Archive for Food

A year of fruit and veg in Scottish Field

Workers at Angus Soft Fruits, mostly from Eastern Europe, gather strawberries from dawn on a farm by the sea.

Workers at Angus Soft Fruits, mostly from Eastern Europe, gather strawberries from dawn on a farm by the sea. © Angus Blackburn, Scottish Field

Over the past year, in a series of columns published in Scottish Field, I have explored an ethical issue about a fruit or vegetable grown in Scotland every month. It has been a privilege to meet the farmers growing our food and I hope to go into more detail about some of the challenges of feeding the world without destroying the environment in my next book. If there is a subject you would like me to explore please post comments below. Read more

Fruit and veg: Do you remember the local greengrocers?

Can you remember any Rankins' greengrocer shops in Edinburgh?

Rankins’ in Tollcross in 1978. The year I was born! Can you remember any Rankins’ greengrocer shops in Edinburgh?  © The Scotsman Publications Ltd.

The first step in my new project is to consider the history of the fruit and vegetable trade. I am particularly interested in my Great Grandfather’s chain of shops Rankins’ greengrocers in Edinburgh and would like to hear from anyone who can remember the shops. Read more

Introducing the next project: Ethical fruit and vegetables

 

Louise Gray at Blochairn Fruit Market, Glasgow © Angus Blackburn, Scottish Field

Louise Gray investigating fruit and veg at Blochairn Fruit Market in Glasgow © Angus Blackburn, Scottish Field

I have officially started a new project, and it’s all about where our fruit and vegetables come from…. Read more

Transforming the table: How to tell the story of your lunch

The dining table at Newton Walled Garden

The dining table at Newton Walled Garden

A white linen table cloth can be as terrifying as the blank page. Both are beautiful and full of potential, but where the hell do you start to tell the story? Read more

Photo story: Plucking a goose for Christmas

I have recently written a piece for Spectator Life on why goose are back in fashion this Christmas – following the news Theresa May favours goose over turkey. Here is a photo story about how I plucked and gutted my own goose for Christmas, making sure to save the fat for the roast potatoes – just like our Prime Minister likes them.  Read more

How writing The Ethical Carnivore taught me the true meaning of Thanksgiving

Free-range turkeys raised with care by farmer Lucy Beattie

Free-range turkeys raised with care by farmer Lucy Beattie

Writing The Ethical Carnivore taught me how to shoot, fish and butcher animals. Most importantly, it taught me to be grateful for the meat we eat. Read more

Blowing my cover…

The cover of The Ethical Carnivore published by Bloomsbury September 2016

The cover of The Ethical Carnivore published by Bloomsbury September 2016

After much deliberation, The Ethical Carnivore has a cover and the build up to publication has begun. Read more

You know most of the time I’m veggie – right?

Parmigiana at Henderson's

Parmigiana at Henderson’s

The best thing about only eating animals I kill myself is being vegetarian most of the time. Read more

Why eating squirrel can be the ethical option

Preparing squirrel to a Nigella recipe.

Preparing squirrel to a Nigella recipe.


In the latest update to The Ethical Carnivore project, I eat grey squirrel killed as part of a programme to protect the red population. Read more

In which I meet my illustrator…

Learning to shoot with Chris Wheatley-Hubbard of Four Feathers. Illustration by Sam Goodlet.

Learning to shoot with Chris Wheatley-Hubbard of Four Feathers. Illustration by Sam Goodlet. I like my ‘flippers’, like I could swim away…

The Ethical Carnivore is to be illustrated by Sam Goodlet, a talented artist and a vegan… Read more