Third generation &  Award winning bakers Reid’s of Caithness have been baking biscuits and cakes for over 100 years, thanks to family recipes handed down from their late Grandmother. Son, Donald Reid, began baking his mother’s recipes in 1966 and started the Reid’s bakery business by opening his first shop in Caithness.  Two year later he was joined by his wife Joyce and today his son’s Gary and Graeme are now involved in running the company.

Reid’s have been well recognised for the  quality of their bakery products, with number of awards in recent years.  Awards from the Guild of Fine Food ‘Great Taste Awards’ and Scottish awards from Highlands and Islands Food and Drink are testimony to the taste and quality of Granny Reid’s recipes.

As well as being sold at their own shop in Caithness, you’ll find the Reid’s wide range of cakes and biscuits being sold the length and breadth of the country.

The brand was also spotted by chef Jamie Oliver and now the company make a range of biscuits for the Jamie Oliver brand.

Recently, I caught up with the third generation, Managing director, Gary Reid and was impressed by the wide range of cakes and sweet and savoury biscuits produced by Reid’s.  There’s  Crofters Cake, Viking cake and Banoffee cake in the  loaf cake range. The Caithness and Tartan ranges have a wide selection to chose from including, Treacle Toffee biscuits, Shortbread, Stem Ginger Oaties, and Honey & Oat bites.

The savoury range has oatcakes and Reid’s own unique ‘Groaties’, small mini oatcakes with a good selection of flavours to chose from and Reid’s very kindly sent me the Deli Packs with the mini oatcakes and groaties to sample.

Oatcakes are always my savoury biscuit of choice. Mid afternoon, as an alternative to cake or sweet biscuits, I tend to snack on dry oatcakes and found Reid’s were ideal for that. The texture was good, not dry, but a nice crisp crumbly texture and natural tasting flavours. If I feel the need for a sweet treat then some lemon curd on an oatcake usually does the trick.

Like a good quality oatcake should be, they were delicious and complementary to the flavours of a variety of cheeses, pates and charcuterie. The small size, makes them ideal for cheese boards, buffets and lunch boxes, particularly for kids as a nice healthy snack, perhaps served with hummus

My favourite was the Rosemary and Thyme, with a subtle herby flavour and delicious with a nice strong cheddar. I’d definitely recommend the Reid’s savoury range and they’ve earned their place on my future cheeseboards, snack list and also for including in my food gift baskets.

 

The finalists for the BBC Food Programme, Food and farming Awards were announced today and it was great to see The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company amongst them. They were one of the food companies I caught up with during my visit to the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham last November. The company was a real worthy winner of a BBC Good Food Show Bursary and it is fantastic to see them as a finalist in the Best Food Market category of the Food and Farming Awards.

Taste of the sea with Pembrokeshire Beach Foods

 Their seaweed products are definitely in the deliciously different category. The company use foraged seashore ingredients found on the Pembrokeshire coastline to produce a range of seaweed based products, including Ship’s Biscuits, Lava Bread Pesto and seaweed flavoured butters. They also have 5 mobile beach huts and have cleverly combined foraged ingredients from the seashore to create a number of delicious signature local dishes, including, Salmon Laverbread and Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Cockles and Laverbread and Sea Spaghetti Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

For further information on The Pembrokeshire BeachFood Company see www.beachfood.co.uk

Further information about forthcoming BBC Good Food Shows –  www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com and for information on BBC Good Food Show Bursary Awards, contact – Katy Truss – katy@fabulousfoodfinds.co.uk 

My neighbouring county has a very strong food culture and boasts some of the most fantastic food producers in Scotland. Situated in South West Scotland, Ayrshire can be rightly proud of it’s food. With  a strong farming community, artisan food producers and freshly landed seafood, the area is well known for the quality and provenance of its food.

A visit to any of the weekly farmers markets is testimony to the dedicated and collaborative network  of food producers, meat, fish, cheese and eggs, along with coffee, chocolate, bakery and vegetables can all be found on the market stalls.

