Latest news with #DeanBanks
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Scotland's best restaurants for fish and chips revealed including chic seaside spot and popular chippy
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND'S best restaurants for fish and chips have been revealed. There's not much better than tucking into a fresh fish supper, and scoffing a fresh catch by the seaside is unrivalled. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The top fish and chip shops in Scotland have been revealed Credit: Getty 2 And they're perfect for takeaways and dine-ins Credit: Alamy But if you can't make it to the coast then don't despair. Scotland boasts some top-notch chip shops all across the country. Here's a look at some of the very best, according to experts at Larder Mag. Landy's Fish and Chips, Edinburgh Old Town This retro-chic chippy brings all the charm of the coast right into the heart of the capital. The team at Landy's prides itself on serving up "proper fish and chips", made the traditional way. Their fresh, flaky fish is fried to crispy perfection in their signature beef dripping, served golden with piping hot chips. And for those fancying something different, they also offer baked, Cajun spiced and even vegan options. You can also tuck into their tapas-inspired treats, including haggis spring rolls, a black pudding Scotch egg and even deep-fried pizza crunch. Dune, St Andrews Owned by Master Chef finalist Dean Banks, Dune's menu is described as a "celebration of the sea, built around the finest local seafood and guided by what's freshest each day." It boasts a more up-market take on chippy scran - offering the likes of a scoop of oscietra caviar, octopus hotdogs and mackerel schnitzel. The Golden Fry: A Beloved Scottish Chippy Hits the Market (1) And its catch of the day is served with a variety of delicious options including seaweed tartare, curry sauce, peas and triple-cooked chips. Or for those who love something a little extra, Dune serves their lobster roll for £12. In fact, the roll, which is served from their outdoor hach, is loved so much by locals that it has become a "cult classic". Bertie's, Edinburgh Old Town Another chippy that impresses in Edinburgh is Bertie's, which is located in the Old Town. It has become a go-to among locals and visitors who love a good classic fish and chips dish. Not only is their battered haddock delicously flaky yet crunchy at the same time, but it is served with perfectly cooked chunky chips. The experts say it is a bright, bustling spot in the heart of the buzzing city, which does justice to the classic meal. The Jigger Inn, St Andrews St Andrews is one place in Scotland that is known for its high-quality fish and chip shops. The picturesque setting and being right on the harbour make it the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional fish supper. And being located near the 17th hole of the iconic Old Course, The Jigger Inn is no different. But what really makes it stand out is that they have their own recipe for their batter. It is made with their own Jigger Ale, which is their special brew that is created for the pub by Belhaven Brewery, and it's only available here. The Grahamston, Glasgow This all-day chippy brings a quirky, contemporary edge to traditional Scottish fish and chips. Their menu is served all day and includes incredibly tasty dishes like a thick-cut, crispy, battered haddock fillet. Even though it costs £18, the standout dish is served with minted peas and tartare sauce. And it's perfect for any type of visit - whether you're stopping quickly for some grub or you want to sit and dine in, this chippy has everything you need. Ochil's Arms, Dollar There's nothing better after a walk through the country than stopping in a cosy, country pub for delicious food. And there's no better place for that than Ochil's Arms, which is located at the bottom of the Ochil Hills. This welcoming pub is known for being ideal for both families looking to enjoy some classic fish and chips as well as hikers looking to fill their bellies with hearty food. It has a relaxed, rural vibe and locals and visitors alike love its fresh haddock, which has a batter that is made using their house Ochils Lager. This lager is brewed for the pub specifically for the pub and is only available in the venue.
