IT is a Hebridean odyssey which delivers a slice of the world-famous produce on offer in Scotland's best-known natural larder each week, served up by two cooks who know the lie of the land.
And even though it is tucked away on BBC Alba, the Gaelic-language cookery show Seòid a’ Chidsin - The Kitchen Coves - is developing a devoted following as it prepares to return to the screen for a fourth series.
The brainchild of best friends and presenters Ruaridh Munro and Uisdean Macleod, from Harris and Lewis respectively, each programme takes a theme, or locally-produced ingredient, and challenges the hosts to mix up a variety of dishes.
Shot in locations across the Hebrides, this series sees the duo accept an invitation from the Muslim community in Stornoway who are celebrating the first anniversary of their Mosque opening.
They also cook for the Stornoway ladies' rugby team, serve up street food at the towns Hebridean Celtic festival and visit the Vatersay and Barra Potato Competition.
Each episode is long way from the ten-minute pilot filmed in Ruaridh Munro's kitchen which began the culinary adventure.
He said: "It all began when I was cooking a curry with Uisdean, and we were having a bit of a banter in the kitchen. Just generally having fun.
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"Our wives were sitting having a glass of wine listening in, and they said we should film this because it would make great TV."
A broadcaster with years of experience, Mr Munro was no stranger to the vagaries of television, having worked on the Gaelic-language children's programmes and documentaries.
Scottish delaciecies - such as sausage rols - appear on the programme
He added: "I got in touch with a producer friend of mine and we shot a ten minute-pilot, and it got commissioned. Now we've just completed out fourth series and are planning number five.
"I've been a broadcaster, a journalist and I've worked in documentaries, but this is the only thing I get recognised for. "
He joked: "I'll be in the supermarket picking up something for the kids dinner, and I'll be buying oven chips or something quick, and an old woman will come up and say 'fraud'."
With a crofting background, and having worked as a baker as a teenager, Mr Munro's skills complement those of his co-presenter, who worked in the fishing industry and studied catering.
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Previous episodes have seen the pair cooking in the kitchen of Michelin-starred chef Marcelo Tully at Kinloch Lodge on Skye, and the next series may see them head further afield to explore the stories of the Herring girls who followed the shoals down the east coast of the UK in the 1800s.
While the show uses traditional ingredients such as the island's fish, shellfish, lamb and vegetables, the presenter said that he and his co-host enjoy cooking in non-traditional ways.
The trip to the Mosque-opening day sees the pair learn about foods from he Middle East and head back to their kitchen to work on their own versions of the fare they sampled.
Ruaridh cooks a Namak Mandi dish inspired by the original recipe given to him on the day, while Uisdean prepares his own version of a chicken curry.
Locally-caught scallops
The episode catering for the Stornoway ladies Rigby team sees the two chefs cooking on the touchline.
Taking into account the requirements of a post-match meal, and cooking alfresco in the summer heat, Ruaraidh makes minestrone soup and a vegetable moussaka while Uisdean concentrates on a slow-cooked lamb shoulder.
The highlight of the series for the pair was a visit to Barra to take on the island's potato contest, where locally-grown vegetables are judged in a number of categories.
But all did not go according to plan, with the duos offering disqualified for not being Barra-grown.
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Mr Munro said: "We go some potatoes grown just down the road from me in Stornoway and took them across to be judged.
"But we were chucked out the competition because they had not been grown on Barra and Vatersay. But the judges were still kind enough to score them for us.
"That episode was the most fun to make. The competition lasts two days and there was a lot of celebrating. I don't think I remember it all, though."
After the contest was done, the potatoes were turned into a fish pie and a serving of gnocchi.
*Seòid a' Chidsin – The Kitchen Coves is produced by Moja and can be seen on BBC ALBA each Thursday.
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