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Killiecrankie House, in the heart of Highland Perthshire, has opened this month with a new restaurant and five beautifully appointed bedrooms as well as a drawing room and cocktail bar. Owners, chef Tom Tsappis and his sommelier wife Matilda will welcome guests to experience their little slice of luxury and gastronomy in the Cairngorm National Park.

Tom, who trained at Leiths and was the first recipient of two of its coveted annual awards and his wife Matilda, who previously ran the popular supper club Elia London, have created a boutique bolthole that’s been designed by them as a food-lovers retreat. Tom will be overseeing the multi-course tasting menu in the 18-cover open restaurant kitchen, and at the adjacent chefs table which is at the heart of the house. Sommelier Matilda will host guests front of house with help from the chefs who’ve created the dishes.

They have committed to creating menus that truly reflect Scotland, giving diners not only a taste of the country’s produce but one that represents what Scots really love to eat, drawing upon both contemporary and heritage dishes for inspiration. Working with local suppliers and using home grown and locally foraged produce, the first sample menu is a fine example of how they have gone about creating a sense of place through their food. Each dish has a story behind it…

Drunken oyster

Scotch eggs

 Kombu cured mackerel, apple and horseradish

Squid from the firth of Moray cooked in a stew of its own ink

Cock-a-leekie

Food from the forest

Venison, peat and brambles

Dripping fried porridge

Highland wagyu, green tea, onions and pickled pine

Macaroni pie

Flower of Scotland

Whisky

Sweeties

Matilda’s drinks list has been designed to perfectly complement the cooking with a diverse food pairing menu including beer, wine, sake and cocktails, as well as an interesting non-alcoholic pairing of juices, teas and infusions. Matilda’s approach is to offer a combination of ‘classics’ vs ‘off the beaten track’, including wines from her family vineyard; Treaty Port in China; a beer made in collaboration with local brewery, Wasted Degrees; soft drinks from Bad Gal Boocha and Rapscallion plus tea and coffee from The Rare Tea Company and Glen Lyon Roastery in Aberfeldy.

Pre and post dinner drinks can be comfortably enjoyed by the fireside, overlooking the kitchen gardens and fruit trees, in the Drawing Room or in the bijou Cocktail Bar with its marble countertop and feathered pink Murano glass chandeliers – surely the chicest place for an aperitif in Perthshire!  

The colour palette throughout is a calm, sophisticated deep blue with dark wood floors and eclectic hints of colour in the artwork and even in the hand-painted wash basins which were sourced from The London Basin Company. The selection of chandeliers and lights from Pooky in Chelsea hint at decadent times gone by as does the vintage 1960’s record player and mid-century furniture, which has all been brought together with stunning attention to detail. Upstairs are four generous four-poster bedrooms and a master suite (which comes with the chef’s table experience), each one uniquely shaped, due to the age of the property and with the original shutters restored. All bedrooms come with standalone roll-top baths for the ultimate indulgence, as well as rain-fall showers and feature blush pink concrete basins from Concrete Etc, with toiletries from Scotland-based Laura Thomas Co.  

A set dinner will be served to everyone at 7pm Wednesday to Saturday. The bar will open at 12noon, Wednesday – Saturday.

Tasting Menu £85 per person

Alcoholic Drinks Pairing £65 per person

Non-Alcoholic Drinks Pairing £45 per person

Overnight experience (dinner, bed and breakfast for two people) starts at £450  

To book call 01796 473213 or visit the website www.killiecrankiehouse.com

 Killiecrankie House, Killiecrankie, Perthshire, PH16 5LG

@killiecrankiehouse

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Dating back to the 13^th century, Maryculter House, in Aberdeenshire, is a magical place to spend Christmas; steeped in history, with gourmet feasts and a warm Scottish welcome it’s the perfect place to see in Christmas and Hogmanay.