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Seven unmissable foodie festivals in Scotland this summer
From a spirited celebration of the humble Oyster to a day of whisky sipping in a Highland city, find out more below. Foodies Festival August 1 to 3 at Inverleith Park, Edinburgh August 8 to 10 at Rouken Glen Park, Glasgow Taking place across both Edinburgh and Glasgow in August is the Foodies Festival, a family-friendly event that attracts some of the culinary world's biggest names every year. Expect the likes of Gary Maclean, Dean Banks and The Hebridean Baker to roll up their sleeves for live cooking demos, while elsewhere, budding chefs can take part in kids' cookery lessons to hone their skills. Each day of foodie fun will be rounded off by performances from artists like The Wanted 2.0, Symphonic Ibiza or Scouting for Girls. Stranraer Oyster Festival Stranraer harbourside September 12 to 14 Just last week, it was announced that TV chefs Matt Tebbutt and Rosemary Shrager will join festival favourites Tony Singh and Julie Lin to headline this year's Stranraer Oyster Festival. A lively celebration of Scotland's last wild, native oyster fishery, the event seeks to entertain and educate with a new Speaker's Corner launched for 2025. The highly competitive Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships will also take place during the festival as challengers battle it out for their spot at the World Oyster Opening Championships in Ireland. Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival Assembly George Square Gardens, Edinburgh July 18 to 27 There's change afoot this year for the Edinburgh Food Festival as the annual event rebrands with a new name and concept. The newly expanded Folk & Food Festival in July will include a host of delicious food and drinks from local traders as well as a jam-packed programme of free and ticketed events and live folk music. With performances from Duncan Chisholm, The Unthanks, The East Pointers, and more, the team promises it will be an "exciting new addition to the Edinburgh festival scene". Look out for street food favourites like Moskito Bites, The Peruvian, Jarvis Pickle Pies, Ceylon Cartel and many more doing their thing over the week. The Royal Highland Show Ingliston, Edinburgh June 19 to 22 Taking place this weekend is the Royal Highland Show, an annual event which showcases 'the best of food, farming and rural life' in Scotland. The 'Scotland's Larder' hub is the place to be for foodies over the weekend, bringing together talented artisan producers from across the country in one room. Event organisers have also curated the Food for Thought Conference and Cookery Theatre, where chefs and producers will prepare dishes live on stage. Stick about for the Royal Highland Hoolie if you fancy an evening of full of music from Scottish trad artists and Irish Country bands. Scottish National Whisky Festival Eden Court, Inverness Saturday, July 5 A dream day out for any whisky enthusiast, this festival gives ticket holders the chance to sample hundreds of different drams from "old school gems to Islay powerhouses to lesser-known producers and bold new voices from across the whisky spectrum". To find out more about what to expect, revisit our experience of the Glasgow edition of the festival here: Scottish National Whisky Festival embodies Glasgow spirit. The Scottish Game Fair Scone Palace July 4 to 6 It's game on as this celebration of Scotland's 'rich countryside heritage' returns to the grounds of Scone Palace next month. Acclaimed chefs Tom Kitchin and Tony Singh are set to headline the Highland Fire cage Kitchen, where they will cook up a storm over charcoal, while over in the Cookery Theatre, talented cooks will stage live demos showing crowds how to get the best out of game such as Scottish venison. A stop by the food hall to stock up on local produce, including charcuterie and aged cheese, is a must. Sausage and Cider Festival Camperdown Park, Dundee Saturday, August 16 This quirky one-day event offers Dundee festival goers the chance to choose from over 30 different ciders to accompany their freshly grilled sausages of choice. Anyone feeling extra peckish can enter 'eating contests' to test the limits of their appetites throughout the afternoon, or simply peruse the onsite market for foodie goodies to take home. There's also a huge range of tribute acts set to perform on the main stage, followed by headliners Scouting for Girls. If you're based in Aberdeen, the festival will be visiting the city on Saturday, August 9, while Glasgow welcomes the event to Rouken Glen Park on Saturday, September 9.
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
How chefs can use TikTok and Instagram to their advantage
It's such a valuable tool for marketing and spotting food trends. You used to have to use magazines or adverts for that, but now there's a vast range of platforms from TikTok to Instagram and Facebook providing new avenues for getting word of your business out there. We have marketing teams in our group who help to develop ideas for content, but because my name is front and centre throughout the overall brand, it's really important for me to use that opportunity to show people who I am. It's an independent family business, so I love getting my son, Francisco, or nieces and nephews involved where I can. It's also great to take people along on foraging trips so that they can see the quality of the produce we're using in our kitchens. Aside from that, I personally really enjoy using social media and find that I learn from it. I follow many different chefs and find new techniques online rather than turning to cookery books. It's a great tool for self-development. It also means that sometimes I'll spot a trend which we can replicate within our business. A great example of that is food trucks. In recent years, with businesses like SpudBros running live streams while they're working, people have become a lot more interested in that kind of cooking and what goes on behind the scenes. That's how the idea to open the Lobster Shack at our Dune restaurant in St Andrews came about last June. We