One Spa, accessible via the bridge on level 5 of the hotel
Issue 04
Spring 2019
Grand Times
Welcome to the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh certainly blooms during spring. The programme of festivals gets well and truly underway and an extensive list of Food and Drink events showcases the best larder that Scotland has to offer. At One Square we work closely with local suppliers to bring only the finest ingredients to the table. On that note we are elated to announce we have appointed a new Executive Chef, Shaun Woodhouse. With an exciting range of new menus and a modern take on classic dishes, One Square is a must try during your stay.
Tristan Nesbitt, General Manager
Soak your Senses After a long day discovering Edinburgh during spring, why not take a long hot bath to reenergise for the rest of your trip. We offer a full sensory bath experience, Soak Your Senses, a holistic experience from the comfort of your room. Combining light therapy with ESPA aromatic bath oils, there are six different baths to choose from. If you’re in need of energy, recharge with some energising red light and ESPA’s Fitness Bath Oil, a deeply warming bath oil to soothe and relieve tired muscles. Best enjoyed with some upbeat jazz. Pair it with our speciality loose leaf Mighty Assam tea or your favourite brew. For more information, please dial ‘0’ and speak to our guest services agent. 2 | SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA, EDINBURGH
One Square: New Chef, New Season, New Menus. Our new Executive Chef Shaun Woodhouse (see page 8) has been working on an exciting new menu offering for our Scottish Brasserie, One Square. Working with Executive Sous Chef, Roddy Gillies, the menus have undergone a full overhaul with the One Square ethos at the heart of it. Well-known amongst locals for offering only the freshest and most seasonal Scottish produce, we pride ourselves on supporting local suppliers, farmers and fishermen. Quality and simplicity is what we believe in at One Square, from cutting chips by hand to filleting fish, everything that is served on your plate has been freshly prepared by our chefs from start to finish. The thoughtfully created menus were inspired by techniques and knowledge the kitchen team have accrued during their careers. Leonardo skilfully makes his own linguine to accompany the exceptional vegetarian dish on our dinner menu: Fresh linguine with king oyster mushrooms and parmesan foam.
If you are just after a quick bite to eat before you explore all the city has to offer or even if you are attending one of the many shows during your stay, try out our brand new Express Menu. Here’s a taster of what to expect: start with salt baked beetroot, feta and water cress salad with baby caper dressing; enjoy a sea bass fillet with braised chicory, Voiletta potatoes and brown lemon butter and/or add a little something sweet with our Malteser brownie with vanilla ice cream.
One Square is located on level 2 of the hotel. Marriott Bonvoy members get 15% off a la carte dining at One Square. T&Cs apply.
Kiril created a delicious homemade glaze that is just the perfect accompaniment for our signature sharing dish: Pork shank on fermented cabbage and Granny Smith apple, available on our new lunch and dinner menus. Ultimately our customers come first, we want you to have a relaxed dining experience whilst enjoying great food, whatever your preferences are. We are thrilled to also present a new vegan menu (featuring a sublime aubergine falafel and curried onion burger with guacamole and dill gherkin served on a vegan bun), and are always happy to modify dishes to suit all other dietary requirements.
Lunch menu A main course and a soft drink for £12 Available 12 – 2pm daily Pre-theatre menu A main course and a bottle of beer or glass of wine for £14 Available 5 – 7pm daily *Add a starter or dessert for an additional £5 per course Vegan menu is available GRAND TIMES MAGAZINE | 3
Edinburgh blooms…
Create memories in some of Edinburgh’s most stunning locations. (Images L-R: Royal Botanic Gardens, Water of Leith and Inverleith Park) 4 | SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA, EDINBURGH
VisitScotland Kenny Lam
CAPTURE SPRING IN EDINBURGH
Edinburgh’s Food
Scotland is world renowned for its produce and where better to sample the finest food and drink in the country than in the Scottish capital. With plenty of award winning local markets to visit and sample fresh, seasonal produce. Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, Castle Terrace, EH1 2EN Just a two minute walk from the hotel. The market which is now in its 18th year, is opened on Saturdays between 10am – 2pm all year round. A favourite amongst locals, it supports small businesses from Edinburgh and surrounding areas. The vibrant atmosphere and delicious smells and flavours will leave you spoilt for choice. Expect everything from organic beef, lamb and pork to homemade chutneys and fresh crusty bread.