Maryculter’s Christmas Staycation

Arrive on Christmas Eve in time for a festive Afternoon Tea, with warming seasonal cocktails followed by a 3-course dinner in Poachers brasserie. After dinner, guests will have the option to be transported to watch the Midnight service, with warm whisky toddies and mulled wine served on return.

On Christmas Day, indulge in an array of Christmas feasts. Start off with a full Scottish breakfast, to be enjoyed at your leisure followed by a traditional Christmas lunch with a glass Nyetimber on arrival. In the evening, a light supper will be served then guests can relax or play some traditional board games in front of the crackling fires in the Great Hall.

All the excitement of Christmas isn’t over yet, as Boxing Day is packed with more festive treats. Begin the day once again with a full Scottish breakfast, followed by a curated gin tasting experience with the Gin Bothy. There is an opportunity to get competitive by taking part in the Boxing Day quiz hosted by local broadcaster and radio legend, DJ Jeff Diack, or wrap up for a walk around the hotel’s stunning grounds and along the riverbank, before enjoying a sumptuous two-course steak supper.

Before you leave on the 27^th, tuck into a full Scottish breakfast, or if you have not quite soaked up all that the Maryculter has to offer, you can linger a little longer from just £75 per room, per night. Prices start at £350 pp for the full experience. *

Hogmanay staycation at Maryculter House Hotel (one- and two-night stays)

On New Year’s Eve guests will enjoy a pre-dinner Nyetimber drinks reception and will be welcomed by traditional Scottish bagpipes, with delicious canapes followed by a five-course dinner. Dance the night away to Glitz, a professional local band, and bubbles to toast 2022 in style with your nearest and dearest.

The two-night stay will see you arriving on the 30^th of December, to give you plenty of time to prep for the party. You will be welcomed on arrival to a Nyetimber Sparkling Afternoon Tea, followed by a three-course meal in Poachers.

The celebrations start after breakfast with mini-Highland Games on the hotel’s lawn, followed by a hearty lunch. We will send some mini-Moet’s and nibbles to your room for you to relax and enjoy whilst getting ready for a big night seeing out 2021.

Hogmanay packages start at £199* per person for the one-night stay and £399** per person for a two-night stay.

For more information on all the festive packages visit: https://maryculterhouse.com/festive/

To make a reservation or find out more call +44 (0) 1224732124 or email info@maryculterhouse.com

*A £50 non/refundable non/non-transferable deposit per person is required, with full payment for the staycation to be paid 14 days prior to your stay.

Dietary requirements can be catered to, please let us know at the time of booking.

**A £20.00 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit is required per person, with full payment to be paid 14 days prior to your stay.

https://maryculterhouse.com/     |     @maryculter.house

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About Maryculter House Hotel

The hotel is positioned on the banks of the River Dee, which is perfect for those interested in fishing, and is ideally positioned for visitors from near or far, boasting excellent transport links. It is accessible by road, rail, or air, and is only a 15-minute drive from Aberdeen airport.

It boasts 40 luxury bedrooms, filled with original period detail and contemporary Scottish interiors. The customer experience at Maryculter is second to none, as there is a full concierge service, same-day laundry and dry-cleaning service, as well as the option if a chauffeur service and luxurious Molton Brown toiletries.

The restaurant situated inside the hotel, Poachers Brasserie, and offers breath-taking views of the River Dee and the hotel grounds. The menu focuses on season and traditional Scottish produce and is updated frequently to indulge customers in a special dining experience. The hotel offers unique staycations and packages, including an exclusive Clan Gordon Whisky Tour, or the opportunity to travel back in time with the historical Stories in Stone experience.

Grade II* listed Borders mansion, Netherby Hall has completed the refurbishment of its stables, coach houses and cottages to reveal a stunning suite of luxury holiday boltholes right in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside.

Situated within the 36-acre estate parklands with magnificent views of the Scottish hills beyond, the nine luxury cottages and suites, which include a gatehouse and Gardeners Cottage are set in the grounds, main house and renovated Victorian stable area.  Giving taste of life as a stately home resident, guests can stroll through the private grounds of a working estate which is home to stables for the horses and carriages driven by the owners and the beautifully restored Victorian walled gardens.

