NEWS

Community Buyout Success

2 Aa Rosettes For Amuse

Kevin Dalgleish, of Amuse has been awarded two AA Rosettes adding to the growing list of accolades for the Aberdeen based restaurant.

It means that within its first year, Amuse has become one of only three restaurants within the city to achieve two Rosettes and been featured in the 2023 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland. The chef patron also made his TV debut representing Scotland on the eighteenth season of BBC’s Great British Menu alongside a line-up of exceptional Scottish culinary talent including Mark McCabe, co-owner and head chef at The Ethicurean in Bristol; Adam Handling, owner of the Adam Handling Restaurant Group; and Tunde Abifarin, head chef of the Capital’s Farin Road.

Kevin said, “When I opened Amuse I wanted to bring something new to my hometown and breathe some new life into the hospitality industry in North-East Scotland. I wanted to create the perfect balance of good Scottish food bursting with flavour in an environment that doesn’t feel stuffy or formal. I’m incredibly proud and grateful to our dedicated team, our valued guests and amazing suppliers who have made this a reality.

“In my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have imaged that we would be approaching our first birthday with two AA Rosettes, a mention in the 2023 Michelin Guide and having had the opportunity to cook for Andi Oliver Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona and Ed Gamble as part of the BBC’s Great British Menu.”

The Kenmuir Arms, a new hotel and gastropub funded by a community buyout, has opened its doors in the small village of New Luce, outside Stranraer.

New Luce Community Trust, which is spearheading the renovation of the historic building, aims to enhance the lives of local residents and preserve the natural beauty and heritage of the area.

The Kenmuir Arms, run by Chef Patron Christopher Dougan, intends to create a stand-out culinary experience which showcases the very best Scottish fayre and looks to focus on organic, and under-utilised produce from local suppliers. Dougan has worked in Michelin Star restaurants such as Petrus London and brings over 20 years of experience to The Kenmuir Arms.

He said, “I’ve been fortunate enough to work in some outstanding kitchens around the world but launching The Kenmuir Arms is my most exciting challenge yet. Our aim was to create a beautiful space which offered exquisite fresh and local food with warm and homely rooms.

“We’ve worked closely with New Luce Community Trust and could not be more grateful for their continued support”

Bizarron has opened on Hope Street in Glasgow. The new restaurant and bar, which replaces Ad-Lib, is themed around ‘How El Bizarron Fooled the Devil’, a celebrated story which is said to have originated in Cuba, and features South American music, food and drink as well as moody decor and lighting and is open until 3am. The venue is owned by Gerry McGhee and Billy McAneney.

The Isle of Bute opened a new food and drink venue, Bute Yard, last month to showcase the islands producers as well as the local arts scene.

It includes an indoor and outside space set within the historic buildings of Rothesay and includes a distillery operated by Isle of Bute Distillery, a tap room run by Bute Brew Co, the historic Isle of Bute Smokehouse, and a pop-up café and event space which will be open for business year-round. The community project , the brainchild of the late Johnny Bute, the 7th Marquess of Bute, in partnership with Bute Kitchen, and the Isle of Bute Artists’ Collective,has the dual purpose of developing the Isle of Bute economy and its community through collaboration and answering the needs of the local food and drink sector for growth and expansion.

Burger specialists El Perro Negro and craft brewer Vault City have joined forces this summer for a three-month summer kitchen pop-up menu at the brewery’s taproom, Porty Vault in Portobello.

This is the second Edinburgh venue to open since 2021 for El Perro Negro, winners of the National Burger Awards 2019 and 2021 and home to the best burger in the UK – the famous Top Dog.