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It almost feels like Spring is here up in Bonnie Scotland. The daffodils are blooming, and when I drove up into the hills today there was some genuinely warm sunshine flooding the grass and heather. It took me an hour or so to drive up past Stirling and Dunblane towards Crieff, and I spent an bit of time blowing the cobwebs away in what the locals probably call a "stiff breeze", or "gale force wind" as the rest of us know it.
There is a big event at the school next week. Ian, the owner, has (rather optimistically in my opinion) decided to hold his 50th birthday dinner in the reception room (the Bell Tower Room), and let us students cook for him and 35 guests. It takes place next Friday, so this week we were putting forward suggestions for the menu (which is to be a 4 course meal, plus canapés, petit four and of course the obligatory "surprise" birthday cake). We also get to suggest the matching wines (now that I am, a-hem, WSET foundation level qualified). On Tuesday we put forward our list, and Ian chose a number of possibilities, then on Wednesday we cooked them. I wasn't feeling particularly well on Wednesday (naturally, being a man, I don't like to make a fuss about these things), but I was determined to go through with my idea, which was for a Scottish themed main course of venison fillet, barley risotto and whisky sauce. I did two different sauces, a mushroom and cream, and a red wine and juniper reduction. Having slapped my two plates on the table and invited Ian to try them, I then sloped off home for a few hours sleep (and before you ask, no, I had nothing whatsoever to drink the night before). The next morning Click told me that my main course (the mushroom sauce version) was the one selected by Ian. Yes!!!
Meanwhile, back in the flat, Sophie and Kylie are settling in, and I must say, things are a bit more sociable with them around. They actually eat proper food, unlike Click who exists on a diet of crisps, chocolate and dips, and so are keen for me to cook stuff for them, and even reciprocate (Thursday night:- meatballs, pasta and my foccacia). They both hail from London, were schoolmates, and are about 20 (I now know). I refuse to disclose Kylie's previous career on this blog on the grounds I might start getting a whole new audience once Google gets wind of it.
On Thursday we had the cameras in again, this time from BBC Scotland, interviewing Ian about the "credit crunch". I had no idea I was going to feature so prominently but there again these journalists are clearly trained to spot talent.
Anyway, here is the piece which appeared on the BBC Scotland news on Friday night.
And just so you know, the piece Sky News did a couple of months ago which I emailed some of you excitedly about did go out, although not on the date promised. We are about to have a DVD sent through, I'm told. I am available for personal appearences, first nights and Christmas light ceremonies at reasonable prices.
There is a big event at the school next week. Ian, the owner, has (rather optimistically in my opinion) decided to hold his 50th birthday dinner in the reception room (the Bell Tower Room), and let us students cook for him and 35 guests. It takes place next Friday, so this week we were putting forward suggestions for the menu (which is to be a 4 course meal, plus canapés, petit four and of course the obligatory "surprise" birthday cake). We also get to suggest the matching wines (now that I am, a-hem, WSET foundation level qualified). On Tuesday we put forward our list, and Ian chose a number of possibilities, then on Wednesday we cooked them. I wasn't feeling particularly well on Wednesday (naturally, being a man, I don't like to make a fuss about these things), but I was determined to go through with my idea, which was for a Scottish themed main course of venison fillet, barley risotto and whisky sauce. I did two different sauces, a mushroom and cream, and a red wine and juniper reduction. Having slapped my two plates on the table and invited Ian to try them, I then sloped off home for a few hours sleep (and before you ask, no, I had nothing whatsoever to drink the night before). The next morning Click told me that my main course (the mushroom sauce version) was the one selected by Ian. Yes!!!
Meanwhile, back in the flat, Sophie and Kylie are settling in, and I must say, things are a bit more sociable with them around. They actually eat proper food, unlike Click who exists on a diet of crisps, chocolate and dips, and so are keen for me to cook stuff for them, and even reciprocate (Thursday night:- meatballs, pasta and my foccacia). They both hail from London, were schoolmates, and are about 20 (I now know). I refuse to disclose Kylie's previous career on this blog on the grounds I might start getting a whole new audience once Google gets wind of it.
On Thursday we had the cameras in again, this time from BBC Scotland, interviewing Ian about the "credit crunch". I had no idea I was going to feature so prominently but there again these journalists are clearly trained to spot talent.
Anyway, here is the piece which appeared on the BBC Scotland news on Friday night.
And just so you know, the piece Sky News did a couple of months ago which I emailed some of you excitedly about did go out, although not on the date promised. We are about to have a DVD sent through, I'm told. I am available for personal appearences, first nights and Christmas light ceremonies at reasonable prices.
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