Perfectly positioned above the River Esk, the history of Netherby Hall dates to Roman times and it is thought that the grounds of the hall have been inhabited for nearly 2,000 years.  Purchased by Gerald and Margo Smith in 2014, they began work on the restoration of Netherby Hall to sympathetically restore, repair, and reinstate the Victorian stables, Walled Garden, and greenhouses to create a stunning retreat for guests to enjoy.

From cultural events at Netherby Hall including their concert series to nearby attractions, such as Kielder Water, scenic expeditions on foot or by bike and award-winning dining at Pentonbridge Inn close-by – Netherby Hall’s sister property – or to just relax and enjoy natural wildlife and nature, there’s plenty of reasons to visit.

The Accommodation

Providing a warm welcome throughout the seasons, all the dog-friendly cottages with well-equipped open kitchens, most with wood burning stoves, as well as spacious dining and living areas. Luxurious bathrooms often have roll-top baths and walk-in showers, and guests have access to free wi-fi, state of the art appliances, flat screen TVs, private parking, and fresh laundry services. 

For families and groups of four, Middle Lodge, a restored Victorian gatehouse, the charming Gardener’s Cottagewith views of the glorious walled garden and  Sir Walter Scott –aluxury suite adjoining the main house each have two separate bedrooms. Middle Lodge also benefits of a generous sized enclosed garden complete with garden furniture and a barbecue for the summer months.

Engineer, named after the horse-drawn coaches that drove through the nearby town of Longtown in the 19^th century, is a charming couple’s getaway with one king size bedroom that has magnificent views out to the Solway and Scottish hills.

Salutation, one-bedroom apartment boasts beautiful sunset views and was named after the 19^th century horse drawn Lakeland Coach used for excursions to the Lake District. There is the option to sleep three complete with a sofa bed.

Situated in the cobbled courtyard, the recent Victorian stables renovation has created four beautiful apartments that overlook the Netherby Park: the Coach House and Grooms Quarters each sleep four whilst the Clock Towersleeps two.  The Independent is an adapted apartment that benefits from a bedroom and wet room on the ground floor with a disabled lift to access the spacious living area and second bedroom with ensuite.

Three of the nine suites can interlink to allow for larger groups and are adjoining the main house.

There’s a minimum stay of three nights to make sure you make the most of your escape to relax and unwind.  You will find your holiday retreat stocked with fresh milk, tea and coffee pods, a well-equipped kitchen, with a washer-dryer and the offer of a free shuttle service to and from Pentonbridge Inn – what more could you wish for.  Accommodation prices (per night) are based on a three-day stay and start from £250 and range to £450 per night, per property.

Over the festive season, each cottage and apartment will be suitably decorated. For Christmas there is a four night stay minimum (between the 23^rd and 26^th December) with the option to include a Christmas package, which includes a drinks reception, dinner, and Christmas lunch at nearby Pentonbridge Inn, prices start from £1820 for two and £2780 for four for the package or £1140 for accommodation only.  For New Year celebrations, there is a minimum stay of three nights (between 30^th December through to 1^st January) and start from £858 for accommodation only.

Netherby Hall

Netherby, Longtown,

Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 5PR

T: 01228 792 732 info@netherbyhall.co.uk

The couple behind an organic, family-run farm in Aberdeenshire, rora dairy, are celebrating after its Greek-Style yogurt was the only yogurt to be awarded top marks at this year’s ‘Great Taste Awards’.

Rora, which produces a range of yogurts made with organic milk was one of only 15 businesses in Scotland to be acknowledged with a 3-star rating.  Alongside its 3-star Greek-Style yogurt, rora’s natural live yogurt was awarded one star in these prestigious and long-standing awards, recognising it as “a food that delivers fantastic flavour”.

