All The Ingredients of A Fantastic Spring Fayre

If anyone knows how to celebrate Year of Food & Drink Scotland 2015 its the MHOR group. Loch Earn Tourism Initiative member chef Tom Lewis and the MHOR team have come up with all the right ingredients for a fantastic Spring Fayre.  Look what they are up to on the 21st and 22nd March.  Date for your diaries folks.  Also look at our latest LETI chef recipe and other local food and drink events. #tastescotland

MHOR 84, KINGSHOUSE, BALQUHIDDER, FK19 8NY   E: marketing@mhor.net  T: 01877 384646 THE CHEFS AT MHOR 84 WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SPRING BREAK! To celebrate the year of Food & Drink Scotland 2015 we are hosting our first annual Spring Fayre & Market at Mhor 84 on the weekend of March 21st/22nd. Come and meet our suppliers who will cook for you and showcase their products ...brewers, butchers, bakers, divers & gardeners - all Masters of their craft. Throughout the weekend there will be live music and djs...and its Tom's birthday! For more information contact marketing@mhor.net 2015 SPRING FAYRE. BEER & FOOD FESTIVAL ​ SATURDAY 21st 11am – 2pm: Spring Clean - Have a Spring clean and sell from your car boot in the car park here at Mhor 84. £5 (To be donated to Killin Mountain Rescue) to sell your wares.  3pm – 5pm: MHOR Than A Barber -  Get the chop and rid yourself of that Winter growth! Live music and djs Meet the brewers with a great selection of Scottish cask and bottled ales. Regular menu at Mhor 84 with a few tweaks… SUNDAY 22nd 11am – 5pm: Food Market & Picnic - Join us on Sunday morning from 11am. Indulge yourself with hand-dived scallops from Guy Grieve, oysters from Loch Fyne or cheeses from Tanny Gill - then take a seat and enjoy them at MHOR 84, picnic style, with a glass of champagne or Cry Baby Soda.  Live music and djs Check out some of the suppliers that will be showing their wares who are joining us: Mhor Bread Mhor Fish  Great Glen Charcuterie Roy Brett – Loch Fyne Oysters Ethical Shellfish company  Tanny Gill – Cheese Summer Harvest Oils A Taste of Arran Cuddybridge Apple Juice Glengoyne Thistly Cross Cider Salt PIgs Sea Salts Katey Rogers Crybaby Soda A Little Mhor about 84. In April 2013 Tom and Lisa Lewis, Dick Lewis and his partner Mhairi Taylor (of Delizique and Cafezique in Glasgow's Westend) joined forces to create Mhor 84, the perfect pit stop on the A84, Cycle Route7 and newly-created Rob Roy Way. Food is served all day from 8am until 9pm satisfying everyone from walkers and cyclists to shellfish-loving galloping gourmets by offering all-day breakfasts, hearty lunches, cakes and pastries and a wide-ranging evening menu. Roaring log fires are lit inside and out and a games room keeps the young and young - at - heart entertained with a pool table and juke box, tv and wi-fi, toys and board games. There's live music every Thursday - "Thank Folk it's Thursday".

Experienced Chef Returns to Head The Four Seasons Hotel Team - St Fillans

David Errington -Head Chef At The Four Seasons

We are pleased to introduce our ‘new’ Head Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel St Fillans.  David Errington has worked with owner Andrew on various occasions as a temp chef, and eventually took up the post of Head Chef in 2003 and worked for two seasons. Since then, he has gained experience in various establishments in Exmoor, Somerset, Ireland and eventually back to sunny Scotland where he worked for three years in Kenmore, before returning again to the Four Seasons Hotel in June.

Here are some questions put to David on his return:-

1. Why did you come back to the Four Seasons?

It is a great hotel in a great location and I am really happy to be staying in the Breadalbane area, where I have made so many friends over the past few years.  I am lucky to be able to do what I love in such a fantastic area.

2. What inspires you / your cooking style?

I am influenced by nature, the abundance of fresh, natural produce available locally, and our outstanding landscape.  My cooking style is inspired by French Provincial produce, people who love producing, harvesting and cooking good quality ingredients, whether in this area or further afield.

3. Where would you like to dine locally and why?

I would like to eat at one (or all) of the Mhor Restaurants.  Incredibly, I have not eaten at any, although I have  bought from Mhor Bread and Mhor Fish.  Clearly, the Mhor brand is a great success story locally!  So what am I waiting for?

