Lady Claire McDonald

Claire Macdonald is one of the country’s leading ambassadors for the traditional Scottish highland welcome. She gives us a taste of why she loves Scotland’s natural larder with such a passion…

My enthusiasm for cooking was fuelled by my sheer greed from the age of about 15 years!

But despite this I couldn’t possibly narrow down my favourite Scottish ingredient though as it’s impossible to say – there’s so much, from Clyde Valley tomatoes to the berry crops of Angus.

As Patron of Scottish Food Fortnight and The Association of Scottish Farmers’ Markets, it’s the real quality of Scottish produce that makes it stand out.

I would say that the secret to great Scottish cooking is really quite simple. Always use the best ingredients you can and always use food within its natural season. It’s the sheer quality of Scottish ingredients which make them such a joy to cook with.

I lecture all over the world from Australasia and North America but always look forward to coming home to the fresh air of the highlands.

I never tire of telling people all about the quality of Scottish food of all kinds and also how well this wonderful produce marries with other types of cooking such as Italian cuisine.

I may be on my seventeenth cookery book and my series Claire Macdonald’s Seasonally Scottish is currently showing on the UK Food Channel but I’d always like to learn more – history of art and Italian, and have a bit more time with my family.

If I could choose someone to cook for it would have to be veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell. I admire him enormously.

Kinloch Lodge has to be my favourite place in Scotland – a combination of beauty and home. What more could you ask for?

If you’re thinking of coming to Scotland be prepared for a great and warm welcome from the Scots!

Claire Macdonald

Claire Macdonald is an award-winning food writer and cook. The Macdonalds have been running the family home Kinloch Lodge on the Isle of Skye as a luxury hotel since 1974. Her seventeenth cookery book will be published in September 2006, and her latest television series, Claire Macdonald’s Seasonally Scottish, is currently being screened on the UK Food channel.

She was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 2005. Find out more about Lady Claire at www.claire-macdonald.com.