VisitScotland Grant Paterson
Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, EH3 6TQ One of cities most popular markets with a neighbourhood feel, it opens every Sunday between 10am – 5pm. With a wide variety of locally crafted treats such as soaps and jewellery (perfect for a gift) and a selection of homemade favourites such as Scottish smoked salmon and an outstanding choice of cheese. If you are feeling peckish we recommend to stop by many of the local food trucks on site and grab a bite to eat. A firm favourite of ours is the Highland Cottage Kitchen.
Explore Edinburgh’s Drink
It’s no secret that spirits and beer produced in Scotland are of the highest quality. In Edinburgh we are quite lucky to have a diverse range of brands with distilleries in the city. Whatever your favourite tipple, organising a distillery tour is a must whilst visiting. Pickering’s Gin at Summerhall Distillery We might be a little biased as it’s Pickering’s who distil our very own One Square gin, but the public agrees: Voted Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction in Edinburgh, the distillery became the first gin distillery to be established in Edinburgh in over 150 years. The tour known as the ‘Gin Jolly’ will enhance your knowledge of the craft gin distilling process and includes a 15 minute gin tasting. It costs £10 per person and lasts for 1 hour. pickeringsgin.com/pages/tours Edinburgh Beer Factory, Bankhead Industrial Estate, EH 11 4EQ Established in 2015 this new kid on the block took the Scottish beer world by storm. The family owned brewery were inspired by Edinburgh born Eduardo Poalozzi known as the ‘Father of Pop Art’. The tour will delve into the world of Paolozzi and how he inspired the brand, you will also be taken through the distilling process of the Poalozzi lager whilst tasting raw ingredients and the unfiltered brew. Did we mention two half pints of beer and snacks are also included? Ticket prices start from £15 and include a £5 gift voucher for the beer shop. Available to book Fridays and Saturdays. edinburghbeerfactory.co.uk/shop/brewery-tour
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Made For Life Organics. Made for You Spring is the season of new beginnings, plants begin to bloom and the days grow longer again. It is the perfect season to rejuvenate your skin after the cold winter months. At One Spa, we offer an extensive range of Made For Life Organics treatments which we highly recommend for nourishing your skin with the best organic ingredients that nature has to offer. From the beginning, every Made For Life product has been made by hand in Cornwall, using a blend of herbs, flowers and oils of the highest quality. The provenance of each ingredient is tracked, so every balm, oil or ointment has its own story. The products are so pure you can eat them! There are no synthetic chemicals or parabens in the product, meaning it is pure nature that is touching your skin. Made for Life Organics are the first UK company to
One Spa can be accessed via the bridge on level 5 of the hotel or entered opposite the main hotel entrance across the forecourt. 6 | SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA, EDINBURGH
achieve a 100 % organic certification across their entire collection. All Made for Life treatments focus on well-being and mindfulness. The slow, nurturing and gentle strokes used work both on a physiological and psychological basis. Partnering with Plymouth University, the company has conducted extensive research on how aromatherapy scents can improve overall well-being. Therapists are training to use a quiet tone that will soothe and clear the mind and body which enables every guest to find a sense of peace. To enquire please dial ‘0’ and speak to our guest service agent.
Meet the maker Where did it all start? Marcus and I have a motto: ‘If you can’t find it, build it yourself’. The thing is, we didn’t know we wanted to make gin until the opportunity arose at Summerhall to build our distillery, ourselves, entirely by hand. We acquired an old Indian recipe dated 1947 that included a host of Bombay botanicals such as cardamom, cloves, fennel, anise and cinnamon. Since our first distillation to recreate that Bombay recipe we’ve used it as the blueprint to botanically engineer our extensive range of Pickering’s Gins. What makes Pickering’s unique from other gin brands? Our ability to be innovative, unique and to always be remarkable sets us apart from other brands. A distinct ‘out of the box’ approach to our inventions such as our Engine47 (a thirst-quenching mini fire engine that squirts gin from its hoses), our Marvellously Mixed Musical Martini Maker (a gramophone that mixes a Martini as it plays a record) and last of all, our world famous Pickering’s Gin Baubles are just a few of our original concepts.
