That’s the 2009 Michelin guide out and as well as being delighted to gain entry for the first time, we’re over the moon that they’ve given us a red symbol which indicates, warm pleasant service and surroundings. We are also pleased for the ‘Albannach’ in Lochinver, and ‘Sangsters’ in Fife to get their first, highly coveted Michelin star, I say well done them.

Our son Ashley’s latest book ‘The Knight Templar’ will be launched around Easter this year, it’s always nice to have something to look forward to, especially when we’re in the midst of so much doom and gloom,

It was a great night in the Galley when we welcomed “Colin Mackenzie and Andrew (big Andy) Sutherland from Helmsdale, It was only after being reminded by Colin the fact that when I joined them at the table, there was three Chieftain’s (Helmsdale Highland Games) sitting around the table, it is perhaps an indication that we are all getting older because I remember a day, the bottle of whisky would be plonked in the middle of the table, and not one of us would have remember even sitting together.

What a fantastic end to a fantastic year, I said in September how pleased we were to welcome our first wedding at the Galley, and as 2009 goes out we have welcomed an engagement party, not to mention the numerous anniversaries, birthday’s and peoples other important milestones.

Quota talks in Brussels were the usual horse trading session, I feel so sorry for fishermen whose livelihoods and worldly investments are decided annually by the whim of a Politician, (what a scary thought) the most important aspect is to conserve stocks, and that fact gets side line. I fail to understand why cannot the Icelandic approach of 10 year cycles, allowing long term planning for all affected parties.

I was so impressed with the high quality of food throughout each region of Italy that we visited. Never should anyone imagine Italian cuisine is only about pasta, their variety of cheeses, salamis, prosciutto plethora of various hams, parma being only one, has left me more than impressed, I will most certainly be spend more time there wherever the chance opportunity arises.

Well folks the occasion was the ‘Terra Madre’ (Latin words meaning Mother Earth) World Conference for Food Communities, organised by the Slow Food Organisation, the venue was Turin Italy, I found it a life changing experience.

We were thrilled that our (cured mackerel) Gravadmax recipe was used in the Sustainable Seafood feature in September 2008 issue of Olive magazine.

We were featured strongly in the September issue of Restaurant magazine, they visited us earlier in the year they were really nice and we had a great day with them.

We were bowled over when the mail arrived one cold wet Saturday morning to open the first letter and discover, we were winners of the Which Good Food Guide 2009’ Best UK Fish Restaurant, in the Editors choice.

We bid farewell to Emma and Louise who are now in University they have been a central part of the crew for 3 years, and we wish them every success with their future careers.

September 26 we were all thrilled when Mary attended the Taste of Highlands and Islands Restaurant of the Year 2008 awards and we won

October 9^th We had a crew from South African TV filming throughout the restaurant.

October 20, We’re closed for the week Jim’s away to the Slow food organisation annual convention at Terra Madre Turin Italy, as it is invite only and just 30 chefs from the entire UK, I’m mighty privileged.     

We're closed now for our annual holiday and heading off to Australia, I've a few days lined up cooking in some of Sydney's top eating out establishments, I'm also doing a couple of masterclasses in Sydney Fish market seafood training school, so I'll continue to update my blog so keep an eye. Of course all this will not happen until Friday when we're attending the Thistle award ceremony as we are shortlisted finalists in the 'Flavours of Scotland' category. Wish us luck and thanks for dropping by.

Well here we are after the event and  you'll probably be as anxious as we were to see how that one panned out (pardon the pun)....

read on Jim.

Dear Winner

First of all, congratulations on winning The Scottish Thistle Award 2007 on Friday evening - it certainly is an amazing achievement.  I hope you enjoyed the evening and were able to party into the wee small hours!

Congratulations once again!

Joanne Lynn

Event Manager .

Jim and Mary receive the Thistle Award 2007 pictured are:
Philip Riddle, Jim Cowie,  Kevin MacGillvary (EatScotland) Mary Cowie and  Jim Mather MSP Peter Lederer