From the best quality beef and lamb,  delicious award winning cheeses, the famous ‘Ayrshire’ bacon, and ‘Ayrshire’ tatties, along with the freshest of fish, it could be said that Ayrshire has it all when it comes to good food.  At the forefront of promoting the area’s Food Tourism  is Taste Ayrshire, a group led by the area’s  top hospitality businesses, producers and manufacturers. 

A recent invitation to Scotland’s Creative Places Awards in Kilmarnock, gave me the opportunity to speak to some of the great producers who are part of Taste Ayrshire and to taste some great food products. With entrants to the awards along with their supporters attending from the length and breadth of Scotland, it was great opportunity for Taste Ayrshire to showcase the best of food and drink in the area.

 Here’s a snapshot of some of the producers I met.

Dunlop Dairy owned by farmer and cheesmaker, Anne Dorward  produces an award winning range of 8 cheeses from the dairy’s  small herds of Ayrshire cows and goats. The cows milk cheeses include the hard Ayrshire Dunlop and the Smoked Dunlop, along with 3 soft cheeses, Aiket, a Brie,Camembert style cheese, Clerkland Crowdie and Paddy’s Milestone. The goats cheeses, made with milk from Anne’s Saanen and Toggenburg goats include the extremely popular Bonnet, a hard cheese and the two soft cheeses, Ailsa Craig and Glazert.

The  cheeseshop and tearoom at Dunlop Dairy is well worth a visit. It offers the very best in simple fresh homemade food and of course stocks the full range of Dunlop cheeses. You’ll also find Dunlop Cheese on sale with Petrie Fine Foods at Ayrshire & Glasgow farmers markets.  A full list of stockists can be found at www.dunlopdairy.co.uk

Everything Chilli owned by Lynn Duthie, makes a range of chilli spreads along with a selection of chilli based seasonings. The spreads include Pepper & Pear, Lime Shred and Original Chilli, and  I particularly liked the range of seasonings designed to add flavour and an extra chilli kick to a range of dishes.  A full range of Lynn’s products, stockists and the farmers markets Everything Chilli attends can found at www.everythingchilli.co.uk

Fencebay Fish, situated at Fairlie on the Ayrshire coast is a firm favourite of mine. Not only do they catch and harvest their own fish and seafood, they also have their own smokery and ‘Fins’ restaurant on site. Fencebay is very popular with customers at farmers markets, not only in Ayrshire but throughout the West of Scotland where there’s  always an extensive range of fresh fish on sale.  Check out www.fencebay.co.uk to see the full range of smoked & cured products, fresh fish & shellfish and to find out more about Fins Restaurant.

Barwheys Dairy is another of Ayrshire’s award winning cheesemakers. Owner Tricia Bey makes the award winning Barwheys Cheddar at her dairy in Maybole. Having visited the dairy and  made cheese with Tricia last year, I needed no introduction to this delicious cheese. Barwheys is an unpasteurised cheese, and is made with milk from the dairy’s own herd of pedigree Ayrshire cows. No more than 45 truckles of the hard cheese are made each week and these go on to mature for between 12 and 18 months. In 2012, the first truckles of the now popular ‘Barwheys Beastie‘, a 24 month old matured cheddar were released for sale  and occasionally a smoked version of the cheddar is available. For for further information and stockists, see www.barwheysdairy.co.uk  The full blog post about my cheesmaking experience at Barwheys Dairys can be found in the January posts of this blog.

 

Little Doone Foods is another firm favourite of mine. I’ve been using their balsamic dressings since Colin and Tanya Hanna started the company back in 2007, with their Original Sweet Balsamic Dressing. Since then, another 8 dressings have been added to the range including, Orange Zest, Raspberry, Ginger, and an appropriately Scottish flavour, Whisky. All are based on the Original Sweet Balsamic Dressing, a product that sits somewhere between a balsamic vinegar and a reduction.  With a good range of flavours, the products  have great versatility and can add quickly add an extra depth of flavour to a recipe. Use as a dressing for salads or add to cooked dishes for extra flavour, use in marinades or simply enjoy with crusty bread.

Little Doone Dressings  are available on line at www.littledoonefoods and  from delicatessens, specialist food stores, farm shops and garden centres, nationwide.

