A few years ago, Christopher and I had a conversation about gin with an American bartender. He prided himself on the many varieties he had. So we asked: which tonics do you stock? Cue confusion. ‘Schweppes draft. Are there others?’
Do you make cocktails at home? I do. I keep the spirit cupboard well stocked and always have the ingredients for my favourite tipples (Martini, Negroni, Kir Royale) in large bottles then top up with small bottles for concoctions I have less often (Margarita, Manhattan). Cocktails add a sense of…
How do you build a concept for your business? Daniel Campbell had a red telephone box and experience in the catering industry. Add to that a strong desire to offer great products and customer service and you get a café for coffee lovers and foodies who value a personal touch.
Why toast beer? Recently Tesco announced how much of the food it sells goes to waste. The majority of it was bread. Even artisan bakeries have bread that’s not sold. So what can be done with it? When I was training in France, you can imagine how much bread we…
Whilst for me August in Edinburgh means seeing as much culture as possible, it’s also a great excuse for catching up with friends and taking time to enjoy the wonderful eateries, street food and tea establishments that Edinburgh has to offer. So the Fringe has started in earnest today and…
At 56 North, a bar well known for its vast array of gin offerings, I was invited to attend the launch of the world’s first Scottish Cider Brandy. Strathearn Distillery (probably Scotland’s smallest distillery™) and Scotland’s original cidermaker, Thistly Cross Cider, have joined forces to create this unique cider brandy,…
It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the Scotland’s national drink, ‘the water of life’. In fact some years ago, although I’m not exactly sure why, I was invited by the Scottish Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile to become an unofficial ambassador, which in essence means…
Lewis Carroll’s children’s classic, ‘Alice in Wonderland‘ turned 150 last year. ‘I give myself good advice, but I seldom follow it’. For years the book has delighted and amused me in equal measures so an invitation to experience a Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at One Square at the Sheraton, Edinburgh…
You could be forgiven for thinking that our obsession with coffee is a relatively recent thing. But our love of coffee dates back far further. Would you believe that the first coffee house in Edinburgh was opened in 1673? I was located just opposite what is now the Signet Library…
When I first was asked by ABV InBev to test a couple of recipes developed by the Fabulous Baker Brothers, I assumed that beer was an ingredient. Not so. These are recipes designed to complement beer. When you starting thinking about it, it makes so much sense. Match the key…
