John and Miles are at Edinburgh Science Festival on March 31, 2013 How many of us actually eat wild plants these days? Picking blackberries, elderflowers and elderberries, sloes and wild garlic are all popular finds for me. Much as we like the idea of mushroom picking, that’s fraught with problems.…
If you’ve any outside space at all, this year is the year to grow potatoes. Why? It’s really simple and honestly there is nothing like the taste of a freshly dug potato. I bet you’ve got one of those blue Ikea bags lurking about somewhere? That’s all you need or…
I first came across Little Doone sweet balsamic dressing at one of the Foodies Festivals a couple of years ago. I purchased the orange dressing and have used it extensively, unlike some other impulse purchases!
I don’t know whether you’ve heard of Blipfoto? You get the chance to take one photo a day and upload it with as much or as little description as you like. Fellow blippers (people who upload photos) comment on the photo or the topic Commenting on a photo I’d taken…
Reports that the Scots are deficient in Vitamin D have surfaced again. This time, there seems to be compelling evidence that lack of Vitamin D may explain the high instance of Multiple Sclerosis in Scotland, There are also reports that children have been diagnosed with rickets (in the 21st Century?). The Scots Government…
Squid is one of my favourite things from the sea. I love watching programs about them or seeing them swim about – squid are truly amazing creatures – and I love them on my plate. A few weeks ago I was at a party where one of the guests, a…
With Hallowe’en just round the corner, pumpkins are in splendid abundance in such beautiful shapes, sizes and colours. Check out your local independent grocer for the best choice. If’ you’re carving a pumpkin for Hallowe’en, you’ll probably be wondering what to with the flesh you’re left with. My favourite recipe…
It’s been raining all day and I am in the mood for autumn food. Summer foods are green and bright with lemon: autumn foods are brow, red and bursting with umami. Today, I wanted roast beef but not the way it’s normally served. I didn’t fancy the heavy, full protein-starch-greens…
White and yielding on the outside, deep yellow and runny on the inside. A poached egg is a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, most of my egg poaching experiments have ended badly so I get most of my poached eggs from cafes or restaurants. The very first time I tried to…
I am sitting with Chef Peter Woods in the lovely modern lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel, St Fillans, Perthshire (the Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi would definitely approve approve). We are discussing his passion for smoking salmon which could just be bordering on obsession. Peter has a purpose built smokehouse…
