ROMY GILL, CHEF AND AUTHOR
Where is it?
Glasgow and its amazing food scene.
Why do you go there?
I call Scotland my "homeland away from home" because so many things changed in my life when I was living there. The dinner parties I hosted and the people I met – my journey started from there.
I lived in West Calder in West Lothian for five years during the mid-1990s. Although I worked in Edinburgh, I preferred Glasgow because I found the people much more welcoming.
When I did the BBC show Ready Steady Cook [from 2019 to 2021], we filmed in Glasgow. It was the first time I had been back for a long while – I live in Gloucestershire now – and I thought the city's food scene was fantastic.
Glasgow is beautiful and the food scene has changed tremendously. Along with the other Ready Steady Cook chefs, some who hadn't visited before, I tried lots of different places to eat.
What are your top spots?
Mother India is brilliant. It is a really good place for people to try food that is a bit different from what you get in many curry houses.
Crabshakk is another favourite of mine, as is Billington's of Lenzie, just outside Glasgow. I love whisky and enjoy visiting The Bon Accord pub for a few drams.
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Another place I always liked visiting was the Mediterranean-style restaurant Alchemilla in Finnieston. It had sustainable food and wonderful sharing plates. The focaccia was so good. It was a tiny place with friendly staff and a nice wine selection. I am devastated it has closed.
Favourite culinary highlights?
I would have to say jointly Alchemilla and Crabshakk. I visited Alchemilla with Jeremy Lee from Quo Vadis in London and the restaurant critic Jay Rayner. It was Jay who introduced us to it. I went back five or six times myself.
Crabshakk is another special place. The chefs [from Ready Steady Cook] and I went a few times when we were filming in Glasgow. The Scottish seafood and fish is amazing.
How has Scotland shaped your culinary tastes?
I made so many wonderful friends when I was living in Scotland all those years ago. Our next-door neighbours in West Calder were a couple called Helen and Angus. Helen taught me how to make bubble and squeak, shepherd's pie and cottage pie from scratch.
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They have both sadly passed away now but have a special place in my heart. I missed my parents after moving to the UK from India and to have someone from the older generation welcome me, regardless of my skin colour or how I spoke English, was so lovely.
The words that spring to mind when I think of Scotland are love, friendships and warmth.
What other travel spot is on your wish list?
Peru. I want to meet the people there and try the food and learn how I can incorporate it into my cooking.
On The Himalayan Trail: Recipes and Stories from Kashmir to Ladakh by Romy Gill is out now (Hardie Grant, £27)
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