Spirit&spice

Join Rory Stone, the best Cheddar maker in Tain, as he takes me around his mouldy old dairy and tells me how and why he makes such fabulous mould-ripened cheeses, some of his which could be lazy pseudonyms for members of his wife family!.

A peculiar childhood, finding freedom in the kitchen and a penchant for young men, the Queen of Pakistani food, Sumayya Usmani, has a lot to talk about!

Stories of spirit, stories of characters, stories of community with Islay whisky heavyweights - Billy Stitchell (Caol Ila), Simon Coughlin (Bruichladdich), Jim McEwan (Bowmore and Bruichladdich) and James Donaldson (The Botanist)

Smoked tomato chutney, fish skins, foraging, flavoured cheese and goose hunting with Liz Ashworth, Ann Rendall, Anna Canning, Callum McInnes and Richard Shearer during the Orkney International Science Festival and Foraging Fortnight 2019.

Whisky tasting and whisky tales at Scapa with Alan Winchester, former Master Distiller of The Glenlivet, and Mick Swanney who makes the fruity spirit.

Neolithic grain and Orkney bannocks with Liz Ashworth, the author of The Book of Bere, at the magical Barony Mill. With thanks to Ellen Hay, Margaret Phillips, Issy Grieve, Karen Budge, the Orkney Science Festival and Foraging Fortnight.

Buffalo feasts, whisky confessions, fine women, the joys of Orkney and the big buffet of life!

From her grandad's pickles to winning awards for her busy cafe in Aviemore, Kirsten Gilmour has come a long way from that little girl on the farm in New Zealand. She has shared her story and recipes in the Mountain Cafe Cookbook, but her success has been bittersweet as she and her husband, Al, have had to face the challenges of his cancer and treatment while trying to keep her passion for food and the cafe alive. Kirsten and Al talk candidly about how this has affected their lives.

Eating like a feral animal, eating for physical fuel, eating for fun - 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!

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!

The Really Garlicky Company is both a surprise and a delight. Who would have thought that some of the best garlic could be grown in Scottish Highalnds? Ghillie catches up with Mrs Garlic, Gilli Allingham, one half of the husband and wife team, to find out why on earth they thought of growing garlic when they could have stuck with potatoes, barley, cattle or sheep!

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!

Soup, snails and aphrodisiacs are the subject of Yemisi Aribisala's wonderful book on Nigerian culinary culture but I just love her wonderful laugh and honesty and can't wait to take her to the island of Barra to see if Scottish snails are worthy of a Nigerian soup!

If you're interested in whisky tasting, grab a dram and join us for a chaotic masterclass with Chivas Ambassador, Ann Miller, We're tasting Glenlivet’s newest whisky, Captain’s Reserve, as well Glenlivet 18, Nadurra matured in Oloroso sherry casks, Braeval and Alt a Bhaine.

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!