Scotland, quality and heritage, has teamed up with Harris Tweed Hebrides to launch a new whisky complete with luxury packaging. This is the first of the ‘Johnnie Walker Princes Street Collective’ collaborations- a series that will bring together the world’s leading Scotch whisky with Scotland’s best creative forces to create unique and collectable whiskies. The whisky represents a world first, having been matured over the past year in special hand-selected American oak casks in the Whisky Makers Cellar at Johnnie Walker Princes Street. The cellar, which holds just 26 casks, is unique amongst bondedwarehouses in Scotland, tucked beneath one of Edinburgh’s most famous streets. We went along to the launch of this new whisky to hear all about how these two Scottish power houses have come together to create something unique and special. Rosalind sat down with some of the key players in this collaboration of arguably two of Scotland's best known luxury brands. First up is Emma Walker, Master Blender, who you may recall we met just over a year ago when Johnnie Walker Princes Street first opened.  Next up is Mark Hogarth Creative Director at Harris Tweed Hebrides. Mark has spent many years working on high end collaborations and he tells us that this partnership with Johnnie Walker ticked all the boxes for the brand, especially in terms of attention to detail, Scottish heritage and sustainability. Finally Rosalind is joined by George Harper, Johnnie Walker Whisky Specialist who created the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Collective bottling. George tells Rosalind all about the process they go through in developing a whisky and a collaboration such as this as well as highlighting some exciting times ahead for Johnnie Walker fans. We hope you enjoy this episode of Scran and you can learn more about Johnnie Walker Princes Street, this great collaboration and what's on offer for visitors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Rosalind chats to two pioneers of the beer industry who are offering healthier alternatives to classic pints.Jason Clarke, creative Director of Genius Brewing, discusses their craft light lager and their mission to provide quality craft beer at a fraction of the alcohol and calories. Jason also talks about how the rise in healthy living has affected the beer market and how America is leading the way.Rosalind also speaks to Sonja Mitchell, founder of Jump Ship Brewing, about her alcohol-free beer, which launched last year. Sonja discusses why she moved from marketing into brewing and her reasons behind launching an alcohol-free beer - Yardarm lager.Acclaimed chef Nick Nairn also joins Rosalind on a call to give some cooking tips - this week he reveals how to cook a perfect steak.Finally Rosalind gives her ideas on food and drink to enjoy at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!This week we celebrate the culinary traditions of Burns Night, with expert tips on haggis and whisky.Rosalind is joined by Mark Thomson, the brand ambassador for Scotland for Glenfiddich, who recites 'Address to a Haggis' and shares his insight into which whisky should be enjoyed with the traditional dish.Rosalind also welcomes James Macsween, managing director of Macsweens Haggis, and Scott Monroe, Head of East of Scotland region for Marks and Spencers.They talk about working together to create their delicious haggis and how they are catering to a more diverse global market than ever - with the help of 'Scottish Veggie Crumble'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even if you're not a beer drinker, the name Brewdog won't have escaped your attention in recent years. From humble beginnings in 2007 they've grown to become a global brand with 82 bars around the world.This week Rosalind ventures up to Ellon to visit the home of Brewdog. She chats to co-founder Martin Dickie about his passion for brewing, the logic behind the name and their innovative business model.Rosalind chats to Scotsman Food and Drink editor Sean Murphy about the reasons behind the rise of craft beer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been a long four months of lockdown, but finally indoor hospitality can reopen in Scotland. On this episode Rosalind chats to Stevie McLaughlin, head chef of Scotland's only two Michelin star restaurant - Restaurant Andrew Fairlie - about lockdown, how the staff and restaurant have been prepared for opening and what diners can expect.Rosalind also heads out to a newly opened beer garden in Glasgow, Cranside Kitchen, to discuss the reopening restaurant scene in the city with Glasgowist editor Paul Trainer.From beer garden to inside the bar, Rosalind speaks to publican Michael Woods, who owns The Amsterdam, Saint Lukes and the Winged Ox. Michael speaks about takeaway pints, reopening to customers both inside and out and how things will be very different from before.Nick Nairn is back in the kitchen giving his cooking tips. This time it's how to bake a loaf of bread - for those who didn't manage to master it during lockdown.Finally Rosalind shares her lockdown food and drink that you can enjoy at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buffalo mozzarella doesn't sound very Scottish. But one Fife farmer is aiming to change all that.This week Rosalind goes to visit Steven Mitchell on his buffalo farm near Kirkcaldy.He talks about why he chose buffalo, the unique characteristics (and sounds) of the animals, and his ambitions to produce Scotland's first ever buffalo mozzarella. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Scran, we partnered with Johnnie Walker to celebrate 200 years of the brand.On this episode, host Rosalind Erskine is joined by Head of Whisky Outreach at Diageo and the author of ‘A Long Stride’, Nicolas Morgan. Published this year to coincide with the bicentenary, the book takes a look at the history of Johnnie Walker, exploring how it grew from a humble grocery store in Kilmarnock to the global brand it is today.Rosalind is also joined by author and whisky consultant Blair Bowman. He is widely known for founding World Whisky Day and listeners of Scran will know that Blair has featured on the podcast before.Blair chats about what blended Scotch is (and the difference between blended malt), his favourite Johnnie Walker drinks and, of course. his desert island drams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to season two of Scran - the podcast that's passionate about food and drink.We are now airing fortnightly and this week we delve into the coronavirus crisis and lockdown - and how the food and drink industry is coping.Rosalind is joined by James Withers, CEO of Scotland Food and Drink, award-winning chef Mark Greenaway and Petra Wetzel, owner of WEST Brewery.James chats about Scotland Food and Drink, how the organisation is helping members and how the industry can navigate this current crisis together and come out the other side.Mark shares his tip on cooking at home and discusses what he thinks the future holds for restaurants after coronavirus.Petra talks about the impact of the lockdown on her businesses, beer delivery and why WEST will no longer be supplying Wetherspoons pubs.Rosalind also talks about her lockdown cuisine - a sardine bolognese, and favourite G&T, made with Edinburgh Gin's Seaside Gin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran, host Rosalind Erskine is joined by a very special guest: Outlander star Sam Heughan.Sam is a Scottish actor who is best known for playing warrior Jamie Fraser in Outlander, the historical drama TV show based on the novel series of the same name. Set in Scotland in 1793 at the time of the Jacobites uprising, it has gained fans from all over the world.In 2019 Sam realised his dream of releasing his own whisky, The Sassenach. Sam talks about what inspired him, why he chose a blend over a single malt and when fans in the UK can buy a bottle.Sam also discusses his drams of choice, as well as some favourite foods... and some not-so-favourite foodie moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're getting very excited about one of the international cultural events of the year. The Oscars take place this weekend and in an amazing turn of events, two Scottish businesses have reason to celebrate. Fetcha Chocolates and The Gin Bothy will both see their products feature as part of the famous "Everyone Wins" gift bags which the nominees receive. These bags have an approximate value of $125,000 and include such exclusive contents as luxury skincare and a lavish holiday in St Bart's. On this episode of Scran Rosalind speaks to Fiona MacArthur from her business Fetcha Chocolates in Campbelltown about this exciting development, as well as how she's got to where she is today. You'll hear about how she has gone all out to capitalise on this opportunity. Rosalind also speaks to Kim Cameron, owner of The Gin Bothy about the 'pinch me' moment of being asked to contribute one of her gins to the gift bag. She also tells Rosalind the great story of how she went from jam making to gin making and how both businesses are reaping rewards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of our annual Christmas Scran specials. We're fully engrossed in all things Christmas and we're pleased to say this episode is jam packed full of joy, tradition and cheer. First up on this podcast Rosalind meets Peter Gilchrist, Scottish Food Historian, writer and friend of the podcast who takes her through the evolution of the Scottish Christmas and how we have arrived at many of our modern day customs and traditions. Peter and Rosalind met at the beautifully decorated The Ivy restaurant in Glasgow to enjoy a festive brunch. Peter is always a fascinating guest and we guarantee you that you will walk away from today's episode knowing something new about Christmas. Then we head back to Bow Market in Fife to talk to Chris Miles of Inchcolm Distillery who makes a very interesting spirit from leftover apples, and Stephen Wade of Woodmill Game who tells Rosalind about how he created and moulded his business.  