Decadent dining

I won't say the dreaded 'C' word but we can all agree it put a stop to all manner of socialising for longer than any of us could ever imagine. When freedom was again there for the tasting, my wife and I took the notion quite literally and decided to indulge ourselves in two posh dinners a month.

While supporting a hospitality industry still ridden with battle scars in the form of debts and reduced capacities, my other half and I have enjoyed some glorious date nights and we take much inspiration from the Mystery Diner, particularly the 5-star rated Killiekrankie House in the December issue.

When I first read '16-course menu' I was slightly flummoxed but completely intrigued, and reading on to discover all the delights on offer merely stoked my interest. Drunken oysters, Japanese-inspired Cock-a-leekie and venison tartare; I did my best not to salivate on the carefully curated pages. It never ceases to amaze me how many wonderful eateries there are dotted around this bonnie country and my wife and I intend on ticking as many off the list as humanly possible.

Grant Westland, Stirling