News
Thursday 08 October 2009
Received Eat Scotland Award
EatScotland is a quality assurance “where to eat” scheme from VisitScotland and a website promoting all positive aspects of food and drink in Scotland.
EatScotland has two main objectives. Firstly it helps the residents and visitors to Scotland find great places to eat, not just the well-established places but also the many unsung and sometimes relatively undiscovered places within Scotland that are providing good food, but who may not have managed to get into the glossy printed guides.
The second aim is to raise the profile of Scottish food as an important part of tourism, giving credit to those who are achieving high standards and encouraging others to aspire to that standard. Good examples in the industry, no matter what type of business, will be acknowledged for their achievements.
The Scheme itself is not intended to enforce a straightjacket of formal upmarket standards or particular style on participating establishments. Research into the formation of the scheme found that consumers wanted a wide-ranging guide, incorporating a clear indication of ‘standard bearers’ in the industry – that is, businesses offering excellence and quality within their sector of the market.
“Mystery Customer” type assessments take into account the standards and expectations appropriate to the type of eating establishment. The standard covers quality, service, and hygiene. Using a team of experienced assessors, VisitScotland carries out assessments of participating businesses and operates a simple pass or fail system allied to constructive feedback should the applicant not be initially successful.
From a diner’s point of view, the scheme will help ensure that high standards are the norm, from takeaways and tearooms to restaurants, coffee houses to fish and chip shops.
Restaurant & Coffee Shops
Eating out should be a pleasurable experience, combining excellent ingredients with culinary flair, ambience & atmosphere, knowledgeable service and value
for money. Specialities and reputation often add to the expectations we have, ahead of any meal.
Within the membership of the AFN group we have a geographically spread selection of authentic restaurants and coffee shops, which provide a very interesting range of eating /dining experiences from Michelin Star accolades to acclaimed informal coffee shops.
Meat and Fish Suppliers
The quality of primary produced food, such as meat and fish has much to do with the general methods of husbandry, as well land usage,metods of production, weather and climate.
Ayrshire & Arran is fortunate to have land which is suited to animal farming, as well as 100 miles of coastline.
The determination, professionalism and experience of the "farmers/producers " who supply meat and fish into The Ayrshire Food Network ensure that both members of the public, and colleagues who are skilled chefs & hospitality providers, gain access to very high quality, flavoursome food.
Other Food & Drink Service Suppliers
The Ayrshire & Arran food networks have have more than 25 producers of regional food in addition to meat or fish .
The variety is very significant, ranging from farm house ice creams, non homogenised milk, milk smoothies, an array of cheeses made from cow's, goat or ewe'smik .
Seasonal vegetables, organic produce and herbs, together with soft and autumnal fruits mean that you can source locally and confidently your so called 5 a day portions ! The food miles are definitely reduced when you buy from one of this group.
Accommodation Providers
This group form a vital touristic component of the Network by providing regional local food,served with knowledge, care, skill and attention together with discerning accommodation.
With increasing emphasis on authenticity of visitor experience and green credentials, it seems the use of local produce has provided them with an operational and marketing advantage.
Hospitality and accommodation provision should go hand in hand with friendliness and local knowledge..we trust you find that is the case with our award winning members.
Delis & Farm Shops
Successful Delis and Farm Shops provide very important focal points for the Ayrshire Food Network and its produce/supplier base.
.Some have been relatively newly established at premises belonging to producers.
Others have developed very quickly using the Network as a source of excellent local produce, within a wider food/drink product offering.
One thing is clear, reliable sources of distinct, flavoursome, value for money regional food specialities is a key component of this food retail success.