Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards
Awards are not a new experience for the Salar Smokehouse in Loch Carnan, but this year’s shortlisting for the Highlands & Islands Food & Drinks Awards represent a real achievement for a business that prides itself on using local products, and local talents.
The company has been shortlisted in two award categories: Best Food, for its famous Salar Flaky Smoked Salmon; and Young Ambassador of the Year, for its young chef, Cameron Rae, who runs the busy kitchen at Charlie’s Bistro.
Salar Flaky Smoked Salmon was originally developed by Eric and Jane Twelves back in 1997, using a kiln they developed themselves and a recipe which has remained secret to this day.
The shortlisted Salar Flaky Smoked Salmon is described as ‘a perfect balance of salt, smoke and fish’ , which owes its success to the quality of the fish and the unique firing recipe that uses extreme heat to seal in moisture and flavour.
Business owner Iain MacRury took over the reigns in 2015, buying Charlie’s Bistro in 2018. The company now employs ten people at the Bistro, six at the Smokehouse and a further six on a seasonal basis.
Iain is very proud of the Salar team and the nurturing role the business plays in supporting the next generation: “The majority of our staff are under the age of 19, and learning is a big part of what we offer. I started my own restaurant career as a kitchen porter, working my way up through the ranks and gaining experience in many different kitchen environments and I know how important on-the job experience can be.”
Cameron Rae has been working with Salar for over a year now, having come to Iain looking for an apprenticeship in the food service sector whilst still at school. Iain says it is this passion and drive that marks him out as a young ambassador: “Cameron was just 16 years old when he came to see me, absolutely determined to forge himself a career in the restaurant business. I felt sure that this initiative would mark him out as a great employee and I was right. This nomination is a great start to his career, but I am quite sure there will be plenty more.”
Am Pàipear asked Cameron what chef he might want to emulate in his career, and his answer said a lot about the young man he is: “I don’t want to emulate anyone, I want to be myself. There are definitely chefs I admire, and I know I have plenty still to learn, but I don’t want to be like anyone else, I want to make my own way. My ambition is to open my own restaurant by the age of 25.”
Cameron was delighted with his shortlisting, saying: “It’s an honour to be on the shortlist and whatever the results, I feel my reputation and my career so far has been recognised.”
Iain and Cameron will be attending the Awards ceremony in Inverness later this month and Uist has its fingers crossed for them both.
Other island shortlists are:
Best Drink – Isle of Barra Distillers Ltd
Restaurant of the Year – Harbour Kitchen
Independent Retailer of the Year – Bùth Bharraigh
Best Eatery – Lorna’s Larder
Best Food – Salar Smokehouse Ltd
Primary Producer Award – The Scottish Salmon Company
Sustainability – Hebridean Charcuterie from Croft No.9 Ltd; The Scottish Salmon Company
Young Ambassador of the Year – Cameron Rae, Salar Smokehouse; Alexander Ferguson, Isle of Barra Distillers
Scottish Gin Awards
Multi-award-winning gin producers Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew are in line for another win, this time for the Scottish Gin Awards.
North Uist Distillery is on the short list for six award categories, recognising the quality of the product and the excellence of its packaging and branding.
The company was only launched in 2019, but has already established its reputation for excellence, with 16 awards already under their belt and growing business success.
Kate MacDonald said: “The team are delighted to be finalists in six categories of the Scottish Gin Awards. Our aim is to build a business that the Outer Hebrides is proud of and also to provide a platform to share modern Hebridean culture with the world. We want to say a huge thanks to our community for supporting us.”
The couple took over Nunton Steadings in April 2021, and now run a shop and Island Life Bar, which has proved a huge hit with locals and tourists alike. Next year, North Uist Distillery will be expanding its business to include a single malt whisky made using locally grown bere barley.
The 2022 Scottish Gin Awards will take place on 10 November in Glasgow – good luck to Kate, Jonny and the team!