Established in 1994, Great Taste is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and is the world’s largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. This year 14,113 different products were entered into 2021 awards from 108 countries. More than 350 judges blind-tasted this year’s entries, including food writers like Joanna Blythman, Xanthe Clay, Anna Jones and Olia Hercules; MasterChef 2018 champion and restaurateur, Kenny Tutt; presenter, author and tutor, Steven Lamb; and baker and author, Martha Collison.

The 3-star-award means that rora dairy’s yogurt has been deemed an “extraordinarily tasty” food by the judges. 5,383 products worldwide were awarded stars but less than 2% were awarded 3 stars.

The judges were blown away by rora’s Greek-Style yogurt, with one stating it was “difficult to stop at one spoonful”, while applauding its “creamy texture and perfect acidity level”. Another said that “the highly glossy yogurt evidences quality and elegance; a full creamy flavour and mouthfeel are preceded by a clean, lactic almost slightly citric nose.”

Owned by Jane Mackie and her husband Bruce, rora dairy produces a range of pure Scottish yogurts on their farm in Aberdeenshire. The process of making Greek style yogurt in small batches takes time and patience. Organic milk from the farm’s free roaming, grass-fed cows is blended with live culture, no additional additives and over a period of time the whey is gently released until it is strained to the right consistency. This process helps turn it into a delicious, creamy live yogurt that’s great for gut health.

Jane Mackie said:

“After what has been a difficult year for all businesses and industries, we are absolutely thrilled that our yogurt has been awarded 3 stars. To be the only yogurt to achieve this amongst a global line-up of thousands of the best producers is simply surreal”.

“At rora, we dedicate considerable time and patience to our yogurts so to be recognised globally for all the work we have put in is an incredible feeling.”.

For more information about rora dairy, please visit: https://www.roradairy.co.uk/

The yogurts are available in 490g (RRP £2.25) and 150g (RRP £1.00) pots from Sainsburys and Morrisons across Scotland, and independent retailers across the UK.

Middleton of Rora, Longside, Peterhead, AB42 4US

Instagram: @roradiary

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Press contacts for rora dairy:  Emma McVeigh or Zoe Dunnett at Sound Bite PR, email emma@soundbitepr.co.uk / zoe@soundbitepr.co.uk or call Emma on 07515 757864 and Zoe 07846 847423.

Images can be access here

Notes

rora dairy produces a range of pure Scottish yogurts on their organic family farm in Aberdeenshire. It was established in 2017 by Jane Mackie and her husband Bruce.  The yogurts are made with organic milk and live culture in small batches, without the addition of unnecessary sugar or additives. They use a range of Scottish fruits to flavour the yogurts, reducing the company’s carbon footprint. All of the milk used in the yogurts is from the farm’s free-roaming, grass-fed cows. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand with the development of new woodland areas and the use of wind and solar power.

rora offers seven different flavours of live yogurts, ranging from its award-winning Natural Live Yogurt to Scottish Strawberry and Scottish Honey, using produce sourced from Scottish farms/suppliers.

Great Taste Awards:

355 judges blind-tasted this year’s entries, including; Joanna Blythman, investigative journalist and food writer, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking, Anna Jones, author, Olia Hercules, Kenny Tutt, MasterChef 2018 champion and restaurateur, food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, presenter, author and tutor, Steven Lamb, baker and author, Martha Collison, and Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Partridges.

· Socially distanced judging took place over 86 days at four venues including Guild HQ in Gillingham, Dorset and the Guild of Fine Food’s London home, No. 42 Southwark Street, SE1

· 4,027 awarded a Great Taste 1-star – A food that delivers fantastic flavour. Approximately 30% of entries will achieve this rating each year

· 1,138 awarded a Great Taste 2-star – Above and beyond delicious – less than 10% of entries will achieve this rating

· 218 awarded a Great Taste 3-star – Extraordinarily tasty foods – less than 2% of products are awarded a 3-star each year – don’t leave the shop without buying it!

From pastry to scones, pancakes and marinades, The Edinburgh Butter Company has launched a new buttermilk that gives exceptional flavour and quality to any recipe.

