Scottish catering and hospitality news in Scotland

Restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Uddingston are in the running for a prestigious national award after being voted the most popular healthy eating venues in Scotland.

Urban Angel in Edinburgh, Grassroots Café in Glasgow and Alfies, a workplace restaurant in Uddingston, have been short-listed in the first annual Scottish Restaurant Awards, which were launched earlier this year to celebrate and reward the best restaurants in Scotland across a variety of different categories.

The category is sponsored by the healthyliving award - a Scottish Consumer Council project which encourages eating establishments to make it easier for people to choose healthy options when they are eating away from home.

Claire Brown, Project Manager of the healthyliving award, said: 'Eating out is a big part of life in Scotland, whether it's a family meal in a restaurant or a bite to eat in your local pub or workplace canteen.

'Demand for healthier options has grown significantly in recent years so we were keen to see which food outlets the public thought were responding to this.'

Each of the three restaurants in the Health Conscious Restaurant of the Year category will now be visited by a panel of judges, when they will be judged on their menu, ingredients, preparation and cooking methods.

The overall winner will be announced at an award ceremony at Edinburgh International Conference Centre on January 28.

The Scottish Restaurant Awards were launched to recognise the creativity, outstanding customer service and top quality dining that is on offer in eating establishments throughout Scotland.

The Health Conscious Restaurant of the Year award is one of 12 categories, each focusing on a different type of dining experience, for example Best Pub Grub, Best Family Friendly and Best Fine Dining restaurant.

The healthyliving award gives national recognition to caterers and food outlets which take a range of steps to provide healthier options by reducing levels of fat, salt and sugar in food and by making fruit and vegetables more easily available.

Over 600 food outlets across Scotland have already signed up to the Award, ranging from workplace canteens and supermarket cafés to family restaurants, all keen to meet consumer demand for healthier options.

To qualify for the healthyliving award, caterers need to meet a set of key criteria, which includes a commitment to providing and supporting healthier eating, as demonstrated in the menu selection, the way they prepare food, marketing and promotional activities and the way in which food is presented and sold.

For further information on how to apply for the healthyliving award, phone 0141 226 5261 or visit www.healthylivingaward.co.uk.

The Institute for Hospitality and The British Institute of Innkeepers (BII) have organised a free (for members) seminar: 'New Licences, New Legislation ? How will they affect you and your business?'

On hand to lead the seminar will be Janet Hood LLB Dip LP ABII, Head of BII Scotland, Mary Renton, Licensing Paralegal at Lindseys, and Inspector Gordon Hunter, Licensing Inspector at Edinburgh Area of Lothian and Borders Police.

The event will take place Wednesday, 16th January 2008 at the Hilton Grosvenor, Grosvenor Street, Edinburgh from 6.15pm (for 6.45pm) until 9pm.

It is free for Institute of Hospitality and BII members but only £5 for non-members and payment can be made on the night; however, bookings must be made in advance. To do so, email ihedinburgh@hotmail.co.uk with your contact details and number of spaces you'd like booked or phone John Willis on 01259 760 080.

Students from the University of Strathclyde have played a major role at one of the world's largest aviation shows, on which they descended to run corporate hospitality accommodation for major businesses represented at the event.

The team of more than 40 students, from the University's Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management, organised exhibition areas (known as chalets) at the Dubai International Airshow. In addition, the Strathclyde students were responsible for co-ordinating staff and liaising with clients.

The five-day event takes place every two years in the Middle Eastern Emirate.

The show drew more than 45,000 visitors from 131 countries. The event featured 850 exhibitors from 50 nations. These included 32 civil and 82 military delegations. Companies included Rolls Royce, Tag Heuer, British Aerospace and Daimler Benz.

Despite their heavy workload, the students took the chance to experience a fully-rounded encounter with Dubai, sailing on the Dubai creek, visiting museums and embarking on a desert safari. They declared the trip to have been "hard work and long hours but 'rewarding'" and "the most demanding, educational yet uplifting experience."

Dr Alistair Goldsmith, Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Strathclyde, said: "This project has been invaluable for our students as it has given them a practical insight into managing events, on one of the biggest stages available to them. By coping admirably with the demands of such a high-profile and intensive working environment, the students have shown immense potential for careers in their chosen field."

The Glenmorangie Company has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with National Museums Scotland to support the study and understanding of early Scottish culture, it was announced on Monday 3 December.

In what is believed to be the first time a Scotch whisky company has funded an archaeology post, Glenmorangie's support will lead to a researcher being appointed by National Museums in 2008.

National Museums Scotland collections include the eighth-century Hilton of Cadboll Stone, which was discovered near Glenmorangie House in Ross-shire, and is the inspiration for the emblem that adorns Glenmorangie's new range.

The researcher will examine historic artefacts in the Museums' Early Historic (300-900AD) collections and produce a book detailing how the people of early Scotland reflected their society and beliefs in the sophisticated objects they created.

The publication will have both the gravitas to appeal to specialists but also a luxury feel ? with high quality photography and design ? to attract those with a more general interest.

Dr Andy Heald, curator of Early Historic Collections at National Museums Scotland, commented: "Glenmorangie's support will enable us to understand these collections in greater depth than has previously been possible, helping us to tell an important part of the story of early Scotland. The harnessing of resources, craft skills and contacts within and beyond Scotland were all involved in producing the objects - such as the Hunterston Brooch and the Monymusk Reliquary - that portrayed their values and creeds. This unique partnership will shed more light on a formative period of Scotland?s past."

Glenmorangie chief executive Paul Neep said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to link one iconic Scottish institution with another.

"At Glenmorangie, we are proud of our Scottish roots, particularly the ancient art and culture of the Picts. The sophisticated and alluring nature of our whisky sits well with the amazing craftsmanship of our early ancestors. Many of our products take their names from the Gaelic language and our new emblem was inspired by the Hilton of Cadboll Stone."

In August 2007, Glenmorangie unveiled wide ranging and innovative plans to expand its global market presence and capture a bigger slice of the growing market for malt whisky worldwide.