Latest news with #RachelMorgan
Scotsman
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I'm tempted not to tell the Edinburgh Festival crowds about this perfect gem of a pizza restaurant
Emily Cuddeford I feel like nobody knows about this brilliant place Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I'm pining for summer before it's even finished. Every year, I have to stop panicking at the sight of the already burgeoning conkers and brambles, and remind myself to relish the season and live in the moment. It's just that it brings so many of my favourite things. There's the balmier weather - except when Storm Floris is paggering us - as well as the Edinburgh Festival, and energetic new pop-ups like this place. This is going to be here over the summer only, on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm-8pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm-8pm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You'll find it down a side street in Leith - in an industrial building underneath one of the old railway arches, which were part of a bridge that once connected Jane Street and Manderston Street. It's just a few doors along from Newbarns Brewery and Taproom and is a collaboration between Rachel Morgan and Emily Cuddeford of the excellent Edinburgh and Scottish Borders bakeries, Twelve Triangles, and pizza chef Alessio Dosseno. The concept is simple - takeaway Roman pizza by the slice, as well as stuff in a small fridge, including huge pots of tiramisu, and squat orange bottles of sophisticated pop like Crodino and Sanbitter. Its off-the-beaten path location might explain why the August influx of tourists don't seem to have discovered it yet. They're too busy queueing outside Lannan to notice its quiet arrival. I visited it on the day I moved house. That's a lot to ask of an eating spot. After all, this is the moment you anticipate, through all the viewings and stress. The time you eventually get the keys to your new home, and can enjoy the victorious takeaway trophy while surrounded by yet unpacked boxes. We'd thought about fish and chips, but pizza won. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We probably looked a bit dusty and bedraggled, when we turned up at this space. Under the counter, on our visit, there were the following varieties - Margherita, as well as Fennel and Salame; Potato, Garlic and Salsa Verde; and giardiniera with Pecorino, Courgettes, Pickled Chilli and Parmigiano. We'll have one of each, kind sir. 'Heated up?' 'Yes please - and some of that tiramisu, too.' Gaby Soutar Then we hot footed it back to our new gaff, with a warm box to carry. The slices were carefully divvied up so we could each have half, starting with the most attractive-looking of the A5-sketchbook-sized rectangles. The giardiniera option was glorious, with a basting of tangy-sweet sugo, a flurry of pecorino, cross sections of courgette, and a thick 18-tog duvet of mozzarella, as well as lighter pops of flavour from the nibs of pickled chilli and grating of lemon zest. The base consists of a focaccia-adjacent pala Romana bread, so it has a good crunch and is resistant to sog, like a decent damp-proofing course. It's also quite dense and satisfying, so one slice will go far. Next up was the potato-slice-paved number, which had a feral and caramelised garlicky tang, and crispy bits along the tattie's edges, with a vinegary and dark green mint salsa verde heaped on top. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The fennel version featured clumps of the eponymous veg, along with two coaster-sized leaves of salty salami, in the generously upholstered fior de latte and tomatoey base. Usually, we'd be non-plussed by a Margherita. Too plain. However, although four slices was really way too much overall, we really enjoyed the simplest of our quartet. There was lots of cheese, all strewn with basil leaves. I was sold, though the giardiniera was still my number one. At this point, I had become melded to the sofa, and knew that any unpacking would have to wait until the next day. Especially since I still intended to tackle the huge pot - about a pint's worth - of tiramisu, which was dusted with a thick layer of cocoa. Again, it isn't a menu item that I usually get excited about, but I could write poetry about this ridiculously lush and rich version. Especially since its name rhymes with 'I love you', 'hullabaloo' and 'I'll take two'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I am SO into Pala. It deserves to be busy but, until then, I'll take advantage of the zero queue situation and the fact that it's near to my new house. So, the only thing I don't like is its transience. Please stay longer. However, if you really must go when autumn comes, then I'll have to remember that living in the moment is my summer motto.
