I had the privilege of being invited to Asda’s Extra Special Scotland event by my friend Tartan Spoon Blog in conjunction with Asda, Edinburgh New Town Cookery School and Morrow Communications.
The evening was a celebration of Asda’s partnership with Scottish suppliers, sourcing the best produce Scotland’s got to offer and making it available up and down the UK for customers to enjoy.
Our welcome Cocktails included one made with the Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and ginger beer, a perfect tipple for an autumn evening and the refreshing minty Asda Extra Special gin mojito.
We were introduced to the lovely Annette from Edinburgh New Town Cookery School who gave us a safety briefing of the kitchen, all the same things I tell my students on a regular basis so it was quite funny having the tables turned and being the student for a change.
It was time to get cooking with the delicious fresh Scottish produce on offer: 30 day matured Aberdeen Angus Sirloin Steak, chestnut mushrooms, green beans and a Whisky sauce made from the Speyside Single Malt that we enjoyed in our cocktail earlier in the evening. I had the perfect partner in Tartan Spoon, modelling our new Asda aprons that we got to keep and I will be showcasing at school on a daily basis!
I couldn’t wait to get cooking with the steak, we sealed it on each side first for a bit of caramelisation and we had the help of James at New Town Cookery School for any tips on achieving our perfect steak. Some opted for rare to medium rare but I like mine as a good solid medium. We allowed it to rest and become really tender before using any of the meat juices in our Whisky cream mushroom sauce.
I sautéed the mushrooms before adding the Whisky sauce ingredients. We also blanched our green beans then gently sautéed them for maximum flavour and colour.
Our rosemary roasted new potatoes had been kindly cooked for us by the New Town Cookery team but it was lovely having cooked most of our meal together and then we got to tuck in and enjoy the delicious Scottish produce and company of everyone, good food definitely brings people together and the best evenings are had. I enjoyed my steak dinner with a glass of Asda’s Extra Special New Zealand Pinot Noir. Having cycled around New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region last year, I have an ‘extra special’ place in my heart for their wines.
Dessert was Eton Mess with the Asda gin soaked strawberries, it was a nice light finish to our deliciously filling meal. There were also Asda’s Extra Special Donuts on offer made by Scottish family bakery McGhee’s, three flavours to choose from: Chocolate Indulgence, Salted Caramel, Raspberry & White Chocolate. After that amazing feed, they had to be taken home in a doggie bag and eaten with a cup of tea the next day which they went perfectly with.
Wow what a night and a goodie bag to be going home with, I felt totally spoilt and very grateful for the experience of terrific tasting food and having met the loveliest of people from Morrow Communications, Asda and The Newtown Edinburgh Cookery School. I’m already planning on recreating the gin mojito Cocktails at home and purchasing the Aberdeen Angus sirloin steaks for my next dinner party.
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School
*I was invited to the above event. Food and drink were complimentary, all views are my own.
Tuggy Tucks In 