Let’s head out of the city, not far though, just a few miles to the gorgeous seaside town of South Queensferry. This is a popular destination with tourists and locals alike throughout the week and at weekends. The High Street through South Queensferry is steeped in history with cobbled streets and a Tolbooth dating back to the 1630s on one side and the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridge on the other. Wherever you look, you’ll find views that feed the eyes and soul. Located near the start of the one way cobbled High Street is Orocco Pier - restaurants and hotel. Orocco Pier boasts two restaura ..read more

I’m on my second serving as I write this. This non-alcoholic spirit is as delicious as it is refreshing! Talonmore is a spirit born and raised in Edinburgh. Only established in 2020, they are definitely shaking up the non-alcoholic industry and I’d put them as a one to watch. In 2022, Talonmore was awarded Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition scoring an impressive 92 points out of 100. The new batch of Talonmore includes a brand-new look & feel, with an upgraded label and eye-catching flagship red foil. Using a mix of rooted and plant-based ingredients, Talonmore can be ..read more

Ahead of World Bee Day award-winning Scottish Whisky liqueur Bruadar pays homage to the tiny creature responsible for its unique flavour. I headed to Aberagie a few weeks ago to meet these Bruadar Bees and to try some Bruadar cocktails of course! DRINK : MEET THE BRUDAR BEES FOR WORLD BEE DAY Bruadar is created by carefully balancing Single Malt Scotch Whisky, sloe berries and honey which is produced by hives at their distillery in Aberargie. Ahead of World Bee Day, this Saturday 20th May, Bruadar has, for the first time released exclusive imagery of the hives which are responsible for the ..read more

Steak experiences are a thing! Who would have thought it, but I love this idea and its such good value for money, I think you’ll visit time and time again. For my sisters birthday we headed to Miller & Carter Steakhouse in Reading. I had never really rated Miller & Carter as a steakhouse but I have most certainly adjusted my thinking on this and will definitely be recommending them for steak! FOOD REVIEW OF MILLER AND CARTER STEAKHOUSE, READING We were a party of 6 so a few of us to get around. The service was impeccable with proper check backs throughout, suggestions on what to ea ..read more

It was spot-the-difference time as identical twins Mairi and Amy Johnson (aged 33) helped launch Taylors Snacks, the new brand that is replacing Mackie’s of Scotland crisps and popcorn.   At the Taylors family farm in Errol, Perthshire, the twin sisters from Currie on the outskirts of Edinburgh helped share the message that while the Taylors branding and packaging is new, the award-winning crisps inside the bags remain exactly the same.  MACKIES CRISPS RE-BRANDED AS TAYLORS CRISPS Meanwhile, the Mackie’s of Scotland family business and brand will continue to produce its much-lov ..read more

There ain’t no bobbing along here, just peace and relaxation. The Four Sisters Camillia Boatel is a wide beam canal barge moored at the Lochrin Basin, Union Canal in Edinburgh and if you are after a tranquil escape in the middle of this bustling city, then book a night here. When you enter the Lochrin Basin just off Fountainbrigde, there is no missing these two lime green barges moored just beyond the bevy of cast bronze swans. The barges have their own gate and walkway. ACCOMMODATION REVIEW OF THE FOUR SISTERS CAMILLiA BOATEL, EDINBURGH Natalie, our wonderful host owns these two gorge ..read more

When a restaurant/cafe is busy on a Monday mid morning, you know that it’s popular and a must visit spot. Chaiiwala Indian Street Food recently opened up at Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh and I have to say I think they made a mistake in opening here. They need a spot twice as big because this place is busy. I’ve returned twice now and there is always queues! I’ll take that as a good sign though. A REVIEW OF CHAIIWALA INDIAN STREET FOOD AT FORT KINNAIRD, EDINBURGH It’s fairly small inside with 2 booths opposite the counter and the remaining tables and seating by the windows. The space is light an ..read more

Highland Boundary distillery, Alyth, Perthshire, have released the world’s first wild Scottish aromatic cocktail bitters.  In a bid to re-connect people with nature and help Scotland reach its Net Zero target Highland Boundary have developed Wild Scottish Bitters, made only from sustainably harvested wild Scottish botanicals. The bitters recipe has been seven years in development with each botanical ingredient being individually prepared using specific maturation conditions. Distillery co-founder Dr Marian Bruce says: “We work individually with each wild plant to determine the conditi ..read more

I always feel that Asian food is healthier for you. The food always contains way more vegetables than our beige food and they most definitely know how to get us hooked on umami. A few years ago Itsu brought out their frozen Gyozas, and I couldn’t get enough of them. Expensive then, they’ve now reached a price of around £4.00 per bag so this is now a real luxury in our house. Itsu opened their shop in the St James Quarter Edinburgh, last year but I have never been. However visiting London a few weeks ago, this Itsu cafe/sit in takeaway hybrid was close to my hotel and after a day of Great Taste ..read more

What’s sweet and fun? Funkin Cocktails premixed drinks of course. These cans are packed with joy and I have to applaud the makers for the really good true to taste flavour. Most canned ready mixed alcoholic drinks are either super sugary and leave a horrible coating on your tongue or the drinks not only emits a synthetic aroma but a taste too. Now as you know, I love making and shaking up a cocktail or two but they take time and sometimes all you want is a nice ice cold drink, instantly. This is were Funkin Cocktails enter the building! REVIEW OF FUNKIN COCKTAILS PREMIXED DRINKS All the gre ..read more