Round Square Roastery  Although coffee is not a locally grown product in Scotland, this is Ayrshire’s only roastery and wholesale supplier of ethically sourced coffee and ‘Directly Traded‘ beans from family farms in South and Central America. Owner and Head Roaster, Heather Stevenson, started Round Square Roastery in August 2013 and now supplies hotels, restaurants, coffee houses, delicatessens and the public with 100% Arabica bean coffee. Heather’s small dedicated team are passionate about the whole journey from farm to cup. There are currently 7 blends available in the Round Square Roastery range including their own house blend and ‘The Gentleman’s Blend’. All are available from the on line shop. Find out more about  Round Square Roastery and the stories behind their coffees at wwwroundsquareroastery.co.uk

To find out more about about Taste Ayrshire, the many food producers, restaurants and hotels in the area, visit www.tasteayrshire.co.uk

As a cheese lover, I was delighted to be invited to Barwheys Dairy in Ayrshire to learn how the  award winning Barwheys cheese is made. Each week, owner and cheese maker, Tricia Bey along with her small team make no more than 45 truckles of the hard Ayrshire cheese, using milk from the Dairy’s own special herd of pedigree Ayrshire cows.

Tricia’s skills in cheesemaking were quickly recognised and within two years of production starting Barwheys Cheese was an award winning cheese with Golds at the 2012 at the Royal Highland Show and the Prestigious British Cheese Awards. Success continued in 2013 with another Gold and the award for Best Speciality Cheese Made in Scotland at the Royal Highland Show.

Unlike many commercial brands of cheddar, Barwheys Cheese is truly a handmade cheese and it was a fascinating experience to be a part of the cheese making process at every stage. Cheese making is a craft with many factors affecting the the process and throughout the day I was enthralled watching Tricia work. It was clear that  despite the scientific elements involved, such as temperatures and acidity, Tricia’s experienced hands and intuition played an enormous part in bringing the milk to the stage that would go on to make this high quality cheese.

Like all cheese making the process starts with milk and at Barwheys,  the milk is delivered directly into the dairy from Tricia’s herd of Ayrshire cows.  Milk from the Ayrshire cattle breed is known for it’s superior creamy rich quality, making it ideal for cheese making, resulting in the long complex flavour and creamy texture of Barwheys cheese. Of course, there are natural fluctuations in the volume of milk available from the herd  and Summer milk differs in quality to Winter milk. During the Summer months the cows graze outside on the lush grass in the countryside around the dairy and in Winter that changes as they are housed and fed indoors.

Barwheys Cheese is unpasteurised and with the milk delivered, Tricia got straight to work,  heating the milk and adding the starter culture, to start the production of lactic acid in the milk. The acid is needed to create the conditions required for the addition of the rennet  enzyme at the next stage.  Although I had a very basic understanding of cheese making I had little idea of how important the acidity would  prove to be in final cheese. 

 Rewinding from the start of the cheese making process, my first task of the day was to help bandage the cheese that had been made two days earlier. These had been in the cheese press and it was time for the next stage, bandaging in traditional cotton cheesecloth. After a quick but informative lesson from No 2 Cheese maker Alison, and under her watchful eye,I managed to successfully bandaged a few of the large truckles. From there, the cheeses are transferred to the store where they are looked after by colleague Angus during  the ripening process. The truckles mature on wooden shelves for between 12 and 18 months, before being sent out to hotels, restaurants , specialist cheese shops and delicatessens throughout the country.  A small number of truckles are matured for longer and produce the the wonderfully complex Barwheys Beastie which is usually destined for Burns Suppers throughout Scotland and beyond.

With the starter process well underway, Tricia moved onto the next stage of adding the rennet to the warm milk. Even with my basic knowledge of cheese making, this is a fascinating stage of the process to watch as the rennet acts on the milk to form the curds. As well as being responsible for the coagulation of the curds during the early stages, the enzyme in the rennet also has a direct effect on the changes in the texture of the curd and the flavour, both during the manufacture and storage of the cheese. The change from milk to curds starts to happen quite quickly and it was during that stage of watching and listening to Tricia that her intuitive skills as a Cheese maker were so apparent.

