The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Our weekly round-up of the latest news, products, facts and events for foodies
Dobbies restaurants re-open
Dobbies Garden Centre restaurants are open but with strict social distancing measures in place.
Each restaurant now has a dedicated safety champion on hand to ensure everyone feels safe and there will be rigorous hygiene routines throughout.
Self-service coffee machines will not be in use, but baristas will be on hand to serve hot drinks.
Customers will still be able to enjoy Dobbies’ favourites including freshly-made scones, fish and chips and toasties.
Isle Martin Seaweed Festival
Along with many other events, Scotland’s first Seaweed Festival, due to take place in Isle Martin in September, has been postponed.
Festival curator and artist, Julia Barton, said: “We’re working with VisitScotland and our funders to review all options and will be announcing a new date for the festival as soon as we can”.
www.islemartin.org
Fairtrade treat
Lidl is now selling its own-brand super-Fairtrade chocolate bar.
Way to Go! chocolate bars come in three flavours, from classic dark to caramelised almonds and sea salt and cost just £1.99 each.
Also proving popular is the store’s W/O meat vegan burger patties, priced £1.99 for a pack of two.
The vegan patties recently came top in the “best veggie burger” category in a national barbecue taste test.
Beer bread
Jason’s Craft Beer artisan sourdough bread is a loaf with a difference.
Instead of using water in the dough, it uses Vixen Copper Ale, a craft beer which gives it a rich, hoppy taste that makes the bread go remarkably well with artisan cheeses.
It’s available in M&S stores, priced £1.80.
New ice-cream menu
Mackie’s 19.2 ice-cream parlour in Aberdeen’s Marischal Square, which has re-opened for takeaway and delivery, has a full new menu of ice creams, waffles, crepes and hot drinks.
The parlour is open 2-9pm daily.
Parlour manager Yvette Harrison said: “We believe the new menu will have something for everyone and I’m ooking forward to the reaction to a new Biscoff sauce in our verflowing taps, the chocolate taps are one of the unique eatures in the parlour.”