Scran

Gemma grew up on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides of Scotland. After studying Russian Language at the University of Glasgow, she worked at The Balvenie distillery studying the art of making whisky and looking after visitors from around the world. Gemma’s whisky journey brought her from Speyside to Stateside, New York City, where she travelled the country as Ambassador for Balvenie. Today Gemma re...

Diana Thompson has over 30 years’ experience within the wine and hospitality industry, including working overseas and national and international roles in the UK.A Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certified tutor, after working independently withhotels and restaurants for 12 years, Diana launched Wine Events Scotland in 2016 during thefirst Fizz Feast annual festival, and works with producers a...

Food waste is one of the biggest unrecognised contributors to our carbon footprint. On this episode of Scran, Rosalind is joined by Scotland's national chef Gary MacLean and Zero Waste Scotland's Andrew Pankhurst to find out more about food waste and how to prevent it. From Gary's batch cooking and vacuum packing methods to Andrew's tips on recycling and composting - it really is an eco friendly g...

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us, and it’s a great time to spoil yourself or a loved one with a special meal - even if it's a home-cooked meal this year. On this episode of Scran, Rosalind chats to a well-known couple on the Scottish food and drink scene - Tom and Michaela Kitchin - about their businesses, how they met, what they’ve been cooking in lockdown and working together as a married coupl...

Welcome back to Scran for our third series. Host Rosalind Erskine is back with a brand new line-up of guests talking all things Scottish food and drink. It couldn't be more fitting than to start with one of the most patriotic days of the year - Burns Night. On the 25th of January The Scotsman hosted a Burns Night Live event on its social media channels where our panel where joined by an internatio...

A very merry welcome to the Scran Christmas special! While Christmas will be different this year, we can still enjoy a nice plate of food, which is what this episode is all about, whatever your diet. Our first guests will be sure to warm your hearts and get you laughing. Rosalind is joined by founder of Socialbite, Josh Littlejohn MBE, and Itison founder Oliver Norman. They tell Rosalind about the...

On this week's episode of Scran, we partnered with Johnnie Walker to celebrate 200 years of the brand. On this episode, host Rosalind Erskine is joined by Head of Whisky Outreach at Diageo and the author of ‘A Long Stride’, Nicolas Morgan. Published this year to coincide with the bicentenary, the book takes a look at the history of Johnnie Walker, exploring how it grew from a humble grocery store...

On this episode we are celebrating a whole year of Scran. From our first episode at Edinburgh's Christmas market, to recording in lockdown, host Rosalind Erskine and guest specialist reporter Caitlyn Dewar discuss the highlights and funny bits of the last year. Listen back to chef Nick Nairn's cooking tips, Sam Heughan discussing whisky, Michel Roux Jr's family foraging and a whisky tasting at the...

On this episode of Scran, host Rosalind Erskine is joined by a very special guest: Outlander star Sam Heughan. Sam is a Scottish actor who is best known for playing warrior Jamie Fraser in Outlander, the historical drama TV show based on the novel series of the same name. Set in Scotland in 1793 at the time of the Jacobites uprising, it has gained fans from all over the world. In 2019 Sam realised...

This week features not one but two chefs from Michelin star restaurants: Michel Roux Jr. and Stevie McLaughlin. The first part of the episode features Rosalind's visit to Crossbasket Castle to meet Michel Roux Jr. Michel now runs Le Gavorche, one of the first restaurants to gain a Michelin star in 1974. He talks about his famous family name that is synonymous with fine dining, and his humble upbri...

This week on Scran we chat all things Scottish gin with Gin Cooperative founders Natalie and Martin Reid, and Sean Murphy, author of the book 'Gin Galore'.With International Scottish Gin Day falling on 24 October this year, Martin and Natalie discuss how and why they set it up. Sean chats about the rise in popularity of Scottish gin and what can be learned from whisky, and we all mull over our fav...

As Halloween is just around the corner, this episode of Scran is all about pumpkins. Rosalind finally gets back on the road again to visit two pumpkin farms - Arnprior in Stirling and Kilduff in East Lothian. Opened in 2015, Arnprior was one of the first pick-your-own pumpkin farms in Scotland. Run by Duncan and Rebecca, who live on the farm with their children and Duncan’s parents, the Arnprior p...