Despite the use of a thermometer and an acidity meter, I could instinctively see that I was watching a true craftswoman at work. Yes, the science was important but so was the experience of the Cheese maker,  hands on, the touching and watching the milk and curds during the process. The rate and  action of the rennet is controlled by rate of the acidity and the temperatures achieved during these early stages. Acidity will also contribute to the flavour of the finished cheese. I could see that this was not a definitive process. The recipe was the same, the milk was from  the same herd, Tricia was making cheese in the way she always did, but the acidity levels were developing slowly that day.

There could have been numerous explanations for this,  possibly even the presence of a stranger in the room. I knew from my own breadmaking experience different environmental factors, even the weather, can have an  influence on the alchemy of  proving and making bread. Cheese making was proving that it could be just as tricky.

Regardless of how fast or slow the curds progress, the processes involved in making the cheese follows a set order. Once the curd had set, it was onto the next stage of ‘Cutting’. The cutting at Barwheys Dairy is really the only mechanical part of the process and two very sharp cheese blades make short work of the task. The cutting separates the whey from the curds and this is followed by ‘Scalding and Stirring’. Every stage is important to the process and temperature and acidity levels are continually monitored as this will determine the final moisture content of the cheese. Scalding involves gently heating the curds and whey until the final temperature is reached and while this can affect the acid level, with the finished cheese in mind, it also allows the Cheese maker to control the acid development.

Discussions between Tricia and Alison about the acidity levels, relentless checking of the curds, and their highly skilled experience of previous cheese making  sessions, led to the next stage, ‘whey off’, separating the curds and whey. The nutritious whey is not wasted.  It goes full circle and is returned to the farm  as feed for the cows.

The next stage, is known as ‘cheddaring’, the curd is piled into blocks on each side of the vat and cut into blocks. For the next few hours the the curd is turned and piled and this really was hands on and quite a strenuous task, but it made the term ‘handmade’ all the more real. It was interesting watching the changes in the curd texture as it changed to become more homogeneous. This was alchemy at it’s very best, but I was in no doubt that Tricia’s expert hands had ensured the curds safe progression to this point.

The continual turning and piling of the curds continued and as the texture changed and the correct acidity level was finally achieved. The large mats of curd had reached a rubbery consistency, almost like dough and the next stage was in sight. I should add, that at that point, I pledged to never eat a piece of Barwheys Cheese without saluting the incredible skill and effort of Tricia and her team as they produce this fantastic handmade cheese.

With the texture and the acidity level correct, the next stage of ‘milling and salting’ the cheddared curds began. The mats of curd were milled to the required size, salt was added and mixed through, again a task that is done by hand.  The final stage had arrived and the salted curd was packed into large lined moulds to be pressed and shaped.

We were back at where we started, although the compressed curds would remain in the press for a  day or so to form the cheese. Once removed, like the start of my day, the bandaging would take place and batch 129/13 will spend the next 12 months in the store maturing. The batch will be ready to go out for sale next Christmas, and I’m hoping it will be in a nearby cheese shop. Please watch out for it and if you’re fortunate enough to taste my batch, please let me know what you think. Meanwhile, if you’re planning a cheeseboard, then I recommend a nice piece of  mature Barwheys Cheese.

 

The 2014 Scotlands Speciality Food Show opens today and runs until Tuesday 21st January at the SECC, Glasgow. The show is Scotland’s largest and oldest trade fare and attracts food buyers from throughout the country.
130 specialist food companies, many of them small producers will be showcasing some of the very best fine food products.
If you’re a food business, delicatessen, farm shop or speciality food store looking to stock fine quality food products, the show is the place to find it.

Being a lover of fine food and great champion of small producers, in particular, Scottish produce, I’ve put together a snapshot of some of my favourites. These are all exceptional food products that I guarantee your customers will love. One of these producers, Mr C’s Handcrafted Pies won Best Product Award at last year’s show.

Mr C’s Hand-Crafted Pies
The award winning Scottish pie company, Mr C’s Handcrafted Pies has a range of 10 pies, all made to the same exacting standard with quality ingredients. Outdoor bred pork, Scottish wild venison along with outstanding handmade pastry,are just some of the ingredients used to make these delicous pies.