Guest Offer: We are offering all of our guests 20% discount on all Made for Life Treatments during spring. T&C’s: Pre-booking is required. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Must quote ‘HOTEL GUEST’ at the time of booking. Valid 01/04/19 – 31/06/19. Monday – Friday only.
What’s has been the biggest highlight of your gin journey so far? That’s a difficult question to answer as there have been so many and they are all truly special. Last Summer we opened Beijing’s very first gin bar: The Pickering’s Gin & Seafood Bar which sees all of our expressions paving the way in gin becoming more popular in China. We’ve been afforded wonderful opportunities to create gin expressions for the likes of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Cunard, The Royal Yacht Britannia and of course, the Sheraton Grand Hotel with One Square Gin but personally, as Head Distiller, the multiple awards we’ve received for the quality of our gin has to be up there for me. Have you got anything exciting up your sleeves for 2019? Well that’d be telling!... but I can say that our classic Pickering’s Gin Baubles are getting a makeover for 2019 so Christmas began even earlier for us this year. Exactly what that entails is strictly top secret so you’ll just have to wait and see! What do you recommend to do whilst in Edinburgh? You can’t beat a climb on to Arthur’s Seat on a clear day. A visit to the distillery accompanied by lunch in the adjoining pub, The Royal Dick. Last but of course not least, enjoy a One Square Gin and tonic on the Sheraton Grand terrace. GRAND TIMES MAGAZINE | 7
Meet our new Executive Chef
Shaun Woodhouse Growing up between a small town in Shropshire and his grandparent’s farm in Tipperary, Ireland Shaun has always had a passion for the outdoors and good quality produce. He was taught how to cook at a young age by his mum and grandmother. A homemade rhubarb crumble for which he used rhubarb grown in the garden, being one of his earliest creations. Shaun was promoted in December 2018 to Executive Chef at the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa. He has always been inspired by home cooking and fresh produce and this is really shining through in the
8 | SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA, EDINBURGH
Picking the cream of the crop new menus him and his team have created for One Square Brasserie. A firm believer in simplicity, Shaun has changed the One Square menus to showcase the best produce that Scotland has to offer. Shaun’s love for Scottish larder developed when he first moved to Scotland in 2003 and what better place to put this on the centre stage than Edinburgh’s vibrant food & drinks scene? Having travelled all over the globe he states that Scotland has the best seafood and beef. His philosophy is to take it back to basics and let the produce speak for itself. Working closely with Campbell’s Prime Meats and Seafood Holdings, Shaun ensures our ingredients are the freshest and of the best quality. His passion shines through for not just the menus, but the team of talented chefs that surrounds him. Speaking highly of the team, he states nothing would be possible without them. The team are delighted to have Shaun on board as he’s always smiling, happy and positive and his positivity spreads not only throughout the kitchen but into the restaurant too. Our team of knowledgeable servers create a relaxed atmosphere, making guests feel welcomed from the moment they arrive.
Whilst plenty of produce can be grown almost all year round, there are seasons in which certain commodities flourish more than others. Spring produce brings out bright colours and flavours and can actually be more nutritious when it’s home grown. Shaun’s top tips for picking the best produce: Morel Mushrooms: to touch, they should be dry and spring and should range in colours from tan to brown. Best served with fillet steak and a wine sauce. Asparagus: the stalks should be tender to touch and they should be bright green in colour. Make sure they are all uniform in size to ensure you are getting the best (to keep for longer wrap the ends in a wet paper towel and then seal up the bunch). Best served wrapped in bacon. Rhubarb: If you have a sweet tooth go for red rhubarb as it is much sweeter than green. It should have bright crisp stalks and the leaves should be intact. Best served in a strawberry and Rhubarb pie.