Finally you'll hear from Barry Bryson who lets us in on the life of a chef at Christmas time as well as his exciting plans for the year ahead..but most importantly - he has tips for the Christmas dinner! Something we all relish in the run up to the big day... Thanks to listening to Scran throughout 2024, we will return in 2025 with lots more tales from inside the food and drink industry we know and love in Scotland. Merry Christmas and happy new year! Rosalind & Kelly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Scran is brought to you in partnership Scotland food and drink and today marks the launch of the Scottish food and drink fortnight from the 5th - 20th September.Scran will take a culinary tour around Scotland, chatting to a range of local legends about their businesses, produce and their community.This week host Rosalind is on a socially distant tour of the north east as she chats to various entrepreneurs in Aberdeenshire about their passion for growing their businesses and why the culinary scene there is booming. Her first guest is owner of House of Botanicals, Adam Elan-Elmegirab who talks about his creative idea that led him to research and recreate the famous Boker’s bitters, which was first created in 1828.Next up Rosalind chats to Skipper of the Budding Rose, Peter Bruce who tells me about his family roots in the fishing industry and the importance of continuing this legacy.Then, Hungry Squirrel Nut butter founder Susan Yule discusses how she developed her business when she was looking for an alternative to peanut butter for herself and her children.Finally, our new friend of the podcast, chef Stevie McLaughlin tells us how to make a restaurant classic - lobster thermidor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With International Women's Day just around the corner, this week Scran is celebrating women in the hospitality industry with a live recording from a special fundraising dinner at Eusebi's in Glasgow.Rosalind chats to owner Giovanna Eusebi about her restaurant and family influences, as well as her motivation behind hosting the women in hospitality dinner.Kate Fairlie discusses how she's keeping her husband Andrew Fairlie's legacy alive and chief executive of HIT Scotland David Cochrane talks about how this charity is helping to support those getting into the industry, including fundraising efforts such as climbing Kilimanjaro and eating the 'world's highest' Burns supper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gin is this week's theme, and more specifically the botanicals that make each one unique.Rosalind is joined in the studio by Hamish Martin, co-founder of the Secret Herb Garden. He talks about growing his business from a derelict plot of land on the outskirts of Edinburgh into a specialist seven-acre herb garden and visitor centre. He also discusses The Old Curiosity Gin, which he launched in 2017.We also get the background to Scotland's gin renaissance from Sean Murphy, Scotsman food and drink editor, and author of the acclaimed 'Gin Galore: A Journey to the Source of Scotland's Gin'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind is riding the wave of Michelin star celebrations when she speaks to two new recipients. Stuart Ralston of Layla and Rodney Wages of Avery, both very new restaurants, join Rosalind to talk all about the process of gaining the star, how they have achieved it, what it means for their teams and what happens once they win. This episode gives a great insight into the world of fine dining and just what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the industry. Photo by Murray Orr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are delving into some slightly lesser known and more niche products available in Scotland. We hear about an interesting array of produce, which, coincidentally are all businesses being run by women.  First up Rosalind chats to Clare MacDougall of The 1295 Caviar Company - Clare is an entrepreneur with a background in marketing for the food and beverage industry. Her company exclusively imports and distributes Sturia caviar from France, in Scotland. Rosalind also chats to Pinkie Methven and Ronnie Murray of the Tea Gardens of Scotland who collectively produce Nine Ladies Dancing - a unique blend of tea which is grown in Scotland by nine female tea growers.  Finally, Rosalind caught up with Sheena Horner of Galloway Chillies. Sheena opens the lid on the fascinating world of chilli growing and how intense a process it can be. She tells us about the huge amount of varieties there are and which are the hot ones you should really be looking out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Scran, recorded ahead of Father's Day, Rosalind chats to Billy and Alistair Walker about how whisky has shaped their careers.Nick Nairn also joins Rosalind on a call to discuss his career highlights - from being the youngest Scottish chef to receive a Michelin star to cooking for the Queen. Nick also shares his cooking tip for this episode: how to make perfect pasta.Finally Rosalind talks about what she's been eating and drinking at home over the last two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosalind's guest this week has a strong pedigree in the hospitality industry and shares with her some of the lessons he's learned in his experience through the years. Piers Adam became one of the biggest names in bars and nightclubs in London in the 2000s but has in recent years. years turned his attention to Scotland. Having run famous venues such as Mahiki, The Punch bowl with Guy Ritchie, Whisky Mist and others, Piers has had his fair share of experience when it comes to opening businesses and making them successful. On this episode of Scran you'll hear Piers tell Rosalind about how he came to discover The Craigellachie and to buy it, building up a business which put the community at the heart of it. He describes this as his most joyous and rewarding project ever. Piers also discusses the thought and care that has gone into this business as well as confirming the near legendary status of their opening party which hosted such famous faces as Kate Moss, Noel Gallagher and Bobby Gillespie.  Piers offers some great insight to the hospitality industry and what he sees as being the future of an industry that is being crippled by costs. He also discusses the famous Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival and how The Craigellachie has come to be somewhat of a centre of the festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've got something a little different for you today - the first ever Scran Live! which took place at this year's Royal Highland Show in Ingliston. The Royal Highland Show is such an inspirational and vibrant event it was wonderful to be part of it. Our panel session looked at what it's like for small producers to get their products on to supermarket shelves. We welcomed back some previous Scran alumni Kim Cameron of Jam Bothy and Gin Bothy, and Tim Chisholm of Buck and Birch. And new to the podcast was guest Christie Clinton, a food and drink business consultant who previously worked as a buyer with Aldi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of Scran Rosalind is joined by wine expert, author and TV personality Oz Clarke and wine aficionado Diana Thomson from Wine Events Scotland. Oz tells Rosalind all about how he first got into wine, how the British public came to love it and what changes are afoot in the industry. Happily Rosalind's dreams of a Fife wine are kept alive in Oz's predictions.Diana tells Rosalind all about the upcoming Edinburgh Uncorked event as well as sharing with us her desert island drinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind takes a trip to the Port of Leith to visit Fingal, a Stevenson Lighthouse yacht which has been converted into a luxury hotel. The team behind the project have sea-faring experience already having run The Royal Yacht Britannia for the last 25 years. Rosalind was keen to see just how Fingal has secured, and maintained, the 'number one hotel in Edinburgh' spot on TripAdvisor. Rosalind met Casey Rust, Director of Marketing for both ships, who gave her a tour of this singular hotel and talked about the unique process of converting a yacht into a bespoke hotel. She also met Executive Chef Mark Alston who told her all about the challenges and opportunities presented by being in charge of multiple galley kitchens. He shared his experience of cooking for celebrities and royalty as well as how working with their clients is key to achieving their very high standards. We've also got news of the all new Scran Awards and how to nominate. Please consider sharing this episode with anyone you think might enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year again when whisky lovers from all over the world are about to descend on Speyside to celebrate their favourite drams and all things whisky. In advance of the festivities Scran brings you an exclusive insight into this historic distillery and its 125 years of whisky production. On this episode Rosalind visits Speyburn Distillery and meets Manager Euan Henderson who shows her what visitors can expect once they open the doors for this year's Spirit of Speyside festival.  Rosalind discovers how the old distillery would have run and is particularly impressed by how pristine the equipment still looks. The tour continues into the new distillery which was developed in 2015. There, Rosalind is lucky enough to be the first person from outside the distillery to taste their 16 year old festival bottling for this year's Spirit of Speyside festival coming up at the end of April. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast and share it with anyone who loves Scottish food and drink. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran, Rosalind chats to celebrity chef Nick Nairn about the current crisis and its effects on the hospitality industry - and how restaurants are adapting.Nick also talks about what he's been enjoying cooking at home in lockdown and shares his tips on how to make a whisky sauce.Continuing the whisky chat is Simon Aron from Cask Trade. Simon gives his advice on investing in whisky casks and why this is a much more interactive and romantic prospect than conventional investments.Finally, Rosalind discusses her lockdown food and drink of choice - including a family favourite, delivery options and a newly released gin fizz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran, Rosalind finds out more about the growing trend for distilling Scottish rum.Often cited as the next big thing following on from Scottish gin, the production of rum has been steadily growing in Scotland over the last two to three years.Rosalind is joined by Jacine Rutasikwa, co-founder of Matugga Distillers in Livingston, and Kit Carruthers of Ninefold Distillery in Dumfries.Kit and Jacine discuss why they decided to start making rum and how a rum can be Scottish, as well as giving advice for those looking to get into the industry. Jacine and Kit also chat about their favourite rum drinks and the upcoming virtual Scottish rum festival.Nick Nairn is also back with his cooking tip and Rosalind discusses her lockdown food and drink of choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Scran for our third series. Host Rosalind Erskine is back with a brand new line-up of guests talking all things Scottish food and drink.It couldn't be more fitting than to start with one of the most patriotic days of the year - Burns Night. On the 25th of January The Scotsman hosted a Burns Night Live event on its social media channels where our panel where joined by an international audience.Rosalind was also joined live by Scotland's national chef Gary MacLean, Scotsman Heritage writer Alison Campsie and BenRiach brand ambassador Stewart Buchanan.The event also featured a guest appearance from Sam Heughan, an exclusive poem read by Alexander McCall Smith and a chat with James MacSween of the world famous MacSween haggis.To watch back the live event: https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/recap-watch-scotsmans-free-virtual-burns-night-celebration-here-3108953 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diana Thompson has over 30 years’ experience within the wine and hospitality industry, including working overseas and national and international roles in the UK.A Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certified tutor, after working independently withhotels and restaurants for 12 years, Diana launched Wine Events Scotland in 2016 during thefirst Fizz Feast annual festival, and works with producers and consumers, holding wineworkshops, tastings and events across the UK.Diana has received numerous awards, including Scottish Enterprise Awards’ Most ResilientWine Marketing Enterprise 2020 and ‘Wine Event Organiser of the Year 2020’ at Lux Food &Drink Awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and it’s a great time to spoil yourself or a loved one with a special meal - even if it's a home-cooked meal this year.On this episode of Scran, Rosalind chats to a well-known couple on the Scottish food and drink scene - Tom and Michaela Kitchin - about their businesses, how they met, what they’ve been cooking in lockdown and working together as a married couple. They tell us how this is the first Valentine's Day they’ll be spending together, due the restaurant being temporarily closed.Jon O'Connor, brand ambassador at Isle of Bute Gin, also shares an easy to make cocktail that you can try at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind is joined by a very special guest, Glasgow's own Sam Heughan, star of cult TV hit Outlander, whisky entrepreneur, author, fitness enthusiast and much more. Rosalind and Sam met for lunch at The Wee Whisky Bar, part of Ubiquitous Chip in Glasgow. In a world exclusive, Sam shares with Rosalind his not-yet-released gin, a follow-up to Sassenach Whisky and tequila.  Rosalind learns all about this new gin, the inspiration for it and the botanicals that go into making it - all 7, or is that 8? Sam talks about his favourite Scottish restaurants, when and where you'll be able to buy the Sassenach range of spirits, writing The Clanlands Almanac, his food obsessions, what life looks like after Outlander and much more.   Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe. Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Scran we chat all things Scottish gin with Gin Cooperative founders Natalie and Martin Reid, and Sean Murphy, author of the book 'Gin Galore'.With International Scottish Gin Day falling on 24 October this year, Martin and Natalie discuss how and why they set it up.Sean chats about the rise in popularity of Scottish gin and what can be learned from whisky, and we all mull over our favourite gins and why flavoured options seem to be on the rise.Finally Rosalind is back in her kitchen, this time making a Scottish G&T with a twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode we're learning a lot more about cask trading as well as about a whole new way of profiling whisky flavours - by mood! On this episode Rosalind takes a trip to her homeland of Fife to visit Single Cask. Established in 2010 Single Cask bottles award-winning whiskies at natural cask-strength and trades whisky all over the world. In an attempt to set themselves apart from other independent whisky bottlers they have invented a whole new marketing method which allows customers to select a dram based on how they are feeling. Rosalind gets a tour of their facility in Glenrothes by General Manager, Jan Damen followed by a whisky tasting and an opportunity to understand how you classify whisky by mood. Rosalind learns more about how cask trading differs from cask investment and how some of the headlines around cask investment aren't all they're cracked up to be! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To mark the 900th anniversary of the Royal Burgh of Stirling, Forth Valley Food and Drink has launched a series of four captivating short documentaries that delve into the lesser-known stories of Stirling’s rich food and drink heritage. Rosalind wanted to learn more about this series so spoke to Lesley Wilkinson who researched and commissioned the films and Murray Cook, Stirling Council's archaeologist to learn more. Lesley talks about why the films came about and some of the amazing finds they made in the process of researching the films including about a world-record breaking grape vine. Stirling Castle and Bannockburn House feature in the series as do fascinating stories about how Bonnie Prince Charlie was treated for an injury there using a posset. Funded by Scotland Food and Drink’s Regional Food Fund, the films uncover a range of unexpected tales including how the first dram was drunk there by James IV in 1494 and how the first firework was also set off there. Murray also shares stories of beer witches and those being accused of witchcraft and the sad fate they met. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are taking some time to look ahead to some of the most exciting food and drink events in Scotland for 2023. First up Rosalind talks to Romano Petrucci about the Stranraer Oyster Festival, born of a desire to inject some much needed tourism into the area, Romano tells us how the festival came about and about the only remaining wild oyster bed in the whole of Scotland which lies just off Stranraer. Next up Rosalind spoke to Cara Houchen, Editor of The Staff Canteen, an industry website and community for chefs. Cara also hosts Grilled, a podcast attached to the website. They are bringing the podcast to The Gannet in Glasgow this March where they'll be joined by some famous faces. Finally, Rosalind is joined by Jamie Delap, Managing Director of Fyne Ales and Fyne Fest. Jamie's family business has been on the same site for well over 100 years and in recent times has become the location for Fyne Fest, a beer and music festival, which keeps growing in popularity. Jamie tells us how this all came about and shares with us the exciting plans for this year's event in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Scran takes a look at the health of Scotland's food and drink sector - and a look back at the 2020 Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight.Joining Rosalind are guests James Withers, Scotland Food and Drink CEO, and Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment and MSP for Angus North & Mearns.James and Mairi share their thoughts and insights into the fortnight. They also discuss how the industry has been affected by the pandemic, why supporting Scottish producers is important to them and what opportunities they see for the Scottish food and drink industry. Plus we find out who their dream dinner party guests would be.Chef Stevie McLaughlin is back in the kitchen, and this week he's giving his top tips on how to cook Scottish langoustines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special bonus episode of Scran we are looking back to the Scottish Food and Drink Excellence awards which took place in Glasgow a few weeks back. The Excellence Awards shine a light on the incredible businesses that call Scotland home.   Underpinned by people, passion, and perseverance, it is an opportunity to toast the industry’s fantastic achievements over the past year, whilst looking to the future and supporting the next wave of innovation and creativity Rosalind is joined by three of the award winners on this episode to learn more about their businesses and how awards can impact them. First up Rosalind speaks to Hayley Wilkes of WeeCOOK followed by Andrew Wilson of Young Spirits and Andrew Rowley of Ballintaggart. You can find more information about the awards and the winners here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in May Rosalind took a trip to Speyside to witness some of the celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of The Macallan. As part of these celebrations they undertook an extraordinary collaboration with Cirque du Soleil. It would appear that more and more often these days whisky brands are going to extreme lengths to market and promote their products. Macallan has certainly become a part of the high end of the market so Rosalind set out to learn more about the celebrations and whether the industry is being changed by this drive to create luxury lifestyle products and more and more elaborate collaborations. First up she spoke to Ruth Wylie who is Global Experiential Lead at Macallan who tells her about the celebrations which are afoot and the importance that nature plays for the distillery. She also chatted to Marie-Hélène Delage, Creative Director at Cirque Du Soleil about how they developed their show with Macallan. Finally, Rosalind