Already renowned for its range of cultured butters, The Edinburgh Butter Company adds live culture to local cream (farmed just seven miles away from its site in Ratho). After a period of fermentation, the resulting smooth, glossy crème fraiche is churned and shaped into butter. The buttermilk left at the end of the process comes straight from the churn with no preservatives, additives or thickeners. With a consistency similar to milk, it gives a high quality, natural finish to dishes that’s beloved by chefs.

Hilary Sinclair, Co-founder and Production Director said:

“We’ve really enjoyed the process of developing our butters with chefs and have found an increasing number of them requesting our buttermilk. It’s a natural product that comes directly from the churning process so doesn’t have any additives or preservatives. I think chefs have respected the integrity of this and we’ve seen brilliant results in everything from pastry to marinades.”

The buttermilk is available in 500ml, 2 litre and 5 litre pack sizes distributed nationwide via Mark Murphy.

The Edinburgh Butter Company was launched in 2018 by Nick and Hilary Sinclair. Using live lactic culture and local cream, they developed a range of butters that includes Salted Cultured Butter Logs that are popular with restaurants and hotels, and Unsalted Cultured Butter Sheets that are a favourite of pastry chefs for supporting perfect lamination.

For more information, visit www.theedinburghbutterco.co.uk or for trade enquiries call Chloe Black  on 07950633869 or email theedinburghbutterco@gmail.com.

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For media enquiries: contact Martha Bryce – martha@soundbitepr.co.uk / 07905761525 or Jessica Sneddon – jessica@soundbitepr.co.uk /07815793207.

High resolution images can be downloaded here.

Edinburgh’s original New York Italian inspired, neon-lit hang-out, Civerinos, Hunter Square re-opened this week, bigger, brighter and bolder with a new menu, new look, same old-school vibes. The re-opening has been so hotly anticipated, after a 10-month closure, that it was immediately booked up until November (but don’t worry, pizza lovers can ring from 9am on the day for a table).

Located in the heart of the capital, just off the legendary Royal Mile, GQ called it the “coolest place to eat in Edinburgh” and Phaidon’s global “Where to eat pizza” guide put it on the world map back when it first opened in 2014. Now with five sites across the city the “OG” at Hunter Square, where it all started has been celebrated with some love & attention and a stylish new look courtesy of Edinburgh design studios Hot Slice and Ja!Coco!

Described as New York club room meets subway with a punk /skate vibe and an 80’s/90’s hip/hop pop soundtrack (which has been downloaded over 22k times on Apple), the overall aesthetic is about fun. It features a main restaurant, basement dining room and indoor neon garden, as well as the terrace on the Square that can safely seat up to 110. There are booths for date nights, sharing tables for family tea times, lunch with the girls, lunch with the guys, or a pizza party with your ride or dies.  

The OG New York style pizza pie favourites are all back including the Signature “Civerinos” – Sugo, Sicilian fennel sausage, peperoni, rosemary, garlic oil, topped with burrata with some new additions including “Savage Garden”, a vegan pizza with double sugo, olives, roast peppers, mushroom, red onion, chilli, rocket and a Sicilian crumb & garlic oil. Also new, and paying homage to the convivial dining scene of NYC’s Italian family restaurants the menu now features giant sharing platters designed to be served “family style” including chicken parmigiana “The Big Parm” and the “Tagliata Platter” of steak strips, parmesan fries and truffle aioli. Small plates of authentic Italian cicchetti, bowls of traditional pasta and salads also feature, as well as the famous box of parmesan fries (to take home if you don’t finish!)

There are tables for walk-ins and bookings can be made on the day by calling the restaurant at 9am to secure a table. It is open Monday – Sunday, lunch – late.

