'Between 92 and 96 degrees is the perfect water temperature to make coffee' - so says barista-trained Derek Rankin who opened Rankin's cafe/deli in his home village, North Queensferry, Fife. The barista classes were run by his coffee supplier, Mathew Algie, one of the few companies to have a coffee roasting plant in Scotland. Barista classes are open to the general public/ non-customers of Mathew Algie at a ...

Little did Niall Campbell realise when he was travelling from Glasgow to Culross every week for the pottery classes that he would later take over the Biscuit Gallery Cafe from his tutor, Camilla Garrett Jones. Two years after taking over from Camilla, and Niall is making some changes to the cafe and gallery. Upstairs the cafe has expanded into the gallery space and the ceramics and art are now displayed on ...

There are two types of people - those who like hosting and are good at it - Monica in Friends, despite her OCD, was the hostess with the mostest. Then there's the rest of us who would rather have our skin peeled. Fortunately for visitors to The Walled Garden near Kincardine in Fife, Keith Laing and Anne Crawford are very relaxed versions of Monica. The couple welcome visitors to their small cafe, The Pottin ...

Fife Diet, Scotland's leading local growing and eating movement, have lots of interesting information on their site about cutting down the food miles this Christmas. You'll find alternative Christmas recipes, a handy local producers map, tips for saving on power usage and ideas for making the most of your festive leftovers. You can also download their charmingly illustrated seasonal growing calendar which s ...

Sweet delights available this weekend at the Edinburgh Chocolate Festival which is being held at the Scotsman Hotel from 11am  til 10pm Saturday 3 November. There will be free tasters, live demos, a chocolate cocktail bar, chocolate fountain, chocolate vendors and free gift bags. Tickets are £5 and are available to buy online. ...

Thanks to Jane Sommerville for this review of The Faulty Towers Dining Experience at the Edinburgh Fringe. We're delighted that Jane will be writing a food and restaurant column for Avocado Sweet. A Faulty-less Foodie Adventure: The Faulty Towers Dining Experience Edinburgh Fringe is a peculiar phenomenon. For the month of August, our poised and stately capital unbuttons its collar, kicks up its heels and i ...

Chilled fizzy red wine made by a Scottish female wine producer? Pamela Geddes, who grew up in Bridge of Allan, is breaking a few of the unwritten rules of the wine industry.  Now running her own winery near Barcelona she has been featured on Scottish Television, Catalan television, BBC Radio Scotland and in the Daily Express. Here, friend and wine drinker Lesley Ratomska tells us how Pamela started Lobban w ...

Channel 4's Fabulous Baker Brothers will be one of the star turns at Taste of Edinburgh this weekend. From Friday 6 to Sunday 8 July the food festival will be in The Meadows. Participating restaurants include Martin Wishart's The Honours and Cucina at Hotel Missoni (pictured below). Entry is £12 in advance or £14 on the door and then you can buy 'crowns' to redeem against food you would like to taste. ...

A Secret Garden style restaurant opens in the centre of Edinburgh on Saturday 7 July 2012. The Gardener's Cottage, so-called because it was actually the gardener's cottage is jointly owned by chefs Dale Mailley and Edward Murray. Sitting at the foot of Carlton Hill in Royal Terrace Gardens, the B-listed building was originally designed by William Playfair but had been sitting derelict since the gardener's w ...

Bwani Junction, the Scottish band who painted the Forth Rail Bridge blue in their video after being refused permission to play live on the bridge, will be appearing at the Thistly Cross Festival on Saturday 30 June 2012.Other bands playing at the farm near Dunbar, East Lothian include Meursault, Woodenbox, Remember Remember, Found, Fatherson and Kitty the Lion.Thistly Cross Cider was started in 2008 as a co ...