wanted to speak to a whisky expert about recent changes in the whisky market and how this is affecting sales and availability of certain brands. Mark Littler, Whisky Broker and Market Analyst, talked to Rosalind about the significant changes that have taken place since 2015 and how collaborations like this one are becoming more the norm for those interested in investing in whisky. It's a fascinating listen and a subject matter no doubt we'll be returning to again and again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The opening episode of Scran has a distinctly festive theme. Rosalind ventures along to the Christmas market in Edinburgh to sample some Gluhwein and cheese fondue, and we hear about foodie traditions from around the world.She also chats to to The Scotsman's Gaby Soutar about the life of a restaurant critic - and of course we get some hot tips of where to eat out in Scotland right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacine is co-founder of Matugga Distillers, which launched the first rum distillery in Central Scotland in 2018. Together with her husband Paul (Head Distiller), Jacine produces award-winning artisanal rums that are handcrafted from scratch at the family-owned distillery in Livingston. Jacine is a Chartered Professional Marketer and has over 20 years’ experience in media, marketing and business development with major global companies and consulting firms in the U.K and the U.S. She has two daughters aged 7 and 4 years old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week features not one but two chefs from Michelin star restaurants: Michel Roux Jr. and Stevie McLaughlin.The first part of the episode features Rosalind's visit to Crossbasket Castle to meet Michel Roux Jr. Michel now runs Le Gavorche, one of the first restaurants to gain a Michelin star in 1974. He talks about his famous family name that is synonymous with fine dining, and his humble upbringing, cooking for his icon Sir Alex Ferguson and the key to restaurant success.The second part of the episode features Stevie McLaughlin, head chef at Scotland's only two Michelin star restaurant. Rosalind finds out about Stevie's career that started with an interest in Choux pastry, his first encounter with Andrew Fairlie at One Devonshire Gardens and tips on how the future generation of chefs can progress in the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

January is all about clean living and what is cleaner than seaweed? This is a corner of the Scottish food and drink industry we've been eager to explore on Scran for a while so it seemed like a good time to do so. First up Rosalind speaks to Lawrie Stove of Scottish Seaweed Farming. Lawrie tells her all about how his career on the sea has brought him to this point. He explains how they seed and grow the seaweed and the process behind turning them into a sellable product. He also enlightens Rosalind as to the huge variety of dishes that seaweed can feature in. Rosalind also speaks to Keith Paterson of Shore Seaweed who produce some very tasty snacks. Keith tells Rosalind about the process they go through to harvest the seaweed as well as what's entailed in deciding on new flavours. Their snacks have been going from strength to strength but Keith says there's no space for complacency and the industry needs to keep innovating. We hope you enjoy this episode and Happy New Year listeners! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode of Scran we look forward to the upcoming St James Quarter Seafood Festval. This is the second time this event will take place in Edinburgh's eating, drinking and retail mecca. Rosalind chat with Scotland's National Chef Gary MacLean who has some sage advice around DIY fish smoking as well as revealing when his next book will be available. Gary owns Creel Caught which is part of Bonnie and Wild, St James Quarter's marketplace and foodhall.  Another thriving business under the same roof is Maki & Ramen, owner and chef Teddy Lee tells Roz about the explosion in popularity for Japanese food in the last 15 years. Teddy will be doing masterclasses at the Festival alongside Gary. Both share their passion for Scottish seafood and why it's good to know what to seasonally.  Rosalind is also joined by Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality, Food and Beverage Director at St James Quarter, who gives her an update on how the business is expanding and going from strength to strength. Jennifer also shares the exciting plans for this year's Seafood Festival which runs from Friday 31st March to Sunday 2nd April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year again when team Scran cannot resist the temptation of the world's biggest arts festival. Rosalind went along earlier this week to enjoy a foodie's day out at the festival and bring you some top shows to consider if you're heading to Edinburgh this August. First up she hit C Venue for coffee, a croissant and Shakespeare for Breakfast. This show has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival for 33 years. Rosalind chats to Mary Gensich, Company Manager for C Theatre and Clare Louise Roberts, one of the performers, to hear about this year's show. Then for something completely different Rosalind went to A History of Fortune Cookies performed by Sean Wai Keung. With an audience of ten this was a really intimate show where Sean shared his story about the influence of his Chinese grandparents all while baking the audience their own fortune cookies. For many the festival is all about the Fringe and the laughs, Daniel Downie definitely brought those in his whisky-soaked show Daniel Downie: Dram(a)s which was Rosalind's third show of the day.  Whilst many may start an evening at the festival with a glass of wine or 5 Rosalind chose to finish up with In Pour Taste - a wine tasting from Australian comedians Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston who have teamed up with local wine experts to produce a raucous one hour and 15 mins of entertainment (and some wine education).  Make sure to check out The Scotsman's coverage of the festivals to be right up to date with reviews and recommendations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the latest episode of Scran, host Rosalind Erskine is joined by head chef of Cail Bruich Lorna McNee to talk about her impressive career to date.From humble origins working as a kitchen porter in an Italian restaurant to training with the late Andrew Fairlie and winning the Great British Menu in 2019.Cail Bruich was recently awarded a Michelin star - the first in the city for 18 years.Lorna talks about how working with Andrew Fairlie has shaped her work ethos and why taking the best of Scottish produce and doing very little to it is the secret to great food.She also reveals her food nightmare and why she can't wait to be serving food on plates rather than boxes post pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giselle is a co founder and Director of Bellfield Brewery, a microbrewery in Edinburgh’s Abbeyhill that produces exclusively gluten free and vegan beer. Started in late 2015, Bellfield is now a well known brand in the Free From space, with seven beers in bottle, can, mini cask and keg and draught. Bellfield has a taproom, beer garden and brewhouse. Giselle also works as a PR consultant/Director at Pagoda PR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode we're coming at food and drink from a slightly different angle. Word of Mouth (WOM) is an exhibition of new artworks and writing exploring our relationship to food, cooking and kitchens. With work spanning across print, writing, textile, collage, and paint, Word of Mouth encourages us to consider how much food and cooking inform and sustain us in our everyday lives. Word of Mouth is currently running at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Rosalind went along to check it out and talk to curator Maisie Wills about how it all came about. They look at some of the works in detail and give you a flavour for what you can expect from the exhibition. You can find out more about Word of Mouth on The Scottish Storyelling Centre website. It is free and unticketed and runs from now until the 20th of April, daily from 10-6pm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Christmas about but eating, drinking and being merry? Rosalind is here in part 1 of our two episode Christmas special to help you do all those things! But of course, Christmas is also about caring and giving so she's also been visiting a charity that is doing just that with the help of the public. First up on this festive episode of Scran Rosalind heads to Bowhouse Market in Fife - if you are looking for a festive shopping destination without any of the guilt of buying from supersize producers then this is the place for you!  Luckily there is one more market happening before Christmas so this is your opportunity to hear from a small selection of the food and drink traders who will be there to help you tick off that Christmas list. First up Rosalind chats to Susie Anderson of East Coast Cured, followed by Stuart of Barnett's Bakery in Anstruher who was joined on his stall by his daughter Jessie, Lucy Patto Davidson from Fodder and Farm and Rosie Jack who manages the market. Every year the team at Scran like to take the time to feature a charity in Scotland who is working with those who won't be able to enjoy the Christmas they might have wished for. This year we went along to the Eva Burrows Life House project in Cambuslang which is run by the Salvation Army. There Rosalind met with Karen Good who runs the service, service users Stephen and Peter and finally staff members Yvonne Mackenzie, Paula Thomson and David Dean. Finally, you'll hear Rosalind chatting to Fiona Grant, the Founder of Glen Lyon coffee who have released a special Christmas coffee that you are going to want to get your hands on before the festivities begin. To support the work of the Salvation Army in Scotland and the wonderful team at Eva Burrows Lifehouse visit salvationarmy.org.uk/scotland-office Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Rosalind's culinary tour of Scotland takes her to the central belt. She talks to business owners about their passion for their work and why the local food scene has lots to offer.Scott Smith, chef and Root to Market founder discusses the concept, how he and his team set it up in a short space of time, what produce is available and his top dinner party guests.Next up, Nikki Strorar, farmer and owner of a family-run Ardross farm shop based in Fife, talks about setting up the shop and regenerative farming.Finally Brian O'Shea, founder of The Paisley Drinks Co. chats about the rise of craft soda, childhood nostalgia and supporting local businesses through lockdown.This episode of Scran is brought to you in partnership Scotland food and drink. We are now halfway through Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight, which runs until 20th September. These two weeks see Scotland's food industry celebrate local legends with regional producers showcasing their produce through their social media with the aim of encouraging people to source, buy and eat Scottish food and drink. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of this year's Scran Christmas specials - we are fully ensconced in the festive season, celebrating all that this celebratory time of year has to offer in food and drink. On this bumper episode of Scran we have lots of tantalising treats in store. A good cheese board is at home anytime of the year but a festive one calls for some extra special cheese. Rosalind investigates what goes into a great cheese board with Kari Paul, Head of Retail at the cheese institution that is Mellis Cheese. Having wondered what it's like to venture out of home for Christmas dinner Rosalind went along to One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel Du Vin Glasgow to chat to some key staff who will be preparing for and working hard this Christmas. Rosalind chats to head Chef Gary Townsend and General Manager David Barkley about the task of putting on a very special Chritstmas for their guests. What is Christmas without a cocktail? Rosalind went along to one of the Good Spirits Co.shops in Glasgow to chat to one of its founders Matthew McFadyen. Matthew tells Rosalind what's been happening in the cocktail world this year and gives us some tips on alcoholic gifts as well as how to whip up a crowd-pleasing cocktail. Finally, it's full circle time with a trip to the Christmas markets in East Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. This is where some of the first episode of Scran was recorded three years ago. Producer Kelly and Rosalind chat about the Christmas traditions in their respective families and what food and drink they are looking forward to partaking in. Thanks to all our wonderful contributors on this episode and a Merry Christmas to all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scotsman's Scran Awards took place for the second year recently. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with the great and good of the Scottish food and drink industry. The shortlisted businesses and individuals are testament to the vibrant and thriving industry. Rosalind wanted to get a couple of the winners to come on Scran to talk about their business and explain what the awards mean for them and their teams. First up she is joined by Chef Neil Forbes Cafe St Honore in Edinburgh whopicked up the coveted award of 'Outstanding Contribution to the Industry'. Neil talks about his long and varied career as well as his love for traditional Scottish fayre and quality local produce. Neil's not shy with his opinions on modern dining but his passion for his craft and his desire to create a rewarding dining experience for his customers is clear. Blair Sterrick UK Sales Manager for Isle of Harris Distillers also joins Rosalind to chat about their wins. They picked up 'Best Spirit' for Harris Gin and 'Best Whisky' for The Hearach. Blair talks Rosalind through how the distillery was set up with the explicit intention of creating industry on the island to help sustain the working population and combat depopulation. They talk about their hugely popular Harris Gin both for the liquid but also that distinctive bottle and about The Hearach which is relatively new on the block and now too making waves in the whisky world. Rosalind also uncovers an exclusive story about a new bottle that will be available very soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind visits Harris Distillery to hear all about their long awaited whisky, The Hearach. The whisky was launched in September and sold out straight away but Rosalind's visit took place earlier in the summer when excitement was building for the launch. First up you'll hear from Maria Morrison who showed her around telling the visitors all about how the distillery came to be and its importance to those living on the island both as an industry and a community hub. She explains the motivations that drove the incarnation of the project and the commitment to provide local employment that continues today. Rosalind chats to Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller at Harris Distillery about the pressure to design a new bottle when the Harris Gin bottle has become so iconic and much loved by so many. Finally, you'll hear Rosalind being one of very few to taste the new whisky before it's formal launch and speaking to Dave Broom, Whisky Expert about what his take on the new liquid is. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this very special bonus episode of Scran produced in partnership with Diageo we are heading north as Cardhu distillery celebrates 200 years of producing whisky. Licensed in 1824, it was the first distillery to be officially pioneered by a woman. And what better way to mark this special occasion than by celebrating all women pioneers, and three in particular? This episode was recorded at Cardhu Distillery in Speyside and features snippets from a celebratory event where the team welcomed-in the local community to hear from these modern trailblazers. They are; fashion designer Siobhan McKenzie, Owner of Ujamaa Spice, Jawahir Al-Mauly and founder of Dear Green Coffee, Lisa Lawson. Rosalind chats to each of them about the challenges they've faced and the successes they've achieved in their inspiring businesses. To hear more about the history of Cardhu and the celebrations to mark 200 years of licensed whisky production (including a new bottling) Rosalind also chats to Assistant Experience & Events Manager for Cardhu, Jo Henderson. You'll find out more about 200 years of Cardhu and the anniversary celebrations here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a whisky-flavoured show this week, as Roz chats to Rachel Barrie about being one of the first female master blenders, her creations to date and what whisky she would take to a desert island. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to series two of Scran - the podcast that's passionate about food and drink.We are now airing fortnightly and this week, listeners are invited to take a stroll in some ancient woodlands in Perthshire as host Rosalind Erskine chats to founders of Birken Tree, Rob and Gabrielle, about how and why they harvest Birch water and the health benefits provided by it.Rosalind also chats to restaurant critic for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper, Cat Thomson, about foraging finds, menus and what she's cooking now we are all at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is just around the corner and it's one of the most popular nights of the year to dine out.This week, love is in the air as host Rosalind Erskine chats to chef Paul Wedgwood, owner of Royal Mile eatery Wedgwood the Restaurant.As well as giving his tips for cooking a slap-up romantic meal at home, Paul also discusses what diners can expect when eating at his restaurant (spoiler: it won't be as expensive as you might think) and how he sources his ingredients - often by foraging in woodland in and around Edinburgh.Rosalind also speaks to Edinburgh Evening News reporter Caitlyn Dewar about her thoughts on February the 14th, and why a good dinner out is not just for Valentine's day, it's for life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A very merry welcome to the Scran Christmas special! While Christmas will be different this year, we can still enjoy a nice plate of food, which is what this episode is all about, whatever your diet.Our first guests will be sure to warm your hearts and get you laughing. Rosalind is joined by founder of Socialbite, Josh Littlejohn MBE, and Itison founder Oliver Norman. They tell Rosalind about their partnership which began six years ago. The 'Buy a Homeless person a meal' at Christmas devised by Socialbite and hosted on the platform Itison sold 36,000 hot dinners in its first year and has grown ever since. They talk about the impact of the campaign and why it never fails to surprise them.Next, Rosalind is joined by Scotsman picture editor and food writer Catriona Thompson, who talks about all the best vegetarian and vegan finds - for those who have had one too many nut roasts.Finally, Rosalind shares her best supermarket finds for our festive favourites.Music attribution: Christmas Rap and We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Kevin Macleod from-filmmusic-io/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode it's all about women in whisky. Rosalind is joined by Becky Paskin, drinks journalist, broadcaster and founder of Our Whisky Foundation which supports and promotes women in the whisky industry. Rosalind is also joined by Sarah Burgess, whisky maker for the Lakes Distillery. The trio discuss the reasoning behind setting up the Our Whisky Foundation and what it's doing for women in the industry. This includes a very successful mentorship programme which is growing by the year. Sarah and Becky share their really positive experience being part of the initiative as well as the exciting opportunity to create a whole new whisky. Earlier this year they curated the world's first whisky auction made by and dedicated to women. The Demeter collection was sold to raise funds for the foundation. Sarah developed a special whisky for the collection and Becky has been pivotal in ensuring the success of the auction which has proved to be a great triumph. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran we headed west for a very important date in the seafood calendar. Producer Kelly, videographer Craig and Rosalind boarded the Vital Spark with fishermen Rab Lamont and John Mills. The team sailed out into Loch Ryan on the 1st of September to catch oysters on the first day of the new season. Rab, who has been catching oysters on the Loch for 18 years told Rosalind all about the only natural oyster bed left in the UK and how they go about catching oysters in season. Allan Jenkins, from the Stranraer Development Trust also joined the team on the boat to talk to us about the upcoming Oyster Festival which takes place from 15-17 September. This relatively young festival has been going from strength to strength and expands further this year as you'll hear from Allan. Once the day's fishing was done they headed to Henry's Bay House Restaurant, one of the most popular in Stranraer, with two dozen oysters and an appetite after the fresh sea air. Their Chef owner John Henry shucked the oysters and prepared them for the team to try. Thanks for listening, please do rate, review and subscribe to the podcast if you're enjoying it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special partner episode of Scran, we are celebrating the upcoming Royal Highland Show.  This Scottish institution returns to Ingliston from 22-25 June this year and will showcase the very best of farming food and rural life.  The first incarnation of the show took place in 1822 on a site that is now home to the Scottish Parliament. Today, it is Scotland’s biggest outdoor event attracting around 190,000 people and regarded as one of Europe’s largest agribusiness shows. It contributed almost £39.5million to the economy in 2022. On this episode, Rosalind talks about the food and drink side of things with guests Louise Elder, Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland Director and Jill Brown, Distiller & Director at Moray Distillery, who will be exhibiting at the show. They chat all about what visitors can expect and just why it is a great place for Scotland's producers to do business. For more information and tickets head to https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's still January so two things spring to mind, Veganuary and Burn's night and what a wonderful pairing for 2023. On this episode of Scran we look at the delightful ways to celebrate Burns night but doing so in a vegan manner.  Rosalind talks to chef Emma Ray, a vegan chef with lots of hints and tips for anyone hosting a Burns supper or indeed attending one. We are very excited to share with you a Burns poem to celebrate the national bard, read by none other than Scottish actor James Cosmo - VisitScotland kindly shared this recording with us having carried out research this year that showed the piece featured in this episode, 'To a Mouse', is in fact Scotland's favourite Burns poem. Rosalind speaks to Peter Holroyd from Kingsbarns distillery who gives us the history of this small, family-run distillery and his recommendation for the kind of whisky he would choose for any haggis pairing. Finally Rosalind chats to Diana Thompson from Wine Events Scotland who you may remember from previous episodes of Scran. Diana gets into some of the technical side of why some wine is vegan and some isn't. We hope you enjoy our celebration of Burns - slainte mhath! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we are celebrating a whole year of Scran.From our first episode at Edinburgh's Christmas market, to recording in lockdown, host Rosalind Erskine and guest specialist reporter Caitlyn Dewar discuss the highlights and funny bits of the last year.Listen back to chef Nick Nairn's cooking tips, Sam Heughan discussing whisky, Michel Roux Jr's family foraging and a whisky tasting at the Craigellachie hotel.Caitlyn and Rosalind also discuss their favourite lockdown cocktails and meals, who they'd share a quaich with and shopping locally during the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Halloween is just around the corner, this episode of Scran is all about pumpkins.Rosalind finally gets back on the road again to visit two pumpkin farms - Arnprior in Stirling and Kilduff in East Lothian.Opened in 2015, Arnprior was one of the first pick-your-own pumpkin farms in Scotland. Run by Duncan and Rebecca, who live on the farm with their children and Duncan’s parents, the Arnprior pumpkin patch is a popular family day out every year.Rosalind then heads east to Kilduff Farm in East Lothian. Owners Lucy and Russ talked to her about their decision to open in 2018 and their quest to reduce waste associated with Halloween and pumpkins.Finally we couldn’t talk pumpkins and autumn without chatting about some people’s favourite seasonal drink - the pumpkin spice latte. Find out how to make one at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind takes a trip to West Linton to meet Diana Yates and visit her beautiful garden at Greenfields. Diana tells Rosalind all about how she came to live there and how, in recent years, a new gardening hobby has led her to a different career for her in broadcasting and now as an author of her first book 'Growing at Greenfields'.  Diana shares her passion for growing, flowers, fruit, veg and more and the labour of love it's been creating an idyllic kitchen garden. She offers listeners some advice around what you should be sowing this time of year and how to manage the hectic schedule of a flourishing garden. Some may say Scran is experiencing an identity crisis as this could potentially be a gardening show as well as a food and drink one but you're in for a real treat with this episode as Diana candidly shares her life story and how the challenges she has faced inform her success as a gardener, author, broadcaster, seamstress, mother and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind shares with you interviews she did with two of the recipients of the recent Scran Awards. The Scran Awards took place at the end of June and celebrated the best in Scottish food, drink and hospitality.  First up you'll hear from Calum Montgomery chef owner of Edinbane Lodge on the Isle of Skye. Calum is a truly remarkable chef who has achieved so much in his career at such a young age. At the Scran Awards he was named 'Best Scottish Chef of the Year'.  Rosalind also spoke with Stevie McLaughlin of Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles who won the award for 'Outstanding contribution to the industry'. Stevie tells Rosalind about how a chance timetable scheduling as a teenager may have impacted the rest of his life.  Thanks for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we take a deep dive into Halloween traditions, folklore and food with food historian and writer Peter Gilchrist and Rebecca McEwan from Arnprior Farm. As we really get into autumn season this month, many of us will be looking forward to Halloween and possibly going to a pumpkin patch to pick one to carve for Halloween. Rebecca’s farm, Arnprior in Stirlingshire, started growing pumpkins in 2015 and is now one of the many pick your own pumpkin patches in Scotland - offering a fun family day out in the lead up to Halloween. She tells us about diversifying into pumpkins and what visitors can expect as well as her own memories of childhood celebrations for Halloween. For those old enough to remember guising, dooking for apples and carving a turnip not a pumpkin, Peter tells us about the long history of Halloween in Scotland and the importance of seasonal food at this time. He also has a few interesting thoughts on carving turnips! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special partner episode of Scran Rosalind investigates the famous Four Corners of Johnnie Walker. Whilst most people, and not just whisky drinkers, are familiar with this instantly recognisable Scottish brand Rosalind takes a closer look at the malts that combine to create Johnnie Walker's iconic blends. First stop on her journey was Glenkinchie Distillery, the lowland home of Johnnie Walker. On a tour of the distillery Rosalind found out about its history, processes, characteristics and so much more. You'll hear about the impact of an ongoing £185m investment into Scotch Whisky tourism in Scotland. And how, as part of this project, each of the Four Corners visitor experiences have been completely transformed. At Glenkinchie Rosalind met with Ervin Trykowski, Global Ambassador for Diageo, who filled her in on all the exciting changes.  Throughout this episode Rosalind pauses to speak to ambassadors from the three other distilleries that make up the four corners distilleries, namely, Cardhu, Caol Ila and Clynelish. Each of which bring their own unparalleled flavour to the table. You'll hear from Hazel Urquart, Assistant Experience, Events and Retail Manager at Clynelish, Joanne Henderson, Assistant Experience and Events Manager for Cardhu and Kirsty Basnett, Assistant Manager Experience and Events for Cardhu.  