Just this week, Mr C’s were awarded 4 awards at the 2014 Scotch Pie Awards. Diamond for Haggis, Neeps and Tattie, Gold for Scottish venison Pie, Silver for Apple Pie and Bronze for Pork and Chorizo with chilli.

Mr C’s Handcrafted Pies is on stand N45. Owner, Robert Corrigan will be on hand with a full range and delcious samples of the pies.
www.mrcspies.co.uk

Summer Harvest Oils
Perthshire based Summer Harvest Oils, is one of Scotland’s top rapeseed oil producers. From their base at Fernyfold Farm, in the Perthshire countryside, Mark and Maggie Bush, produce a fantatsic range of oils, dressings, vinegars, and mayonnaise.

New for the show is Summer harvest Chilli and Red Pepper Dressing. A rapeseed oil based product that is ideal for salads, chicken, fish and BBQs.

Earlier this year Summer harvest was named as an approved SRA (Sustainable Restaurant association) supplier, making them the only approved cold rapeseed oil supplier in the UK and only the second SRA food supplier in Scotland.
The Oil currently holds two Scotland Food and drink Excellence Awards and two Gold Star Great taste Awards.

Summer Harvest products are a must have in my kitchen and the full range will be showcase at the fare. You’ll find Mark and Maggie on stand N31.
www.summerharvestoils.co.uk

Border Biscuits
There’s nothing quite like a nice quality biscuit when you sit down to a cup of tea or coffee and Border Biscuits is the one for me. I’ve reviewed their biscuits, tasted all the different varieties and they never fail to wow on flavour and quality.

There’s a wide range to choose from and Border really do have a biscuit to suit every taste.
The classic recipes include, Fruit Tea biscuits, Devillishly Dark Chocolate Cookies and Light Buttery Viennese.
In the Deliciously Different range, you’ll find, Strawberry and Cream Shortbread, Chocolate and Orange Shortbread and Toffee Apple Crumble.
There’s an Outrageously Tasty Range with Yoghurt, Cranberry and Pumpkin Seed Crumbles, Red Berry Rascals and Raspberry, White Chocloate and Pistachio Crumbles.
Border biscuits will be on stand K27.
www.borderbiscuits.co.uk

Wee Fudge Company
If it’s a luxurious sweet treat you’re looking for then stop by and speak to Joyce Brady, owner of The Wee Fudge Company. The company’s delicous fudge is available in a range of indulgent flavours, including, Hebridean Sea Salt and Caramel, White Chocolate with Sicilian Lemon Extract, and Raspeberry & White Chocolate.

Unlike massed produced fudge found on sweet counters, every batch of ‘Wee Fudge’ is handmade by Joyce from a favourite and traditional Scottish recipe, using only the freshest ingredients.
Joyce tell me that she has has been developing some new exciting flavours of fudge and these will make an appearance at the show.
If you want to taste the new flavours or indeed all the varieties in the Wee Fudge range, then visit Joyce on stand LG46.
www.weefudge.co.uk

For further information on the 2014 Scottish Speciality Show see www.scotlandsspecialityfoodshow.com

Gift vouchers for cookery course always make good Christmas gifts but if you’re budget doesn’t run to that then this cookery course in a box is the perfect alternative.

The idea was developed by Yasmin McDonagh, of Scotia Spice, who runs authentic Punjabi cookery courses at her  home in Balfron, just north of Glasgow. She had been asked about writing a book but after listening to comments from people who attended her courses, the cookery course in the box was born. Many commented on the number of cookery books they owned but rarely cooked from them or had all the ingredients for the recipes. Unlike the gift of a cookery book, the box contains all the spices and a chilli jelly to cook 6 punjabi dishes.

Priced at £20, there are 3 ‘Cookery Course in a Box’ to chose from, chicken, lamb or vegetarian, each with a different selection of recipes.

Yasmin has given me the chicken course to cook and I’m looking forward to writing about that in the New Year. However, I watched and listened as she cooked cook up three delicious meals from the lamb box. In a very short time she produced 3 really flavoursome Punjabi dishes, Keema Lamb, potato & pea curry and a classic cucumber raita. Yasmin was right when she described the dishes as real family food and winners on affordability and taste.