Scotsman
27-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The best bakery in the Scottish Borders has got bigger
Murray Orr There are now two branches of this fabulous Melrose business Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Twelve Triangles has sprinkled its floury magic dust over the Scottish Borders town of Melrose. They've just opened their second branch, with a prominent cafe, shop and bakery on Market Square, and some might say it's their most appealing yet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We asked Emily Cuddeford - who owns the business and its seven Edinburgh branches, with her friend, Rachel Morgan - to tell us more. Why did you need a second Melrose branch? Within the first year of little Melrose being open we noticed that people seemed to need more space. What was the new property previously? The shop was a gallery and, before that, a shoe shop. Melrose's community is exceptionally well connected to the history of their town and takes pride in the independent shops. We wanted to honour this and be sympathetic to the Scottish Borders and its past industries. We sourced most furniture from local antique dealers and found a beautiful old draper's table to have as our front pastry counter as a nod to the heritage of the mills. A large old oak refectory table in the window helps to build a communal community and a homely space. In the family room we have a long pew style bench as a nod to Melrose's disused railway station. The biggest job was getting the necessary planning consent to put a working kitchen in the basement as we had to upgrade the plumbing and power. We fell in love with this shop because of its beautiful large arched windows. These bring the most fantastic light in, but we also wanted to be aware of how grey Scotland can be in the winter so we painted the whole shop a wonderful deep ochre (Galette from Little Green Paint). We worked with local joiners to build gallow shelving for our bread and retail selection. We still have one more room downstairs to renovate, which will become a reading room. It has the original antique stove/cooker in it and we want to preserve this. Murray Orr Why was it important to be family-friendly? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rachel and I both have children, and we truly appreciate being able to go somewhere where you're welcomed. We've all had moments of stress while hoping for sticky fingers not to touch or break anything. I also found when my son was very young, I was often exhausted and felt quite alone and places that felt child-friendly were a lifeline. The chance to have a coffee in a space where there was something for your child to play with meant the world. To have the opportunity to offer this to other families feels like a repayment in kind to the people who helped me along the way. How does it feel for the brand to be turning ten? It has been a monumental few years. There were points where it felt like we had gone too far, with the book launch, birthday, opening and managing the new Melrose site, as well as opening a new savoury kitchen site. But we got through it, and have our incredible team to thank for that. Only now are we getting a chance to look at where we have come from to where we are now. We can't ever say thank you enough to everyone who has been on this journey with us - staff, customers and suppliers. The look is quite different from your Edinburgh branches, is that intentional? Yes, as we have turned 10 we have been focusing on why we're doing this. We have grown up, both as women with families but also in our confidence. The last two years writing Kitchen Table and focusing on the bakery has helped us solidify our love of beautifully made staples, like a beautiful crusty baguette or that perfect almond croissant. The new Melrose site is the first shop we've been able to create alongside our new branding. We wanted the space to feel classic, comforting and homely. We plan to be taking this feel into our other shops over the next year or so. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad From a more practical standpoint it's a considerably larger space, which has enabled us to play with our offerings. That included creating a lovely curated retail range for kitchen essentials alongside our own pantry staples of jam, granola and coffee, more seating and having a welcoming space for children and families in the back, with a play kitchen and books. The kitchen space downstairs is also quite generous which means we can grow and do baking and food preparation that's specific to Melrose. Any signature dishes? Currently, pistachio and walnut granola with natural yoghurt and seasonal compote, sourdough cheese toasties and house baked beans with sourdough toast, cultured butter and Scottish cheddar. Little Melrose, the original site on the High Street, is staying open as the main spot for a loaf or a coffee to take away. Murray Orr What have your retail bestsellers been? Croissant biscotti and small batch seasonal jams. How does working in the Melrose cafe compare to Edinburgh? All our shops focus on community but in Melrose you can really see and feel this, the staff are fantastic and loved by the customers (one of the complaints of the new site in the first week was it was too busy so they couldn't speak to the staff so much). We have a dedicated corkboard wall for all the regulars' coffee and bread loyalty cards - impressively, the staff never need to ask someone's name. In Melrose, sales wise we sell the most scones, caramel shortbread and frangipane bars. Any other businesses in the area that you can recommend? Melrose is still dominated by independent businesses. Purple Plum, the fruit and veg shop, is fantastic, and Martin Baird the butchers is where we source our ham for sandwiches, there is a local bookshop, and a wonderful florist (she does our flowers in the shop for us weekly), a deli as well as a speciality wine shop. The area hasn't changed a huge amount since we moved in, it has always been a very strong community which takes pride in supporting its local businesses. We are lucky to have become part of this. What's next? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I would like to say a rest, but realistically we will think of something new and get excited and run away with ourselves.