4. What would be your choice for your ‘last meal’ and who would you invite to dine with you?

My ‘last meal’ would be

Steak Tartare,

‘Baveus’ Omelette Arnold Bennet,

Isles Flotante. 

I would invite Marco Pierre White and Edwina Curry to dine with me J

"STILL" mirrored man sculpture beside The Four Seasons Jetty
 in the Garden on Loch Earn, St Fillans
by Lochearnhead photographer Melanie Lewis

Christmas Day Lunch at The Four Seasons, Loch Earn, St Fllans- 5 Courses £48

How about Christmas Day Lunch Looking out at Loch Earn

 in the The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Looking towards The Four Seasons from A85

 

Looking for Christmas Day Lunch in Central Scotland?  Check out this fabulous menu at The Four Seasons Hotel, St Fillans.  Excellent value at £48 per person for a five course lunch looking out to Loch Earn and the surrounding hills.  ook now for 12-2pm sitting.  Have a look at the website for more information and photographs here www.thefourseasonshotel.co.uk . Contact Mary or Carlotta now to secure a table 01764 685 333 or with any other questions about the hotel and its naturally beautiful surroundings.  Loch Earn Tourism Initaitive members The Four Seasons Hotel also offers accommodation, special activity holiday packages and more throughout the year.

 

Meall Reamhar Restaurant  - Christmas Day 2013

 

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 Sweet Chilli and Lemon home cured Salmon

ginger sorbet, watercress and lime salad

Duck Confit, Pickled Gherkin and Coarse Mustard Terrine

toasted brioche, aubergine chutney

Parmesan and Thyme Timbale

sun blushed tomato reduction, micro herbs

vvv

 

Savoy Cabbage and Smoked Paprika Veloute

vvv

Baked Turkey Ballotine

festive trimmings, seasonal vegetables, natural gravy

Venison Loin Fillet Wellington

cepes duxelle, braised red cabbage, spicy pear, cocoa jus

Witch Sole and West Coast Langoustine Turban

seared scallops, wild red rice, braised baby vegetables,

saffron and champagnr beurre blanc

Trilogy of Mushrooms

stuffed with garlic and pine nuts, cassoulet with brie, ravioli and pesto

vvv

 

Raspberry and Cinnamon Sorbet

 

vvv

 

Traditional Christmas Pudding

warm brandy sauce, mulled wine sorbet

Heather Honey Pannacotta

orange tuille, drambuie chantilly

Raspberry and Oatmeal Cranachan

rosemary shortbread, pistachio truffle

Trilogy of Ice Creams or Sorbets

 vvv

Plate of Scottish Cheeses

walnut bread, fresh fruits

(supplement of £6,95 if taken in addition to dessert)

Mysore Coffee, home made Petit Fours and Mince Pies

 

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur.

 

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Creagan House Tastes Gold

Master Chef Gordon Gunn of Creagan House Strathyre

Gordon and Cherry Gunn have been awarded
VisitScotland's prestigious Gold Award for exceptional customer care at Creagan House. The 5 star Restaurant with rooms in Strathyre village, is one of only 4 in the whole of Scotland.

Creagan House is also one of the first restaurants to be accepted into the new VisitScotland "Taste our Best" scheme". The Gunn's attended the launch at Hopetoun House in September. 

"Taste our Best" is a new quality assurance scheme designed to recognise businesses that include and promote Scottish produce on their menus in addition to offering consistently high quality food and drink.  Quality of cooking, service, presentation skills and use of seasonal produce are all considered by assessors. A minimum of 40% Scottish produce must be identifiable to guests on the menu.

Cherry said "The assessors report commented on Gordons long standing approach to knowing the provenance of his food, which easily surpassed their benchmark. We have just celebrated 27 years at Creagan House, so would like to think these awards show we are still as passionate as ever to achieve excellence in all that we do."

Earlier this year, Gordon Gunn was accepted into The Master Chefs of Great Britain and Creagan House was singled out to be included in The Trencherman's Guide to Best Restaurants In Scotland.  So, It has been quite a year for The Gunn's and Creagan House in Strathyre!

LETI: Loch Earn Tourism Initiative businesses based in Strathyre and the neighbouring villages of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans are proud to be associated with members Cherry and Gordon Gunn and to recommend Creagan House to visiting guests. Congratulations on 27 years and your magnificent achievements together! 