As she cooked, referring to the various dishes as her soul food, Yasmin talked with great passion about  learning to cook with her mother and grandmother. She really cooked from the heart, and spoke at length about the ingredients,  describing the benefit of each spice as they were added to the pan.

There are also three course options to chose from at Scotia Spice:

Full day – £130. Start with a spice workshop, learning about the spices and how to use them. Followed by  cooking 6 punjabi recipes which you will take home along with the recipes and a selection of spices.

Half day – £75 Start with a spice workshop and cook 3 Punjabi recipes which you will take home along with a selection of spices.

Introductory session – £30. This session will give you a taste of what Scotia Spice offers. After the spice workshop you will cook one dish which you will take home along with a selection of spices.

Numbers are restricted to 3 on each session, allowing Yasmin to guide you through the practical parts of the session.

For further information see www.scotiaspice.co.uk or contact Yasmin – info@scotiaspice.co.uk

Telephone 01360 449399

People often ask, what do you get the person who has everything? My answer is usually food and drink or some kind of experience based on just that. If you know their likes and dislikes, it’s an ideal gift and depending on your budget, there’s a lot to choose from. Food Hampers or gift baskets, are popular gifts at Christmas and let’s face it, so simple as all you have to do is chose and someone else will do all the work, wrapping and delivering. There’s a large number of companies selling hampers but it can be difficult to be confident about the quality of the food unless you are familiar with the contents.

A hamper selection that caught my eye at a recent Christmas food festival was this year’s luxury range from Scottish company, Tasting Scotland. Owner, Brenda Anderson, and business colleague Nicky of Nicole Dalby, Flower & Design, have created a unique collection that hasn’t been offered before. Offering a fusion of fine foods and floral design, the hampers give great value by presenting two gifts in one luxury package. The combination of a Highland inspired handmade wreath along with a range of speciality food makes a truly luxury gift.

Brenda regularly works with many of Scotland’s small artisan food producers on Tasting Scotland’s food tours and for her, including their products was an essential part of choosing the contents for the hampers. No massed produced food, simply artisan in nature all the way. Nicky and Brenda also wanted the hampers to reflect Scotland’s rugged and romantic landscape while protecting the country’s environment. Using mainly natural and sustainable packaging, the hampers are beautifully presented in handmade wooden apple crates with some items like oils and vinegars in refillable bottles.

Each hamper contains a luxury handmade wreath and prices start at £50 for the Christmas Joy basket. Containing a selection of rapeseed oil, vinegar, Christmas pudding, oatcakes, cheese and most unusual addition of cooking hay with a recipe, it’s great value and makes a beautiful gift.

The Seasonal Scotland hamper at £59 contains a seasonal floral arrangement with a range of artisan teas and coffees.

There’s also the Festive Warm Wishes at £85 and the Luxury Greetings at £125. Both contain a wonderful range of food, including cheese, cake, biscuits, oatcakes, condiments and preserves.

There’s also the option to add a bottle of champagne or spirits , or chose the contents to make a bespoke hamper.

For a full list of contents in each hamper and delivery/collection details see www.tastingscotland.co.uk

Tasting Scotland’s cooking classes, tours, breaks and holidays make the most luxurious of gifts? Gift certificates are also available and you can find full details on the website

 

If you’re heading to Partick Farmers market today, look out for the new face on the block. Renfrewshire artisan food company, Aye Love Real Food, are making their debut at the market. Owned by husband and wife team, Mark and Jacqui Davidson, they are no strangers at the Ayshire farmers markets, although this is their first visit to the Glasgow markets.

Using the best local Tamworth pork and Aberdeen Angus beef, they make a delicious range of Scotch eggs, beef pasties and stews. Their specialty, scotch eggs, come in a delcious range of flavours including, pork & haggis, pork & black pudding, and pork & chorizo. There’s also a special limited edition Christmas egg with cranberry and festive spices.Mark and Jacqui offer a variety of different stews and tomorrow’s special is their delicious pulled beef chilli. If you’re visiting the Partick market tomorrow, be sure to drop past Aye Love Real Food to stock up and try some of the tasty samples on offer