Scran

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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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

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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.

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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!

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