Last Minute Christmas Shopping!

Are you ready for the Big Day?

Presents bought,wrapped and safely under the Christmas tree?

If not don't forget we have Gift Vouchers available to purchase if you are stuck for ideas.

They are the perfect gift to give a loved one who appreciates the good things in life. Our Gift Vouchers can be tailored to suit your needs and can be bought in any denomination or simply choose the amount you want to give.

They can be used as full or part payment towards a holiday or short break. Or why not use to buy a lunch, put money behind the bar or an afternoon tea.

A special message can be added to the voucher, just let us know the details. Payment can simply be made by debit card and we will then send you the voucher to give to the recipient or alternatively we can send it direct for you.

There is no time limit on our vouchers and they can be used at any time of year making them such a perfect gift.

Work in Progress

The Christmas Cake you will be glad to know is now well under way, despite the sleepless nights I have had worrying over it!! Unfortunately I cant tell you what the design is, as that is now

TOP SECRET

The chefs work extremely hard this time of year especially with our Holly & Mistletoe breaks running from November through December, they have to cook Christmas Dinner twice a week and the smell of the Turkey cooking is sublime. The aromas of the turkey, mince pies and puddings etc waft up into the office and make our mouths water on a daily basis but unfortunately we never get to sample them

 I popped down to the kitchen the other day and Simon one of our chefs was just bringing out a batch of delicious homemade shortbread. so I cheekily asked him for the recipe. With a lot of arm twisting he finally gave it to me so I thought you might like to try it and have a go of baking it yourself!

I made a batch over the weekend and they disappeared so fast I will now have to make some more.

Simon's Shortbread ( makes approx 16 biscuits)

            8 oz Butter

            4 oz Castor Ssugar

           12 oz Flour

• Preheat the oven to 325°F/170°C/Gas Mark 3.
• In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. until light and fluffy and pale in colour. This can take at least 10 minutes. Alternatively use a food mixer.
• Sieve the flour into the bowl of butter and sugar. Mix quickly and thoroughly to bring all the ingredients together but do not over mix.
• Tip the mixture onto a lightly floured work surface and  knead lightly and quickly to form a loose dough. then either:
• Roll out the dough, prick the surface all over with a fork. Cut into desired shape or rounds using cookie cutters. Place the Scottish shortbread's on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 25 mins or until pale brown and crisp. Sprinkle the warm Scottish shortbread's with fine sugar and leave to cool on a wire cooling rack.
• Alternatively grease a Swiss roll tin 9" x 13"/23 x 33cm with butter. Press the dough into the tin and press with your fingers to level the surface, prick all over with a fork. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. With the shortbread still in the tin, cut into squares or fingers, leave to cool for 15 minutes then carefully remove to a wire cooling rack.
• Store in an airtight tin or box.

Our Head Chef

Please meet Ken, our Head Chef at the St Kilda.

 Ken has worked at the St Kilda for 11 years and has a team of 3 chefs working alongside him. He loves to try new recipes and can be found in the kitchen when everyone else has gone home trying out something new, and if we are lucky we sometimes get to sample these dishes (perks of the job Mmm).

Ken loves Christmas!! he does the usual moaning and groaning that chefs do, but we all know that this is the best time for him to show of his culinary skills. He produces the best buffets I have seen, the attention to detail and the presentation of the platters are second to none.
If you have experienced a St Kilda Christmas I am sure you would agree with me, if not then be sure to book one soon!

Just look what you are missing!

Ken  has had a very busy personal life this year planning his wedding, and I am glad to say it all went to plan, he and Janet were married in July and had a truly wonderful day.

He was also very proud to announce recently the birth of his first grand child a beautiful little girl called Lola May, who I am sure will be the apple of his eye! Both Mum and baby are doing well.

In between his busy family life and working, Ken tries to relax by going fishing he is a very keen Carp fisherman and often calls into my office asking me to check what the weather forecast will be for his days off. After his fishing trip we often discuss how he got on, how many fish he caught, the weight of the catch etc, it's a shame we have to work really we could ramble on about our fisherman's tales all day long.........