You can find out more about Johnnie Walker's Four Corners here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know how to pair wine and food? Does glass shape really affect wine taste? This week Scran answers all these questions and more as Rosalind chats to founder of Wine Events Scotland Diana Thomson.Diana hosted Edinburgh's first Fizz Feast festival last year and is set to launch Edinburgh Uncorked this year, along with the second instalment of Fizz Feast.Diana chats about how wine price doesn't necessarily affect taste, how to choose a good wine and how to taste it. Plus which glass is best - as shape really does matter.Caitlyn Dewar from the Edinburgh Evening News is in the studio talking about her favourite wines and the rise of the wine bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie is a Malaysian cook, food writer and broadcaster from Glasgow who owns the Kopitiam, a small Malaysian night time cafe in Shawlands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a special partner episode of Scran with The Borders Distillery. On on a very very wet day, Rosalind took a trip to Hawick to visit The Borders Distillery - an up and coming whisky brand that is making a big impact. When it opened its doors to the public in 2018, The Borders Distillery breathed new life into an industry that had ceased to exist in the Scottish Borders for nearly two centuries. Rosalind met with founding member and director John Fordyce who showed her around the distillery and talked her through how it all came about, how they have been able to incorporate sustainable production into everything they do, the importance of a nurturing local talent and all about the liquid they are producing at this modern yet historical distillery. You'll also hear from Andy Baird on this podcast, he is one of the 12 local farmers who has been working with the distillery through the Borders Growers and Distillers programme. Finally John does a tasting session with Rosalind where he takes her through their workshop series. You can find out more about The Borders Distillery, their products and visitor tours at www.thebordersdistillery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food waste is one of the biggest unrecognised contributors to our carbon footprint.On this episode of Scran, Rosalind is joined by Scotland's national chef Gary MacLean and Zero Waste Scotland's Andrew Pankhurst to find out more about food waste and how to prevent it.From Gary's batch cooking and vacuum packing methods to Andrew's tips on recycling and composting - it really is an eco friendly guide to cooking.With Glasgow set to host the 26th Climate Change Conference it's time that Scotland follows a more sustainable approach to cooking and eating. Expect practical tips and some laughs around recycling faux-pas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eating locally caught seafood isn't something we do enough of in the UK. But with over 100 different species of fish caught in UK waters, why not give it a try?In this episode of Scran, Rosalind discusses a campaign called Sea For Yourself, which is all about encouraging us to cook and eat more fish caught in UK waters.Rosalind is joined by chef and seafish ambassador Rachel Green, and Jim Cowie, owner of the Captain's Galley seafood restaurant in Scrabster.Rachel shares her insights into why, as a nation, we don't eat enough fish. She also provides some great cooking tips and shares some simple yet delicious recipes. Jim talks about the importance of sustainability and why eating seasonally and locally is key.He also talks about the importance of traceability and why the local fishmonger can provide you with all the knowledge you need. Also, find out why Rachel and Rosalind will be visiting Jim in the near future.Nick Nairn is back with his tip on how to cook fresh mussels, whilst in Rosalind's kitchen she serves up some hand-dived scallops delivered by the Ethical Shellfish Company and a Bloody Mary.As Jim puts it: "There's a fish for every dish and a dish for every season." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's what you can expect from the Scran podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of Scran we are celebrating Robert Burns. Rosalind chats to a variety of people about Burns night and the associated impending merriment. First up is Graham Main of The Big Burns Supper. Graham is at the heart of the celebrations in Dumfries that have been running for 13 years. Rosalind learns more about the organisers approach to the festival and their main aim of being inclusive so as many people as possible can share in the celebrations of this Scottish cultural icon. When Scran visited The Globe Inn in Dumfries last summer we met the wonderful raconteur and entertainer Kathleen Cronie of Mostly Ghostly. We asked Kathleen back on the podcast to share her love of Burns and to provide us with that all important recitation, in honour of his poetry. This is not to be missed. Finally, chef Paul Wedgwood of Wedgwood Restaurant, joined Rosalind to share his rather adventurous experiences of Burns night and suggestions for alternatives that might be of interest if you're over the standard of haggis, neeps and tatties. Have a great Burns night if you're celebrating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran we are previewing one of the hottest whisky dates on the calendar - the Campbeltown Malts Festival. Despite being one of the smaller whisky regions, Campbeltown really does pack a punch and Rosalind wanted to find out what fans could look forward to at this year's event, particularly the bottlings. Glen Scotia recently held a preview event in Edinburgh where Rosalind went along to hear all about the exclusive offerings to be had at the upcoming festival; You'll hear from Gary Mills, Global Brand Ambassador who hosted a session to deconstruct the festival bottling and what an eye-opener it was.  After that session Rosalind chatted with Ashley Smith, Master Blender for Glen Scotia who, will for the first time this year be on hand in her new role. She talks about the history of Campbeltown and its whisky heritage as well as what she's looking forward to at this year's festival.  From Glen Scotia to Springbank! A few days later Rosalind caught up with David Allan, Director of Sales and Marketing for the sought-after whisky. David shared more detail on their festival releases and how they are trying to cope with demand severely outstripping supply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special partner episode of Scran where we are visiting Annandale Distillery in Dumfries and Galloway. Established in 1836 and reborn in 2014, Annandale is one of Scotland’s oldest operating distilleries. Owners Prof. David Thomson & Teresa Church, purchased the site in 2007, and reopened in 2014 following a £12.5 million restoration that now welcomes over 50,000 guests a year. The Distillery has won numerous accolades to date. As we approach their ten year anniversary Rosalind wanted to learn more about the distillery and the impact it is having both locally and on the whisky scene since it opened. You'll hear from Tour Guide Emma O'Neil who showed Rosalind around the distillery. She also chats to James Rogerson, Annandale's Spirit and Tasting expert, Mark Trainor who is Head of Production, Buildings and Estates at Annandale and Grant Warwick who is a Cask Custodian.  Rosalind learns all about the restoration of the distillery, how they are doing things differently and the huge effort being put into creating a real community that is invested in its people and its legacy. You can find out more on their website annandaledistiilery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode Rosalind explores the world of wild dining. This is an area of the food and drink industry that's seen a steady growth in popularity, particularly since the pandemic. Rosalind set out to hear more about why people are choosing to eat in outdoor settings and what they can expect from these experiences. Who better to hear about this from than Chef William Hamer who runs Wild Kabn which is based in a characterful greenhouse on the stunning Ardkinglas Estate in Loch Fyne. William has travelled the world mastering the art of cooking by fire. William connects food, fire and nature with an ethos of supporting local businesses and suppliers and sourcing the finest organic and sustainable ingredients. Listen to Rosalind's chat with him to hear all about his background, how he came to favour this form of cookery and why he values continuous professional development. You will also hear what you can expect should you choose to try wild dining and where you can start if it's something you would like to try yourself at home. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to this special partner episode of Scran where we are teaming up with St James Quarter in Edinburgh to preview the forthcoming Edinburgh Seafood Festival which runs for the May Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May. Many of the diverse eating and drinking destinations in St James Quarter are embracing this year’s Edinburgh Seafood Festival by creating exclusive dishes and menus that guests can enjoy over the weekend including Ka Pao and Duck and Waffle. The festival will showcase a selection of the highest quality, locally sourced seafood in the heart of the city and we wanted to learn more about some of the restaurants who will be at the forefront of the weekend's activities. First up Rosalind spoke to Sandy Browning, Executive Chef at Ka Pao. Sandy's love of cooking has taken him to far flung parts of the world, he tells Rosalind all about his culinary journey and how you go about combining great Scottish produce with Southeast Asian flavours. He also gives us a sneak preview of what he'll be demonstrating on the Seafood Stage at the festival. Rosalind also went along to Duck and Waffle where she met Sommelier Roberto Bravo who shared his passion for wine with her delving into top seafood and wine pairings and how the characteristics of wines can be comparable to those of people. Roberto's singular enthusiasm is infectious as you will see.... If you want to find out more about Edinburgh Seafood Festival, download the St James Quarter app to discover the full schedule of events. You'll also find more information about the return of the Secret Seafood Supper Clubs - where guests are invited to join leading Chefs for a private dinner cooked in front of them. Tickets for these intimate events are limited so make sure to check that out soon. Thanks to our partners on this episode St James Quarter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're a woman who loves beer then Beers Without Beards - a group for women who like beer and would like to get together to enjoy it in good company - is worth checking out.To celebrate International Women's Day we sit down and talk craft beer with the group's founder, Amélie Tassin.Amélie discusses how and why she set up Beers Without Beards, what new members can expect from meet ups, craft beer collaborations and their plans for International Women's Day.Scotsman Food and Drink editor Sean Murphy is also in the studio to chat about brewing and his desert island drinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosalind's guest on this episode needs little introduction these days as he has become one of Scotland's best known food ambassadors. Coinneach MacLeod aka The Hebridean Baker joins Scran once again to fill Rosalind in on his adventures - sharing his love of hebridean baking, cookery and culture all around the world. He's just launched a new book, The Scottish Cook Book and Rosalind delves into what he's included in this one and hears all about his recent trip to America which included some amazing 'pinch me' moments for Coinneach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran we're fully embracing this time of year and investigating some of the more macabre elements of Scottish food and drink history.  