The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Stuart Minick has several traditional butchery shops across Fife including one at Bowhouse in the East Neuk, which is home to a growing group of small food and drink producers
Q Who’s your food hero?
A Peter Jukes, who owned The Cellar in Cellardyke, because he started out when fish restaurants were almost non-existent. He had a clear idea and, with immense skill and professionalism, he built one of the finest seafood restaurants in the country.
Q Go-to ingredient?
A Beef, good beef, from a farm and farmer that I know and trust. This is very important to me and my business.
Q Your house is on fire, what one item do you save? A The bottle of 1960 Strathislay whisky my dad bought for my birthday.
Q Theme song for your life?
A Louis Armstrong, It’s A Wonderful World, because no matter how grim life can get, this song always puts a smile on my face.
Q Last meal on earth?
A Steak, chips and eggs, with a bottle of Petrus 1961, thick-cut Dexter cote de boeuf, Maran (a breed of French hen) eggs and chunky chips from BlackHorn in St Andrews!
Q Dream dinner party guests?
A Steve McQueen, cos he’s the king of cool, Marlyn Monroe, just because, and Mike Hailwood, amazing bike racer who came back against all odds on a Ducati and he was always a gentleman.
Q Quiet night in or big night out? A Quiet night in with just my wife, Mags, and the dog.
Q Early bird or night owl?
A Both, I’m an early bird – you have to be in this job, and the habit has stuck. But I’ve also been known to enjoy a dinner party that finishes at 3am.
Q Save it or spend it? A Spend it, life is too short (ask my accountants).
Q What are you proudest of? A My daughter, Alice.
Q Couch potato or fitness fanatic?
A Couch potato I suppose, although I enjoy long walks with my best pal Dug, my black labrador.
Q Home or abroad?
A Home – I love Scotland. My wife and I have travelled all over the world, and even once thought about emigrating to Australia in the 1990s but Scotland, there’s nowhere quite like it.
Q Early or late?
A Early for work, always late for appointments, dates, events. I’m known for it, so people now tell me the time is later than it is, so that I run the chance of getting somewhere on time.
Q And most embarrassing?
A Dropping my brand new Ducati Monster motorbike outside the showroom in Glasgow, when I had just taken ownership and was leaving.
Q Who do you admire most? A My dad – he was my hero, my best pal, and my dad, and still miss him every day.
Q And who do you detest? A Bullies.
Q If you could turn back the clock what one thing would you change? A The Brexit vote.
Q Who would you like to thank?
A My dad, my wife, and Rabbie (Robert McQuilton, he could be as hard as nails and soft as putty), Paul Basford (always had my back) and Big John, couldn’t have done it without him.
Q What advice would you give to your younger self? A Do it all again, but enjoy it this time!
Q Hardest thing you’ve had to give up? A Control, doesn’t happen often.
Q Could you save someone’s life if they were dying in the street? A Don’t know but I wouldn’t hesitate to try.
Q Happiest memory? A Seeing my daughter for the first time, right after she was born.