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Irish designer creates a Taylor Swift-inspired bridal collection
Earlier this week, Rachel Morgan, owner of The White Gallery luxury bridal boutique, introduced her brand new collection of luxury mini-dresses at a dazzling event in the Canal Court Hotel and Spa in Co Down. Hosted by luxury brand consultant and founder of Danu Collective, Aisling McVeigh, the evening was a dream for brides-to-be shopping for their 'bridal era'. Inspired by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour - a global concert tour that saw the singer celebrate the many chapters of her colourful career - The White Era is a collection of mini dresses that aims to carry brides through their year of celebrations. Speaking with RTÉ Lifestyle, Morgan said that the collection was directly inspired by the Cruel Summer singer, having experienced the Eras tour with her daughters. "Taylor had a massive influence on the name," she confirms. "We've seen her twice now, and we just absolutely love her. She's such a powerful, strong woman." "The White Era is all about the bride during her bridal era," she continues. "From the minute that you get engaged - the engagement party, the day two celebration, all of the occasions where she would choose to wear white." With Swift now in a long-term relationship with boyfriend Travis Kelce, and engagement rumours swirling, the Northern Irish designer says she would "actually die of excitement" if the singer wore one of her dresses in the future. Although the collection celebrates the indulgence of celebrating a major life event, the designer says she is mindful of the impact that the fashion industry has on the environment, and has tried to keep the range as sustainable as possible. For example, one of the dresses is designed to be styled in a variety of ways so that it can be worn on multiple occasions by the bride-to-be. "You invest in one key piece, but if you wear it with the bow or the gloves or anything else, it will carry you through your bridal era," she explains. After the big day, it could also be paired with colourful accessories that would make it less bridal and more timeless. Gone are the days of buying something for one wear only. "Each piece is made to order, so we're not over-producing," she explains. It's made in our own atelier, so that everything from the pattern cutting to the finishing details is done by the one seamstress." "It's so lovely for people to support Irish design," she adds, applauding the array of talent that Ireland has to offer. "There's so much choice out there, and it's lovely to have the option of choosing something that has been made here." With over a decade of experience, Morgan says that these recent designs were created as a solution to the problems that many of her clients were facing, particularly in recent years, with multiple celebrations becoming more commonplace. "They want something special for their engagement party, the rehearsal dinner, or a lot of Irish get married abroad but want to have a gorgeous legal ceremony in city hall, and they want something special and elevated to wear to that event. "Then there's day two, or some brides want to change into a mini in the evening because they want to enjoy their wedding party, and sometimes that's hard in a full-length ball gown." RTÉ 2FM presenter Doireann Garrihy was one of the first brides to wear a mini dress from the collection, and Morgan says she was thrilled to have her wear the brand. "She was one of the first to wear it, and she wore it so beautifully," she says. "It's just really special. We're 14 years open in bridal, and we just have so many brides looking for something different that reflects their personality."