Earlier this year Rosalind was lucky enough to attend Whisky & Witches Presents Mythical Beasts, an immersive, mystical, musical whisky tasting produced and presented by Christine Kammerer and Jane Ross. The show touched on the history of women and whisky in Scotland and explained how women who distilled whisky were turned upon by the church and society. These alewives and brewsters were often framed as what we would now recognise as witches. Singer and composer Christine and whisky aficionado Jane who runs The Mother Superior in Leith, join Rosalind to talk all about how women became vilified for distilling and how even today there are challenges around being a woman in the whisky industry. Connotations of witchcraft and herbalism have gone hand in hand for centuries, and delving into the ancient art of herbology is a great way to explore some natural magic in the run up to Halloween. On the second half of the podcast Rosalind chats to Catherine Conway-Payne, author of Herbology- A Psychic Garden Pharmacy, a book being published by The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in the coming weeks, which includes an illustrated guide that brings herbology to life. (rbgeshop.org)  Catherine takes us back to a time when insects, frog spawn and basically all sorts was used in medicine and self care. She tells Rosalind all about how, even now, some of the remedies and uses from the past can be found in modern products such as snail slime in beauty products. She also shares some of the lessons to be learnt from the book including some brilliant uses for cleavers, more commonly known as sticky willy. Thanks for listening and have a spooky, tasty halloween! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode Rosalind's guest is chocolatier Chloe Oswald of Chocolatia - a business she founded during Covid, in her brother's flat in Forfar and which has gone on to do great things. Chloe has been the recipient of many awards and her chocolate continues to impress many a palate. Chloe talks to me about her time in some of Scotland's most respected kitchens and why ethically-sourced chocolate is so important to her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosalind's guests on this Bonus episode of Scran are Martin Compston and Phil MacHugh, stars of Martin Compston's Norwegian Fling which has recently started on BBC Scotland and BBC Two. You may be familiar with Martin Compston from his acting roles in hit TV series' such as Line of Duty and The Rig and Phil MacHugh is a TV personality and owner of Skapa PR which is based in Edinburgh. A couple of years back, Martin and good friend Phil set out to film a Scottish travelogue adventure and its success has seen this second series commissioned.  Rosalind chats to Martin and Phil about their time in Norway, the interesting, even challenging food and drink they encountered, Martin's plans to produce a beer and how what they encountered compares to their travels in Scotland. Both Martin and Phil share their tips for eating and drinking in Scotland and Rosalind takes the opportunity to ask about their desert island drams! Martin Compston's Norwegian Fling is available on BBC iPlayer now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gemma grew up on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides of Scotland. After studying Russian Language at the University of Glasgow, she worked at The Balvenie distillery studying the art of making whisky and looking after visitors from around the world. Gemma’s whisky journey brought her from Speyside to Stateside, New York City, where she travelled the country as Ambassador for Balvenie. Today Gemma resides in Speyside and now as Global Ambassador for Balvenie, connects with drinkers around the world telling stories and sharing drams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind attended an evening of whisky tasting which was hosted by the Gleneagles Townhouse whisky club 'Chasing the Dram'. The event was held to celebrate women in whisky and showcased two impressive guests Annabel Thomas founder and CEO of Nc'Nean Whisky and Laura Rampling, Master Whisky Maker of Glenrothes whisky. Rosalind got to sit down with each of them to find out more about their respective brands and roles as well as tasting and enjoying their introduction to a selection of their whiskies.  Annabel talks about the creation of the brand and the importance of the sustainable ethos the company is built on. She also tells us about the huge effort that went into securing funding to build the distillery including managing to get legendary broadcaster Jeremy Paxman on board. Laura tells Rosalind about her journey into the world of whisky via wine, how Glenrothes is focussing on the premium market and what advice she has for women looking to go into the whisky industry. Thanks to the Gleneagles Townhouse and Bar Manager Stefanie Anderson for hosting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind takes the long trek north to experience a singular event, Shetland's Up Helly Aa which takes place in Lerwick at the end of January each year.  Rosalind spent two days on the island learning about the festival and its long tradition as well as exploring Shetland's world of food and drink, both past and present. You'll hear an array of voices, music and sounds on today's podcast.  First up Rosalind meets Ryan Leith of the Up Helly Aa Committee to learn more about the festival and the lengthy planning process it takes to run the event each year. Rosalind went along to Lerwick's modern performing arts venue Mareel where a food and drink fair was taking place. There she met with island producers and businesses to find out more about the island's food and drink heritage and what is happening in this vibrant, progressive community. She speaks to Martin Watt of Lerwick Distillery, Mary Andreas of Shetland Food and Drink, Nicola Johnston of Island Larder, Mark Turnbull of Shetland Reel Distillery, Johnny Sanderson of Lerwick Brewery and David Parham of the Hand Made Fish Co. You'll also hear Rosalind chat to Kerry Redfern, a hostess at Sound Primary School which was preparing for hosting guests and the squads of guizers after the burning of the galley at Up Helly Aa. Finally, you'll hear from the Guizer Jarl himself Richard Moar as well as some very important quizers this year - the first females ever to take part as part of the main Jarl squad, Sana and Zara.  Thanks to Adam Civico, Robert Geddes, Promote Shetland and all our contributors on the podcast. Thanks too to Jasmine Hendricks who you'll hear singing along beautifully to the Up Helly Aa song at the end of the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a special partnership episode of Scran with the Scotch Whisky Experience. Nestled on Castle Hill, within a stones throw of Edinburgh Castle, the Scotch Whisky Experience has been welcoming visitors from all over the world since the late 80s - a time when the world of whisky was very, very different to what it is now. Rosalind went along to experience this popular tour and speak to some of the people in the know about how it came about, what it has to offer and how it has played a not insignificant role in nurturing much of the talent found in the whisky industry today. Rosalind chats to Angela Dineen, Operations Director about the history of the experience as well as modern undertakings, including the recent investment of £3.5m into a new tour and how it houses one of the world's largest collections of scotch whisky. She also speaks to Michelle Pizzi, Site Director of The North British Distillery and Alex Thomson, Visitor Attraction Manager at The Glenturret Distillery who share their memories of their time working at the Scotch Whisky Experience and how it helped shape their future careers in the industry. They offer some great insight into working in this thriving industry and how the Scotch Whisky Experience has played its part in their careers. If you're interested in opportunities with them, check out their website where you can find more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to our first 'Scran on the Road' episode! This week, host Rosalind Erskine starts her engine and ventures to the Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside to see what the offering is now that doors are open.Kevin Smith, managing director at the hotel, talks about how the hotel has adapted during the lockdown. He also talks about the hotel's refurbishment back in 2014 and how this led to a star-studded relaunch party with guests including Kate Moss and Noel Gallacher.Whilst at the hotel, Rosalind visits the Quiach, the world's leading whisky bar, home to over 500 bottles, and enjoys a whisky tasting with bar manager Angus Bryce-McVay.Continuing the whisky trail, Rosalind visits the Whisky Shop in Duffton and chats to owner Mike Lord. He discusses how his once intimate Whisky Colours festival has evolved into a hybrid with both in-person tastings and virtual experiences. He also shares what drams he has in his cupboard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're still in party mode for another little at Scran so we're talking about cocktails. More specifically we're talking to Iain McPherson of Edinburgh's Panda & Sons about his career, the cocktail business, trends and what to expect from cocktails in 2024 and beyond. Iain tells Rosalind about the fascinating work he's been doing around using freezing processes in cocktails, having gone to great lengths to study the science and craft behind it all. She also find out how it feels for him and his team to be the recipients of numerous awards and accolades including Panda & Sons being named one of the top 50 bars in the world. Thanks for listening and for being with us in 2023 - the team at Scran are looking forward to bringing you many more tales from Scotland's thriving food and drink scene in 2024. Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices