… so why not hit the pause button & have a wee read. Better still, sign up for his newsletters….
“A slower way of life is a good thing, especially in the kitchen. The Slow Food Movement was started in Italy in the 1980s by Carlo Petrini. It focused on sustainable agriculture, food origins and safeguarding endangered local foods. I have mentioned Slow Food before but it is always good to remind folk.
A leading burger chain were opening a restaurant in Rome. In an act of defiance, Carlo Petrini organised trestle tables to be set up in the town square, and people brought food from their homes to eat convivially around a table, eating local, sourced food using old recipes created with love and care. This was the start of Slow Food and the burger chain did not do so well.
The point is we all have fabulous food available to us. It is a choice whether we want to eat it or not. Are you too busy to make a simple omelette, cannot be bothered, or just do not know where to start? Slow Food helps people from all walks of life discover a better way to live, to appreciate the good things in life; great food, nice wine, friends, loved ones and a good, clean, fair approach to buying our food. This is something I have been involved with for almost 20 years. It is one of the duties of a chef to help young people, school children and producers to work together; to be active in their communities, to encourage, read, educate and support inspiration. All of this can be achieved through food.
Food is at the heart of life, home and community and good food should be available to all. At the Slow Food Awards last week, I was awarded, once again, ‘Slow Food Scotland Cook of the Year’ 2025. This is such a privilege for me to be recognised by the public as someone who genuinely cares. This really does mean a lot to me, so if you voted for me, thank you.
It would be great if we can all try to have a slower Christmas, one filled with joy and laughter, local food, good wine, surrounded by loved ones with less plastic tat. So if you are shopping for the big day, consider the small-scale producer, the grower, the breeder, the artisan and the Christmas-pudding-maker!”
“Take time to enjoy the things you like to do, whether it is a hobby, walking, cooking, cycling, motorcycling or watching television; or perhaps rushing to Cafe to buy one of our world-famous Christmas puddings before they all sell out?”
The excitement of an ‘at home’ must be overwhelming for you all as you consider what the menu may be. Well, it is a gem this week as we have a delicious main course of our well-known pork belly, with buttery mash, greens and chorizo, absolutely delicious. Follow the link below to order.
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER
Our sourdough with unsalted butter
Red wine poached pear, Lanark Blue cheese, candied nuts & endive
Pork belly, mash, greens, Peelham Farm chorizo
I J Mellis cheese, our oatcakes and chutney
Lemon posset
Artisan roast coffee with a biscuit
£47.50 per person
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It’s our final market of 2025 on Saturday (20 December). It will be a busy one, so come early if you want to get your hands on one of our Christmas puddings! We’ll have lots of incredible meals, side dishes and accompaniments to stock your pantry and fridge with in time for guests arriving. See you on Castle Terrace between 9am-2pm.