Scottish Food: How I fixed my teenage faux pas with good food

This might be hard to believe, but I was never terribly popular at high school in the Western Isles.

I know, who would have thought that a tragic emo fringe and distinct lack of social skills would see you relegated to the gym-hall sidelines at school dances, but there you go.

Save your tissues and put the tiny violins away though because this is not a sob story.

The benefit of the near-decade between now and then is being self-aware enough to recognise that I was, in fact, a bit of a pretentious arse.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, folks.

Instead, this is a means to explain why I’ve never visited a Glasgow institution that is not just a home from home for many of my former classmates, but a world-famous hub for trad music and a huge asset to the city’s Gaelic community.

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I’ve heard many a story from friends and family of raucous nights out at the Park Bar on Argyle Street, but always felt an unfounded sense of nervousness at the idea of being surrounded by so many familiar faces.

This week, as The Herald reported that long-term land lady Nina Steele is to step back from her role after three decades, a quick scroll through the pub’s social media page gave just a small glimpse of all the fun I’ve been missing out on over the years.

I may have yet to discover for myself exactly what magic lies behind the doors of the Park Bar, but I can fully appreciate its significance and the way it proves a hospitality venue can mean so much more than the sum of its parts.

After catching up with him over Zoom this week, someone that I reckon shares their spirit is Konstantinos Karvelis, the owner of Kuzina in Edinburgh.

The actor moved to Scotland from Greece in 2018, and, in search of a new creative outlet, set about opening a restaurant on the city’s Howe Street this year that was inspired by his artistic outlook.

Konstantinos Karvelis, owner of Kuzina, opened a Greek restaurant inspired by his artistic point of view (Image: Newsquest)
During our interview, he spoke passionately of how providing service that goes beyond simply taking an order is the best way to achieve an ‘elevated dining experience’.

“Enjoying a good meal is one of the fundamental joys of life, but it is just as important to create a memorable dining experience.

“For Greeks, cooking is a means of communicating and achieving a place in someone’s heart.

“I want people to come in and feel like they are a part of the family here.”

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So, here’s to Nina, Konstantinos and all the other industry professionals who know just how important a pub or restaurant can be for those who are searching for a sense of belonging.

As for me, I’d like to hope that no matter what your teenage faux pas, there’s nothing that a strong drink, a good feed or a bit of music won’t fix.

You can read the full interview with Konstantinos Karvelis, owner of Kuzina, here.