You can expect exceptional flavours thoughtfully presented, such as Pork Shank and Cabbage or a selection of Scottish shellfish with Thistly Cross cider. Showcasing local produce and supporting the local farming market, the menu will change with the seasons to include only the freshest ingredients. See you in the Square, on level 2!
Radishes: the bulbs should be firm and still attached, look out for bright whole leaves. Best served in salads and slaws. Leeks: the skinnier the better. Make sure they are bright and crisp with no blemishes. Best served in soup.
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Spring into the Festival Scene
Spring marks the beginning of 2019’s programme of festivals. There is a diverse range to choose from with plenty of variety suitable for all ages.
Edinburgh Science Festival
Edinburgh International Film Festival
6th – 21st April Known as one of Europe’s largest Science Festivals, it brings great minds together to create a fulfilled two week programme. This year’s festival theme is based around ‘Frontiers’, exploring boundaries of knowledge and to mark the 50th anniversary of moon landings. From a family programme of shows and workshops to evening events for adults which offers nights out with a scientific twist.
19th – 30th June The world’s longest continually running film festival, it is now in its 72nd year and is the perfect start to the summer festival season. You can expect a fortnight of cinema screenings and events featuring world premieres across all genres. Each year a new theme is introduced and 2019 will focus on Spain, you will see work by new and emerging Spanish filmmakers alongside Spanish industry veterans.
Full programme of events at www.sciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on
Gin, Beer and Whisky... Oh My! Take a journey to find out more about your favourite tipples…
Full program of events at www.edfilmfest.org.uk/edinburghinternational-film-festival
Whisky Enthusiasts: The Whisky Stramash 18th – 19th May, Surgeon’s Hall What to expect: sample and purchase an array of over 200 whiskies from Scotland and abroad, along with whisky experiences, entertainment and food stalls. Find out more at www.thewhiskystramash.com/2019
Cocktail Connoisseurs: Cocktails in the City
Gin Lovers: Juniper Festival
The Hub, 3rd – 4th May What to expect: An inventive cocktail range created by 16 of the city’s leading bars, interactive tasting session and immersive tasting rooms.
Summerhall, 31st May – 2nd June What to expect: Meet the makers of the top Gin and Tonic producers, try before you buy, gin talks, food stalls and handmade crafts.
Find out more at www.cocktailsinthecity.com/events/edinburgh
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Find out more at www.fatsoma.com/summerhall-nehh/1ah6m10m juniper-festival-2019
NOW by One Spa: Salt of the Earth We are still in awe over this year’s London Fashion Week and one big spring trend we picked up on was… sandals – they are making a bold statement this year. From snake print to teva-style sandals, expect to see them in every high street and designer store. Most of us are guilty of neglecting our feet during the winter months, let’s face it, our tootsies are buried under two pairs of socks and boots! Put a spring in your perfectly pedicured step with our custom range of Salt of the Earth foot treatments. Kirsty, therapist at NOW by One Spa recommends the Salt of the Earth Pedicure with Polish.
NOW by One Spa is located inside One Spa and can be accessed via the bridge on level 5 of the hotel. Treatments start from £15.
‘This treatment will not only leave your feet nourished and hydrated, but will also give you a popping colour pedicure, making you sandal ready.’ The clue is in the name Salt of the Earth products are made using salt from The Great Salt Lake in Utah. Harvested by hand from the evaporation pools around the Great Salt Lake, each product created has been individualised to give you the most rewarding experience possible. A perfectly primed pedicure and nourished feet are not the only benefits, people with eczema and dry skin have seen a reduction of inflammation and skin roughness after using the minerals. Further studies carried out by doctors and research facilities have shown that continued use of the salt products reduced arthritic symptoms.
Guest Offer: Complimentary Salt of the Earth Booster with a Salt of the Earth with Polish treatment. T&C’s: Pre-booking required. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Must quote ‘HOTEL GUEST’ at the time of booking. Valid 01/04/19 -30/06/19. Monday – Friday only.
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ASSEMBLY ROOMS, EDINBURGH
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