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Strathyre's 1st Music Festival June 1-2

Locals booked to perform at the Strathyre Music Festival

 

100 performers have already committed to perform at Strathyre's first music festival to be held over 2 days  during summer 2013 in an historic Trossachs village on the A84. Mark your diaries for June 1st and 2nd or why not make a week of it and book holiday accommodation with local members of  The Loch Earn Tourism Initiative (LETI) who live and work in the community www.robroycountry.com

LETI members look forward to assisting performers and guests with their requests for restaurants, outdoor activities, accommodation, things to see and do, history, private tours and taxis, wildlife watching, landrover safaris and cottage industry product shopping as well as the  music festival programme and venues. This applies to Strathyre  and the neighbouring villages of Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans on the A84 and A85.

 

Jenny McLure

The Strathyre Inn and restaurant will be the flagship venue for performers.  Resident band "Balvaig" are behind the launch of this exciting new event.  If you can not wait until the festival you might like to go along to one of Balvaigs open music sessions at the Inn every Sunday at 3pm.   Band Chairman and musician Ken Higgins told us "News of the festival has already attracted interest from over  100 musicians, singers and choir members including a folk band from Jerusalem,  a musician from Rome, an act currently performing on celtic Connections,  a local Jazz band that regularly performs at the Callander Jazz festival  and a well known choir from Glasgow with 25 members attending".

 

Scottish tourism businesses are celebrating and promoting "Year of Natural Scotland 2013" .This  new music event, set in Strathyre Village, combines a beautiful and popular setting at the gateway to The Highlands with the opportunity to experience; an eclectic mix of music and musicians, outdoor activities, nature, wildlife watching, locally sourced food and drink and a warm and friendly community.



Stevie Higgins

Strathyre has a reputation as a venue where walkers, cyclists and tourers stop for food and shelter and leave with so much more.  A stop over is made all the more memorable  when you experience the warmth of the locals and their stories, a plate of hot food and a drink or two by the fireside or in the beer garden accompanied by a variety of musical sounds. 

 LETI accommodation includes Strathyre's  Immervoulin camping and caravan site, The Strathyre Outdoor Centre Bunkhouse, The Strathyre Inn,  Creagan House (an award winning five star restaurant with rooms) and other bed and breakfast and self catering options.

 

Visit  Balvaigs website www.balvaig.co.uk for  updates on the festival timetable and performers and www.robroycountry.com for accommodation and other activities and events in this area of The Loch Lomond and The Trossahs National Park of Scotland. 

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Visit Scotland from Loch Earn or Loch Lubnaig in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Book holiday accommodation in the villages around Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig if you are considering a picturesque base with stunning views, outdoor activities, an excellent choice of food and drink and easy access to other tourist towns and attractions in Scotland.

Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig are positioned where Perthshire and Stirlingshire meet at the gateway to the Highlands within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The surrounding villages of Strathyre, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and St Fillans stem from the A84 and A85 trunk roads enabling easy access to Scottish towns and cities in all directions including; Callander, Stirling, Falkirk, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Inverary, Oban, Fort William, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Crieff, Perth, Edinburgh and more.

Towering mountains, Munro’s, forests and glens enhance the backdrop of the villages, lochs and golf courses in the area. On the 15th March every year the lochs attract fishermen, fisherwomen and their children. The Perthshire trout fishing season runs through to October 6th. Local retail outlets sell bait, floats and permits and you can rent a rod and tackle from the Lochearnhead Post Office. Gradually fishing boats, water skiers and wake boarders punctuate the lochs joined by intermittent yachts, kayaks, swimmers, model aeroplane groups and the resident sea-plane.

Locals and visitors are not the only ones to enjoy the water though. Throughout the year deer will come down from the hills to drink. Visiting ospreys return to fish alongside mallards, geese, heron, swans, otters and other wildlife.

Hotels, bistro’s and restaurants (many chef owned) within a 15 mile radius of the region offer something for everyone. Choose from snacks and home made cakes to inns that run guest beer festivals to award winning restaurants that use local ingredients to create first class cooking.

Whether you enjoy the outdoors, food and drink, history and folklore, wildlife, flora and fauna, fresh air, peace and tranquillity or you are looking for the perfect base to travel to other tourist towns and attractions; the villages surrounding Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig in the centre of Scotland take some beating.

LETI: For further information on Loch Earn and Loch Lubnaig as well as Perthshire accommodation, food and drink, outdoor activities, retail and other services in this region of Scotland, click on Rob Roy.