Introduction

A surname like mine, Macdonald, can be a distinct drawback in any food-related work. Scottish history appears not to be taught at all south of the border, and instead of instant recognition and association with the greatest of the highland clans, the name is far more readily associated with the hamburger chain. I am not only called Macdonald, but I’m married to Godfrey, who is the High Chief of Clan Donald. Our home, here on the Isle of Skye, is also a small hotel. We live on a sea loch, at the foot of a small mountain at the end of a bumpy forestry track and our main road, over a mile away, is single track. So our lifestyle is a far cry from the more usual British existence.