Take advice from this top Scottish chef.... 

Edinburgh-born Tom Kitchin, and his wife Michaela, opened The Kitchin in Leith’s waterfront in 2006. A year later, at just 29, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star and Tom became the youngest Michelin star recipient in Scotland. There are currently nine Michelin-star restaurants in Scotland.

Tom’s ‘from nature to plate’ philosophy also underpins the values and the culinary flair at two further restaurants in the capital. The award-winning Dominic Jack Castle Terrace Restaurant sitting below the historic castle, is renowned for its fine dining experience. The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh’s leading gastropub, offers relaxed dining with amazing Scottish ‘scran’ and a range of traditional and artisan beers, in a cosy setting that’s perfect for the whole family.

(A stunning Kitchin seafood dish entitled ‘rockpool’ © Marc Millar)

Tom has become a distinctive face on popular TV programmes such as BBC TV’s Saturday Kitchen, MasterChef and Great British Menu and he has written four excellent books, showcasing some fantastic recipes for home cooking.

So, where does one of Scotland’s top chefs choose to eat, when he’s not creating culinary masterpieces?

These are some of his top picks:

Loch Bay Restaurant, Isle of Skye

Tom's gastronomic odyssey starts over in the west Highlands, in the historic village of Stein, which is the stunning setting for Loch Bay Restaurant. The team here are passionate about sourcing ingredients locally and sustainably. After a Michelin-star triumph only 18 months after opening in 2016, kitchen maestro Michael Smith (also no stranger to BBC TV’s Great British Menu) works wonders with Scottish produce. The relationship between chef and supplier is so important – Michael goes straight to the boats to visit the fishermen in the morning and chooses the restaurant’s fresh fish himself.

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The Bay Fish and Chips, Aberdeenshire (above)

Over on the east coast, this popular fish and chip shop on Stonehaven’s seafront is run by Calum Richardson and has won multiple awards for its locally sourced, sustainable fish. Everything here is cooked fresh and taken straight from local fishing boats. The shop looks right over the sea so it’s the perfect setting to sit and relax while you tuck into your fish and chips. They serve anything that’s been caught that day, including langoustine, haddock, crab and their famous fishcakes.

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Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquhidder

'If I wanted to arrange a trip for a really special occasion, I would go straight to Monachyle Mhor', says Tom. It’s a beautiful house set in the Trossachs wilderness, and not too long a drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow. The setting is astonishing – tucked away in the mountains of Balquhidder Glen, overlooking lochs Voil and Doine, it provides a great sense of escapism.

The restaurant there, headed up by Executive Chef Marysia Paszkowska, really makes the most of the land around it. The ingredients are exceptional, with venison sourced from the surrounding hills and all vegetables, fruit and herbs grown in the kitchen garden. The best part is that after a fantastic dinner, you can go straight upstairs to your room for a contemporary, stylish stay, which still feels like a home away from home. (Read more about Monachyle Mohr and the Trossachs .....)

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