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January 17, 2014
[Take a Whisky Journey at SCOTCH in The Balmoral][1]
Take a Whisky Journey at SCOTCH in The Balmoral

You want all the latest food news? Step this way, amigos.

First up, the good people at Edinburgh’s Balmoral are gearing up for the Burns Night launch of their Whisky Journeys in the rather spiffy SCOTCH bar.

As we’ve mentioned before, SCOTCH is the hotel’s signature whisky bar with some 400 different whiskies available. Launching on Saturday 25th of January, their Whisky Journeys are a sort of informal tutored tasting at which whisky fans can sample four or five drams selected around the themes of region, finish, age and rarity.

The whiskies are sampled with one of the bar’s knowledgeable whisky ambassadors who can tell you all you need to know about each dram’s taste profile and heritage. Individual tours cost between £35 and £105.

King of the Castlehill

According to our chums at STV (download your city’s app from here), Dundee is about to welcome an innovative new restaurant.

Castlehill is scheduled to launch in February at 22 Exchange Street where French restaurant Bon Appetit used to be.

Leading up the kitchen team is Adam Newth, formerly of The Balmoral and the current holder of the Young Scottish Chef and Young Scottish Seafood Chef of the Year awards.

STV have an interview with Chef Newth here.

No Way Back forges forward

In Glasgow, No Way Back opened its doors in the hectic run-up to Crimbo. It looks like NWB is a hip and quirky, Southside, neighbourhood hangout with a deliciously old school music policy.

The menu is here. We liked the look of their recent daily special, the  George Clinton Atomic Dog: a ten inch beef frank in a crispy baguette with jalapenos, ketchup, mustard and crunchy onions.

Most of all though, we’re going to drop by just to see their salt and pepper ‘bots.

[Salt 'n' pepper bots: 'Take me to your condiments, Earthling'][8]
Salt ‘n’ pepper robots: ‘Take me to your condiments, Earthling’

Pie time

Finally congrats to The Kandy Bar Bakery in Saltcoats, this year’s winners of the World Scotch Pie Championship.

Stephen McAllister from The Kandy Bar said:

‘I am delighted! To have been given the ultimate accolade and to be able to call our pie the WORLD CHAMPION as judged by a panel of experts is just fantastic. This award is proof that The Kandy Bar team are the best in the land. I am really looking forward to the year ahead and to selling more of our winning pies than ever.’

Mmmmm, pies.

[Stephen McAllister celebratesThe Kandy Bar Bakery's pie triumph][11]
Stephen McAllister celebrates The Kandy Bar Bakery’s pie triumph