Scran

When we set out to record this episode of Scran we wanted to investigate the impact of Italian food and the businesses associated with it in Scotland and what we ended up making was an episode about 'generations of strong women'.   Rosalind's first guest, Giovanna Eusebi, who runs Eusebis Deli in Glasgow, used those exact words to describe her family and business.From her fascination with capers to the touching memories she's helped create around the table, Giovanna shares her passion for Italian food and culture and the story of how her business has been so successful. From Glasgow to Edinburgh and the home and kitchen of Sabrina Damiani. Rosalind was treated to a beautiful afternoon tea prepared by Sabrina when they met. Rosalind hears all about her journey from Sicily to Edinburgh via Oxford, and a career in academia, to now running her own private dining and catering business, Damiani Fine Dining. This episode is like a sonic hug so grab a glass of your favourite Italian tipple and settle in for a listen full of tradition, family, love and most importantly...food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosalind's guest on this episode of Scran is Julie Lin. In their chat you'll hear all about how Julie's upbringing in Glasgow and her path to where she is today. She's just brought out her first cook book Sama, Sama and they discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind is at Inver restaurant on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll and Bute to hear about the Dived not Dredged campaign. This campaign, which is being run by Open Seas, is aiming to raise awareness of the damage being done by dredging for scallops and encourage the more sustainable practice of hand diving, which they believe all consumers have a role in. Rosalind spoke to Andrea Ladas, Sustainable Seafood Officer for Open Seas, David Stinson, diver, Will Branning of the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Pam Brunton, co-owner and Head Chef at Inver. In her discussions Rosalind looks at the issues with dredging for scallops, how this is impacting the sea bed and the fishing industry and considers what it means for chefs and consumers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Scran is all about Scotland's historical relationship with tea and more specifically the rise and fall of the great Glasgow tea rooms.  Rosalind is joined by Dr Lindsay Middleton, Food Historian and Knowledge Exchange Associate at the University of Glasgow and friend of the podcast Peter Gilchrist, who is a Scottish food history writer. Lindsey and Peter organised the 2025 Scottish Food History Symposium on tea which took place recently and was delivered in partnership with Mackintosh at the Willow and the National Trust for Scotland.Roaslind went along to the tea Symposium at Mackintosh at the Willow in Glasgow. There she learnt how tea in Glasgow was linked to women, trade and slavery, art, class, tourism, Scottish identity, and diaspora. The event was truly fascinating and shared the rich history of Glaswegian tearooms. You'll hear from Perilla Kinchin, Author of Taking Tea with Mackintosh: The Story of Miss Cranston's Tea Rooms - talking about Kate Cranston, the first lady of Glasgow's tea rooms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  You'll also hear snippets from Professor Andrew Mackillop's talk on some of the earliest presence of tea in Glasgow and how it became surprisingly political. You can find out more about the symposium from @tenementkitchen and @lindsaymiddleton_ on instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Scran Rosalind took a trip to Arran to learn a little more about food and drink production on the island.  Her first stop was at Lagg Distillery where Fred Baumgärtner, Brand Home Ambassador and Head Tour Guide showed her around this ultra-modern distillery set atop a cliffside with the most spectacular views. She sat down with Fred and Graham Omand, Distillery Manager to learn more about the liquid and what they've got coming up. From Lagg to Bellevue Farm where Rosalind met Agnes Madden who helps out and Donald Currie who is a sixth generation farmer to work this land. Rosalind got to learn more about their traditional farm and how they have adapted in recent years to work with Lagg as well as welcoming visitors to stay and experience life on the farm. You'll hear mention of Ailsa too - that's Donald's wife. Oh and did she get to hold and feed a baby lamb? You'll have to listen to find out. Finally, where else but to James of Arran? The famous Scottish chocolate brand was Rosalind's final port of call before heading back to the mainland. She met James McChlerey there who told her all about the business. If you would like to find out more about visiting Arran and it's wonderful food and drink please visit www.arransfoodjourney.com 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 we are talking about all things Angus. A region often associated with smoked fish and soft fruit - Rosalind found both when she visited but also a lot more.  First stop was to meet with Helen and Wouter Margaroli of Rae's of Montrose. Rosalind went along to their beautiful rural cottage for a cookery lesson and to chat about their private catering business as well as the innovative experiences they offer like foraging tours and location dining.  After some hard work it was time for a drink and so on to Arbikie Distillery. This distillery is unlike any we've featured before, they produce Gin, Vodka and Rye Whisky but do it in the most sustainable way possible. They have really gone to extreme lengths to ensure what they are doing is streets ahead of many distilleries when it comes to saving the planet. Brand Ambassador, Gilbert Ionescu gave Rosalind a tour of the distillery and she sat down with John Stirling, one of the founders, to find out how it all came about. Finally, Rosalind paid a visit to Charleton Farm. This is an amazing destination attraction which was taken over by Graeme and Lisa McColl four years ago. They have transformed the business and expanded it dramatically whilst still operating a fully functioning farm. Graeme outlined their vision and the hard work that's going into achieving it. Angus is a great destination for a short break or day trip and the food and drink is excellent. For more information on any of the businesses that featured in this episode and many more please go to visitangus.com 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

