Spirit and Spice

The Queen of the Pakistani kitchen has a lot to talk about!

Food plays different roles in the life of Lee Craigie. Nomadic storyteller, elite racer, bike adventurer, mountain bike champion and Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland, Lee is a cycling legend. As long as there is food and a bottle of wine in my pack, I feel inspired to hop on a bike and head for the Highland Trail with her!

During the Orkney International Science Festival and Foraging Fortnight, Ghillie had the opportunity to talk to several local characters and contributors to the events – Liz Ashworth, Ann Rendall, Anna Canning, Callum McInnes and Richard Shearer – who share their stories and expertise. With thanks to Foraging Fortnight for supporting the Orkney podcasts and to Selenaarte for the image of Stromness.

On a trip to the beautiful island of Islay for the first Taste Islay Jura festival to celebrate the local food and drink, Ghillie meets some of the whisky characters and heavyweights  – Billy Stitchell, former Master Distiller of Caol Ila; Jim McEwan, former Master Distiller of Bruichladdich; Simon Coughlin (former owner of Bruichladdich and now Chief Executive Officer for Remy Cointreau) and James Donaldson (forager for The Botanist Gin) – and gets an insight into how important whisky is for the island as the distilleries and village communities are intertwined.

Walkers Shortbread is his life and his passion, but Jim Walker is also a community man and feels that his business and Speyside are intertwined. Relaxing with a dram, Jim chats to Ghillie in her whisky barn about humble beginnings becoming multi-national on a bit of good quality butter, flour and sugar!

During the Orkney International Science Festival and Foraging Fortnight, Ghillie can’t resist attending a special tasting at Scapa Distillery with the legendary and entertaining, Alan Winchester, formerly Master Distiller at The Glenlivet, and a quick chat with Mick Swanney who is part of a small team making the delicious fruity spirit.

On a visit to Orkney for the International Science Festival, Ghillie enjoys a special dram with renowned cookery writer, Rosemary Moon, who shares her passion for whisky, food and the big buffet of life!

Before she appears at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, cookery author and teacher, Ozlem Warren chats to Ghillie about her fond memories of growing up in Antakya in southern Turkey and how cooking aubergines at Stirling University led to marriage

During the Orkney Science Festival, food writer and historian, Liz Ashworth, takes Ghillie to the Barony Mill where the ancient bere barley is still traditionally ground and is firmly rooted in the community. With thanks to Ellen Hay, Margaret Phillips, Issy Grieve and Karen Budge for sharing their knowledge and stories and the Foraging Fortnight for supporting the Orkney podcast series.

Ghillie joins Claire and Godfrey Macdonald for lunch with their dog Darcy.  As Claire unleashes her thoughts about food, producers and chefs in Scotland, Godfrey reveals that life as the High Chief of Clan Donald is not all about splendid castles and champagne!