This week Scran takes a look back at Glasgow's malt riots and how they kick-started the whisky industry we know and love today. Joining Rosalind are Emily Coyle, brand development manager at the Glasgow Distillery company, and Norry Wilson, founder of Lost Glasgow, a Facebook page with a global following that shares tales of Glasgow’s colourful and diverse history. Emily tells us about The Glasgow...

This week's Scran takes a look at the health of Scotland's food and drink sector - and a look back at the 2020 Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight. Joining Rosalind are guests James Withers, Scotland Food and Drink CEO, and Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment and MSP for Angus North & Mearns. James and Mairi share their thoughts and insights into the fortnight. They als...

Scran is taking a culinary tour of Scotland, chatting to a range of local legends about their businesses, produce and their community. This week, Rosalind is on a socially distant tour of the Highlands chatting to various entrepreneurs about why their location is key to their success and at the heart of their product. Our first guest is Jamie Delap of family business Fyne Ales, which began in 2001...

On this episode, Rosalind's culinary tour of Scotland takes her to the central belt. She talks to business owners about their passion for their work and why the local food scene has lots to offer. Scott Smith, chef and Root to Market founder discusses the concept, how he and his team set it up in a short space of time, what produce is available and his top dinner party guests. Next up, Nikki Stror...

This episode of Scran is brought to you in partnership Scotland food and drink and today marks the launch of the Scottish food and drink fortnight from the 5th - 20th September. Scran will take a culinary tour around Scotland, chatting to a range of local legends about their businesses, produce and their community. This week host Rosalind is on a socially distant tour of the north east as she chat...

This week is the second part of our Scran on the road series. On this episode, Rosalind travels from Speyside to the Moray coast to speak to business owners and staff about reopening following lockdown. Firstly, Rosalind chats to owner of Bootlegger's Bothy and the Bothy Bistro, Ruth Scott and head chef Andy Fyfe about the pop up kitchen overlooking the Moray coast and how the pandemic has made th...

Welcome to our first 'Scran on the Road' episode! This week, host Rosalind Erskine starts her engine and ventures to the Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside to see what the offering is now that doors are open. Kevin Smith, managing director at the hotel, talks about how the hotel has adapted during the lockdown. He also talks about the hotel's refurbishment back in 2014 and how this led to a star-stud...

Eating locally caught seafood isn't something we do enough of in the UK. But with over 100 different species of fish caught in UK waters, why not give it a try? In this episode of Scran, Rosalind discusses a campaign called Sea For Yourself, which is all about encouraging us to cook and eat more fish caught in UK waters. Rosalind is joined by chef and seafish ambassador Rachel Green, and Jim Cowie...

From unheard outtakes to adventures across Scotland, on this bonus episode of Scran, Rosalind Erskine takes you through some of her favourite moments of series one and two. Expect awkward breathing, laughter and weird and wonderful food favourites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been a long four months of lockdown, but finally indoor hospitality can reopen in Scotland. On this episode Rosalind chats to Stevie McLaughlin, head chef of Scotland's only two Michelin star restaurant - Restaurant Andrew Fairlie - about lockdown, how the staff and restaurant have been prepared for opening and what diners can expect. Rosalind also heads out to a newly opened beer garden in...

On this episode of Scran, Rosalind finds out more about the growing trend for distilling Scottish rum. Often cited as the next big thing following on from Scottish gin, the production of rum has been steadily growing in Scotland over the last two to three years. Rosalind is joined by Jacine Rutasikwa, co-founder of Matugga Distillers in Livingston, and Kit Carruthers of Ninefold Distillery in Dumf...

In this episode of Scran, recorded ahead of Father's Day, Rosalind chats to Billy and Alistair Walker about how whisky has shaped their careers. Nick Nairn also joins Rosalind on a call to discuss his career highlights - from being the youngest Scottish chef to receive a Michelin star to cooking for the Queen. Nick also shares his cooking tip for this episode: how to make perfect pasta. Finally Ro...

On this episode of Scran, Rosalind chats to celebrity chef Nick Nairn about the current crisis and its effects on the hospitality industry - and how restaurants are adapting. Nick also talks about what he's been enjoying cooking at home in lockdown and shares his tips on how to make a whisky sauce. Continuing the whisky chat is Simon Aron from Cask Trade. Simon gives his advice on investing in whi...