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

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 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

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

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

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 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 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

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 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

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 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 Glenrothers 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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 episode Rosalind chat to Rodney Wages, chef-patron of Avery, who is gearing up to fully open the doors to his restaurant in Stockbridge.  Kansas native Wages moved to California as a young chef to work in the kitchen at The French Laundry. He honed his culinary skills in other popular San Francisco restaurants and in 2016, he launched his pop-up RTB, which would later evolve into the Michelin star-winning Avery Restaurant. In 2022 he visited Edinburgh and, after falling in love with the city, decided to close the doors to Avery Restaurant San Francisco and move here with his family. He has taken over the Stockbridge Restaurant and, after a period of preview dinners, will soon open Avery in Edinburgh.  Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have noticed a growing popularity for day time clubbing events in recent months. It would appear nightlife is changing, with a shift towards the day time for socialising and dancing. On this episode we learn more about this new trend, where it came from and what impact it is having on the local industry. First up Rosalind speaks to Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure and partner the writer/producer Jonny Owen about their day-time clubbing experience Day Fever. Vicky's mantra is 'music is medicine' and the couple tell Rosalind how this is translating into packed dance floors at 4pm up and down the country. Meryl Gilbert, the Arts and Business Director of SWG3 in Glasgow, also joins Rosalind to talk about the changes she has seen in the industry. She tells her that the rise of day time events is something that's been happening in New York and elsewhere for quite a while and it's not necessarily all about ageing clubbers wanting to be home to let the babysitter go! 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On today's episode we are looking at the changing face of the dairy industry. With a rich heritage of dairy farming and production in Scotland, challenges over the last 20 years have meant that dairies have had to diversify or die. Today we talk to three such businesses whose roots in traditional farming are still informing their work today. First up Rosalind chats to Bryce Cunningham of Mossgiel farm.  Having experienced a number of devastating blows the business was forced to go back to basics and from there they have grown into a sustainable, modern operation. Rosalind also speaks to David and Wilma Finlay of The Ethical Dairy who may be known more widely for their ice-cream business Cream O'Galloway, which they have just sold. As you'll hear, a change of hearts and minds was needed to embrace a new way of working but when they did, a whole world has opened up and one which seems to be reaping rewards for them. Finally, Rosalind talks to Robert Graham of Graham's Dairy - one of the best known dairy brands in Scotland and beyond. Grahams have found great recent success in their production of dairy-based protein products alongside the traditional milk production they were famous for. By the end of this podcast we think you'll agree there's lots of innovation going on in the dairy industry in Scotland.  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

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

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 a charity who is helping those in need all year round. This year Rosalind visits 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

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