Civerinos Italian Dining Room

5 Hunter Square

Edinburgh, EH1 1QW

Phone: 0131 220 0851

For more info visit www.civerinosslice.com/civerinos-hunter-sq

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PR contact: Jessica Sneddon, Jessica@soundbitepr.co.uk

Michele Civiera, owner and founder of Civerinos, said:

“We’re stoked to be working with our friends at Brewgooder and love the way they think out of the box like us. The idea started from a stroll along Portobello beach from our Prom Slice and the whole team has enjoyed the creativity of the process. We’re quite literally putting our stamp on a Brewgooder can and I know our customers will love the way it matches with our pizza. The response to the re-opening of our Hunter Square venue has been amazing. Now I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy our popular slices along with a can of the best beer in town – happy in the knowledge that their drink is making a difference to people around the world.”

Not only is this partnership a match made in pizza heaven, but the sales of the beer also supports vital clean water projects around the world: every 330ml beer can is converted into 33l of clean and accessible water. Brewgooder’s mission is to improve people’s lives around the world and make positive changes through their beer. Alan Mahon, founder of Brewgooder added:

“As a team we have always admired the Civerinos brand, when the opportunity came up to create this beer I felt there was no one better to collaborate with as we both share the same values and vibe.”

Slice PA is available from all Civerinos venues, as well as on the app and Uber Eats.

• Civerinos Italian Dining Room, 5 Hunter Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1QW
• Prom Slice, 47 – 49 Figgate Lane, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 1HJ
• West Slice, 187 St John’s Rd, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12 7SL
• Forrest Slice, 49 Forrest Rd, Edinburgh, EH1 2QP

For more info visit www.civerinosslice.com

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PR contact: Jessica Sneddon, Jessica@soundbitepr.co.uk

The first book from Scotland’s celebrated Bad Girl Bakery is to be published on 2^nd November 2021.

These aren’t recipes with hundreds of steps, requiring specialist kit; it’s about baking with the best ingredients in a way that celebrates texture and flavour. They are do-able, fast, with simple instructions and tricks that yield the tastiest results and look great without hours and hours of work.

For Jeni, baking is about the occasional indulgence that’s worth it. It’s about baking as a process that brings joy. Jeni’s baking career didn’t start with formal training – she’s a home baker that’s turned professional. These recipes echo this spirit with a pragmatic approach that offers variations on themes and ways to transform dishes for a vegan or gluten free diet.

Jeni said:

“This is a book for people who love cake and love to bake. People like us, who read baking blogs or watch baking shows and get excited about the latest baking books. Our baking has always been about understanding that cake isa treat. People don’t tend to treat themselves as often as theyused to, so when they do, it has to count. Have you ever eatena cake and felt disappointed? That you’ve wasted your treat,your calories or your time baking it? At Bad Girl Bakery we wantour cakes to exceed people’s expectations, to be about flavour,texture, hidden surprises, generosity and impact. ‘Ooft, look atthat!’ is something we hear a lot at our cake counter.This way of baking is not complex and I hope this book inspires people to try out the recipes we’ve developed over the years.”

Bad Girl Bakery opened its bakery and café in Muir of Ord in 2017 and has since built a reputation for its outstanding cakes and bakes, winning a number of awards, as well as contracts to supply the Caledonian Sleeper, National Trust for Scotland and cafes across the region.  The Coronavirus crisis forced a reshaping of the business with the shop and café at its heart, allowing Jeni to focus on what she loves best: creating indulgent bakes with generous fillings, seasonal twists and innovative flavour combinations.  The bakery’s name gently pokes fun at people who frown on indulgence – or as Jeni says, “You know, the people who tut and say, ‘Oh, you bad girl,’ when you reach for a treat.”

Because Bad Girls make good cake…

Bad Girl Bakery by Jeni Iannetta is published on 2^nd November 2021 and will be available from bookshops nationwide at £20.

Kitchen Press titles are distributed by BookSource.

www.kitchenpress.co.uk 

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High-res images available for download

For interviews, recipes and further information, please contact:

Martha Bryce, martha@soundbitepr.co.uk

Francesca Smalley, francesca@soundbitepr.co.uk