Catering Scotland NewsScottish catering and hospitality news in Scotland

The Scottish Borders has launched a new initiative aimed at putting the region on Scotland's food-tourism map.

'Taste Scottish Borders,' is being funded by Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Enterprise, and brings together all of the area's food and drink offerings under one banner. Awards, food festivals, individual establishments and food producers will be showcased in a bid to highlight the area more effectively as a top destination for foodie travellers and enthusiasts.

The food and drink industry attracts revenues of around ?144 million to the Borders economy each year, employing around 10% of the region's working population.

The area boasts boasts some of the country's best hotels and restaurants, including the Horseshoe Inn at Eddleston, The Buccleuch Arms in St Boswells which and The Black Bull in Lauder.

'Current figures suggest that 22% of tourism spend is on food- and drink-related activities, and in the Borders this amounts to around ?62 million annually,' says says Nicola Watt from Scottish Enterprise.

The Taste Scottish Borders initiative involves support for a mix of existing and new elements to the Scottish Borders food calendar, including the well established Borders Banquet Food Festival, the Taste Scottish Borders Food Fair at the Border Union Show, and the Peebles Food Festival.

Motor racing legends, Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Frank Williams, have agreed to give the winner of a Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland charity auction prize a unique experience at the British Grand Prix.

The Formula 1 stars will take the successful bidder and a partner on a personal tour of the Williams garage and pit area.

The lot includes two two-day Formula One Paddock Club passes and all day hospitality at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone from 4th-6th July, plus accommodation.

The lot will be auctioned at the HIT Scotland Industry Dinner, at the Hilton Glasgow on 1st May, and bids are acceptable in advance.

The HIT Scotland industry dinner raises money to help students studying towards a career in hospitality, tourism or catering. The charity also places up-and-coming talents on world-class scholarships to boost Scotland's hospitality industry.

Sir Jackie Stewart OBE said: 'Sir Frank and I are very pleased to be supporting HIT Scotland, and all the work they do, developing the emerging talent of the industry in Scotland. We promise to make sure the two winners have a very good time at the British Grand prix!'

For details on how to bid,visit the HIT Scotland website, or contact David Cochrane 01577 865 231.

The race to win catering and bar contracts at Musselburgh Racecourse has ended in a 3-way tie.
The ?1m-plus contracts covered corporate hospitality, fine dining, seven bars, a bistro and fast-food outlets at the East Lothian course.

Heritage Portfolio has retained the corporate hospitality and fine dining concessions and will provide capital to open and run a designated Pommery Champagne Bar adjacent to the existing champagne lawn area. Heritage will also take over the running of Freddie's Bar and there are plans to introduce food in the grandstand bar for the first time.

Rosie Cully has had her contract to run the Old Weighing Room Bistro renewed and will operate the Owners' and Members' Bar.

Meanwhile, Countryside Refreshments will take over the running of several bars, including the Rockavon Bar, Dizzy's Bar and the Pinkie Bar, and will continue to provide the fast food mobile units dotted around the course.

'We have changed from four to three operators and, as part of the new contract, Heritage Portfolio are financing improvements to certain facilities around the course,' says Musselburgh Racecourse General Manager, Bill Farnsworth.

'The racing and leisure industry is extremely competitive and only by constantly refining and improving our services will we stay ahead of the field and protect our position as one of the UK's leading racecourses.'

In addition to staging 25 flat and jump race days a year the East Lothian track hosts an additional 100 events each year which bring in an estimated 90,000 visitors.

Entries and nominations for the CIS Excellence Awards 2008 close this Friday 18th April, so make sure you get yours in beforehand.

Organised in association with the Federation of Chefs Scotland and judged by a board of reknowned individuals from the Scottish industry, the awards are open to all types of established and emerging businesses, from chefs, contract caterers and colleges, to hotels, restaurants, event caterers and food-tourism organisations.
The categories (see below) are FREE to enter and you may nominate as many individuals and/or companies as you wish, including your own business. The winners will be presented with their trophies at a ceremony at the Hilton Glasgow on 29th May 2008.

Visit the CIS Excellence Awards website for judging criteria and guidelines, and booking forms for attending the event itself.


Award Categories

Restaurant of the Year

Healthyliving Excellence Award

Hotel of the Year

Chef of the Year

Contract Catering Chef of the Year Award

Food-Tourism Award

Restaurant Newcomer of the year Award

Excellence in Hospitality Education Award

Restaurant Manager of the Year

Independent Event Caterer of the Year

Innovation in Training Award

Lifetime Excellence Award

Brian Canale, Head Chef at Edinburgh-based Heritage Portfolio, has made it through to the grand final of the KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 contest.

The biennial competition, run by the Craft Guild of Chefs and sponsored by KNORR, is one of the most highly respected culinary challenges in the industry today, with past winners including Eyck Zimmer, Steve Love, Mark Sargeant and Gordon Ramsay.

Brian will now take part in a live cook-off at the Grand Final on 7th October at the Restaurant Show in London. The eight finalists will compete over four hours to create a four-course meal from a selection of ingredients provided in a mystery basket.

The winner will receive a cheque for ?10,000 and a selection of prizes including a trip to Italy.

Ultimate Resourcing has announced the opening of new second office in Glasgow.

Headed by Roddy Watt, founder and former Chief Executive of the Berkeley Scott Group, the new business launched its first office in Edinburgh in October 2007.

The new office, in the city centre's Union Street, will focus on the hospitality & leisure sectors as well as accountancy & finance, and according to Chairman Mr Watt, it is anticipated that the business will double in size over the coming twelve months, expanding into sales & marketing and HR.

'Our vision is to be the Ultimate resourcing company in the territories and sectors in which we operates,' he says. 'Both our Glasgow and Edinburgh offices draw on the experience of a team of consultants who specialise in temporary, contract and permanent recruitment.

'Ultimate Resourcing has already had an impact on the hospitality & leisure and accounting & finance sectors, having recently been nominated as 'Newcomer of the Year' at the Scottish Recruitment Awards. I anticipate very rapid growth of the Ultimate brand over the next few years.'

Visit www.ultimate-resourcing.com for more information.

Oxton-based Unchained Restaurants has taken over the reins of Clovenfords, the country hotel near Galashiels.

The company also owns the nearby Goblin Ha' hotel and two Italian restaurants in their chain of Tutti Tuscan Grilles.

Managing Director Rob Reeley has big plans for the much loved local hotel: 'We want to keep the warm and friendly atmosphere customers enjoy here, but we are planning to refurbish key areas of the hotel,' he says. We're also looking forward to giving the menu a more contemporary yet traditional twist, and introducing the service standards that our customers have come to expect from our businesses.'

Meanwhile the Goblin Ha' in Gifford was shortlisted for the regional finals of the Punch Shine Award for Best Drinks Experience.

Visit www.clovenfordshotel.co.uk for more information.

Edinburgh's Point Hotel has re-branded as the Mercure Point Hotel after signing a 20-year agreement with Accor.

The 139-bed hotel, located in the Grassmarket area of the city, joins the Mercure UK portfolio comprising a total of 28 hotels.

'The re-branding will not effect staffing or the day-to-day running of the hotel,' says Neil Ellis, General Manager at the Mercure Point Hotel.