realised that people were interested in these cool wee pop-up places, or might not want to spend the money on coming in for a sit-down meal, so we started selling lobster rolls to go. This meant that they could try some of our fantastic, fresh seafood in a much more affordable and relaxed way. Read more: But it is hard to predict what the next big trend will. They always seem to come out of nowhere. Just look at how popular tinned fish has become these days because of people rating different types or comparing packaging on social media. As a chef, I'm really happy to see that happening because these wee tins are such a great ingredient to cook with. Everyone knows about tinned tuna, or maybe they've had a bad experience with a tin of mackerel, but there's such a lot of variety out there. My favourite is tinned mussels in smoked paprika. It's absolutely to die for. And, with the summer season coming up, a tin of sardines is a great thing to have handy for chucking in your picnic basket. Here's hoping the next trend will be fresh lobster rolls for the summer! You can keep up with Dean Banks on Instagram at @chefdeanbanks
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
A top chef's kitchen hacks to improve your home cooking
Pictured: Chef Dean Banks shares his top tips for cooking at home (Image: Supplied) Invest in the basics An essential in my kitchen at home is a thick wooden chopping board which lives on my counter. You don't want to be using an awful glass one or plastic, which risks getting microplastics into your food. It doesn't have to be wildly expensive, just get yourself down to TK Maxx, you'll likely find one for less than £15. Another thing you should be thinking about is having at least one good-quality knife in your drawer. I like the Victorinox brand, which is quite easy to find and really versatile. You can use them for anything from veg to meat and fish. I can cook with any sort of pot or pan in any kitchen, that doesn't bother me. It's the basic utensils for cutting and prepping that make a difference. Set yourself up with a good board and knife, and you're pretty much good to go. Spice it up Quite often, when I go to visit older friends and family and take a look through their spice rack, I'll find jars that are at least 10 to 20 years old. They sit there looking nice, but no one actually touches them. One of the most valuable things you can do to improve your cooking is to learn a little more about the spices you're using and how to get more out of them. Smoked paprika in particular is a favourite of mine. I use it on almost everything. Have a quick Google and find out how to put together spice mixes. Then, when you next stock up on spices, spend a quick five minutes weighing them out and combining them in a jar to sit next to your stove. Moroccan spice, Chinese spice or jerk seasoning are all good ones to start with. It encourages you to get more creative with your cooking. I really enjoy a wee dash of Moroccan spice on my eggs in the morning to spice things up, for example. Keep these dairy products in the fridge I like to keep a bit of natural yoghurt or creme fraiche in my fridge, not for eating on its own, but for using alongside my pre-prepared spices. Rub a few spoonfuls onto chicken, lamb or beef and then the spices will stick to it much better before pan frying or roasting. Little things like that add so much flavour. Never skip this important step This might sound like a really obvious one, but it is so important to preheat your oven. A lot of people will skip that step and whack their food in straight away. Even if you're cooking a cheap supermarket pizza, it will taste so much better if the oven has been allowed to get super hot first. Pictured: Homemade vinaigrettes are an easy way to spruce up side dishes (Image: Supplied) Fresh is best I know it seems a lot easier to pick up a plastic bottle of pre-made salad dressing or vinaigrette from the shop as we head into BBQ season, but I promise you, making your own will make such a huge difference. Vinaigrettes, in particular, are really easy to make. Just one part vinegar, three parts oil and then whatever your favourite herbs or seasonings are. A squeeze of mustard, some honey, whatever you like. Just stick it all into a jar and give it a shake. Build a collection of kitchen staples It probably sounds like it will be really expensive to invest in all of these new ingredients, but it's something you can build up slowly. When you do your weekly shop, consider buying something new, like a nice apple cider vinegar or a new spice to experiment with. A homemade fajita mix ends up costing about a tenth of the price and can be made exactly how you like it when you have all the right bits in. You don't have to rely on pre-made packets! Read more: Clean as you go Another thing I think makes me far more productive in my home kitchen is making sure to clean as I go. Once you're done with that lovely wooden chopping board, give it a wipe and get it back on the counter. Finished with that bowl? Get it in the dishwasher straight away. Especially when you're cooking for other people, a messy kitchen soon becomes really stressful. Keep things clean and clear, stick some music on and make sure you're actually enjoying what you're doing. Get yourself this nifty piece of kit One of my absolute kitchen essentials is a julienne peeler, which you'll find for around £3 on Amazon. It peels veggies on one side, and the other slices them into really thin strips that are perfect for things like coleslaw. Cabbage, carrot, onion, courgette, it's all so much easier to prep with this wee thing. It's also far more budget-friendly than the electric processors or chopping gadgets you see advertised on TV. Think ahead with yellow sticker buys Even though my wife and I like to plan ahead for a week of cooking, we're a sucker for yellow sticker deals. If you see something in the reduced section that you think you can stretch a few meals out of, just go ahead and pick it up. Get the slow cooker out at home and turn it into a stew that can be frozen for a rainy day. Don't miss out on a bargain!