ITV News
30-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Aqua Park to be installed at a popular beauty spot despite opposition from more than 2,000 people
An inflatable water park is set to be installed at a popular beauty spot despite opposition from more than 2,000 people. Vale of Glamorgan Council has approved the use of the eastern lake at Cosmeston Country Park, Penarth, to pilot the new Aqua Park attraction ahead of the school summer holidays. It follows the announcement that Aqua Park Cardiff won't be re-opening this summer in Cardiff Bay due to poor water quality. It is expected that the Aqua Park will open in its new location on Saturday 5th July 2025, and will remain open until mid-September. It will feature an inflatable obstacle course, including climbing walls, trampolines and giant slides. Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Places, said: 'The Aqua Park will be another great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park as the Council continues to promote sustainable tourism and leisure activities in the area. 'Consultation with residents through the Council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally - particularly among young people - for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our Country Parks are for everyone. 'Trying new things is at the heart of what we do as an ambitious Council, and this pilot could also enable further income opportunities for our Country Parks – especially in supporting the re-wilding and conservation work already underway at Cosmeston. Locals previously raised concerns and started a petition. Rachel Morgan, who started the petition, said: 'For years, Cosmeston Lake has been officially deemed unsafe for swimming, raising serious concerns over the safety measures underpinning the Aqua Park's proposal. 'Contained within this park are some of Penarth's most diverse and fragile ecosystems, home to numerous species of wildlife. The recent proposal to introduce an Aqua Park this coming summer poses a significant and direct threat to this refuge.' Cosmeston Lake Country Park contains areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protected by law against damage from development or damaging management practices due to the rare and diverse plants and animal species found there. Home to swans, mallards and otters among other waterfowl, 25.6 hectares of the lake also hold SSSI status to protect the endangered starry stonewort plant. And in 2019, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) completed a four-year reintroduction project of water voles to the lake, which are a protected species in the UK. While the east side of the lake has been used in the past for water-based leisure activities such as boating, paddle boarding and canoeing, local residents fear that relocating the aqua park there will threaten public health, swimmer safety, as well as the wildlife and habitats in and around the lake. The Vale of Glamorgan Council says it has worked with a number of partner agencies to ensure that the lake is safe for Aqua Park visitors to enjoy – including a detailed programme of water testing work - and there will be on-site security to reduce any opportunities for anti-social behaviour – including unauthorised camping, lighting of fires, vandalism, fly-tipping. Connor James, founder of Aqua Park Cardiff, said: "The Country Park is a fantastic venue for our exciting watersport experience, perfect for supervised adventure and family fun. With an exciting new course of obstacles, we can't wait to welcome visitors to our incredible new home. "We are also really excited to be playing our part in giving people and families much-needed access to active outdoor experience, in a controlled and supervised environment to help boost their physical and mental well-being. "With household budgets likely to be limited again this year, we've got an amazing offer on our Aqua Park Season Passes, which means people can book up to twice a week for the whole summer giving families an easy and cost-effective way to keep the kids active throughout a staycation summer.' All visitors to Aqua Park Cardiff will be provided buoyancy aids, but must be aged six and over, 1.2m tall and able to swim 25 metres unaided to take part.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
These are the 2025-26 WVU Mountaineer Mascot finalists
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Four finalists will compete in a cheer-off this month to see who will become the 71st West Virginia University Mountaineer. The following students have been chosen by a selection committee based on their applications. They will all don the buckskins and coonskin caps during the WVU men's basketball game against TCU on Feb. 25, and the winner will be announced during the on March 8. Justin Waybright, from Parkersburg, is a senior majoring in mining engineering who serves as the 2024-25 alternate Mountaineer mascot. He is a three-year member of the Gold Cheer Team, a member of the Society of Mining Engineers and the president of the Mine Rescue Team in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Does the WVU Mountaineer Mascot have to be from West Virginia? Rachel Morgan, a senior marketing major with minors in professional sales and strategic social media from Bridgeport, serves as a student video intern for the WVU football team and as a member of the Project 168 Society and Delta Gamma, where she engages in various community service projects, and professional and leadership development. She is also the secretary of the Country Line Dancing Club and a former 4-H Extension camping instructor. Cade Kincaid, a member of the Honors College from Fayetteville, is a junior accounting major minoring in finance, business data analytics, and business ethics and prosperity. He serves as a peer mentor and ambassador for the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics and as a member of Delta Sigma Pi, where he engages in various community service projects to benefit the Ronald McDonald House and Empty Bowls Monongalia. Thaiddeus 'Ted' Dillie, from Weirton, is a third-year medical student at the WVU School of Medicine who served as the 2019-20 alternate Mountaineer mascot. A first-generation college student and recipient of the Order of Augusta, he earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 2020 and a Master of Business Administration in 2021 from WVU. Dillie volunteers his time to the No One Dies Alone Program and Camp Kno-Koma, a summer camping experience for children with Type 1 diabetes in and around the state of West Virginia. You can read quotes from each of the finalists here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
