Posts From Michelle McWilliams

The Court House, Kinross; coffee bar and restaurant

The Court House Coffee Bar & Restaurant in Kinross, Perthshire opened in Spring 2015.  The two local entrepreneurs, Jamie Fraser and Gerry Alexander, who started the restaurant, have created a lovely interior from the former Court House. Although it’s a long time since it was a court house – the last case was in 1977 – the history does provide a good back story. For instance, the room now used

Striking photos of 60s & 70s Scotland

Between 1968 and 1971 Nick Hedges photographed some of the dire housing conditions in Glasgow and Edinburgh for the charity, Shelter. Nearly 50 years later he has agreed that the photos can be used in an exhibition in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh.  Until now usage had been restricted to protect the families featured. Nick remembered how one woman told him that just a few days before, she had been in bed

The Fife Coastal Path, Aberdour: the Cote d’azur of Scotland?

The Scottish Riviera is at Aberdour in Fife. Or at least that’s what it said on the sign at Black Sands, the beach close to the town centre of Aberdour. Today Avocado Sweet is featuring a small but pretty section of the popular Fife Coastal Path, a section which also happens to have at least a couple of good cafes along the way. The starting point is just before the

Easy peasy lemon squeezy; simple lemon sauce for fish

Our latest fish recipe from Elaine Hardie at Fyfe Smokery, Dunfermline could not be easier. Here is a wee recipe that will go well with sole or plaice. Plaice is plentiful just now, so the price is good. The fillets should be dusted with seasoned flour, then pan fried in butter till flaking. Keep the fillets warm till you make the lemon butter sauce: Whisk together 50g unsalted butter, 1.5

Tailend Fish Restaurant & takeaway, St Andrews

Don’t panic, like we did, at the tiny portion of chips in the mini frying baskets served at the Tailend restaurant in St Andrews, Fife. The waiting staff will bring you more chips when you are ready. Once you’ve relaxed because your extra chips have arrived you’ll realise the haddock is really fresh at this Market Street restaurant which is also a takeaway and fishmonger. Maybe being a fishmonger helps

The low down on Beaujolais

Beaujolais by Paul Rudge, Reubens Wine Store, Dunfermline, Fife Geographically, Beaujolais is part of Burgundy, but from the wine point of view there seems little logic in the association between the Côte d`Or and the pretty, hilly, granite band of Beaujolais vineyards that run along the west bank of the Saone towards Lyon. With annual production sitting at 133 million bottles you’d think the region would be dominated by factory

Not all creatives are artists

Artists, more often than not, get the credit for bringing creativity to a neighbourhood. Rarely do hairdressers get acknowledged for their creative input to high streets up and down the country. In Dunfermline, Fife, Craig Hutchison has been particularly resourceful in shaping the interior of the shop that he shares with colourist, Clair Karran. Where ever possible he has tried to use local artists, tradespeople and suppliers at Vollood Hair and

Jaws on the Prom, Kirkcaldy, Fife

It may not be safe to go back in the water but viewers watching Jaws will be cozy in their cagoules on the Esplanade, Kirkcaldy at the opening of Kirkcaldy Film Festival on 17 September at 8.30pm. Tickets for Jaws were free but have sold out, however check out the trailer for other highlights which include The Ipcress File, Inside Out, Stonemouth and the Scottish premiere of Palio.

Pretty vintage glassware at the Antiques & Collectors Fair, Edinburgh

Vintage tea and coffee sets always look beautiful but they sit neglected in cupboards for years on end taking up space because the cups are too small for modern builders tea. Vintage glassware on the other hand gets used all too frequently. At the Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston there’s a great selections of glassware that is often no more expensive than a box of