3 min read

CHEF TOM AND MATILDA TSAPPIS’ INSIDER GUIDE TO PERTHSHIRE

Killiecrankie House Owners Share Their Expert Guide to the Best Restaurants, Bars and Cafes in Perthshire

Nothing about Tom and Matilda Tsappis’ hospitality journey is what you might expect.

The pair quit their finance and advertising careers for Tom to retrain as a chef and Matilda a sommelier in 2018.

They went on to establish the now legendary Elia supper clubs, which saw them serve Michelin-standard, eight course Greek food from their flat in East Dulwich.

The pandemic sadly saw off Elia (sob) so the pair boldly decided to relocate near Matilda’s family in Scotland, and they bought the brilliantly named Killiecrankie House in Perthshire and transformed it into a destination, 18-cover restaurant with five, luxe guest rooms.

Tom heads up the kitchen, playfully reinterpreting traditional Scottish dishes with local ingredients and incorporating techniques from his Greek Cypriot heritage as well as Asian influences, celebrating the ancestry of Matilda, who is half Japanese.

Current dishes include Dripping Fried Porridge, featuring stock from braised Highland Wagyu and Liver and Onions using Monkfish liver, influenced by its use in dishes like Crappit Heid, but also from his time in Japan and awareness of Ankimo.

Sommelier Matilda provides equally unusual drinks and wines, like The Prince, an award-winning wine from the Treaty Port Estate in China, and in-house cocktails which can be enjoyed from their glamorous, Art Deco bar or lounge. which overlooks their one acre kitchen garden.

They have now turned their refined palates to the bars, restaurants and cafes on their Scottish doorstep to bring us the best places to eat and drink in Perthshire.

Killiecrankie House, Pitlochry PH16 5LG

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COFFEE

Glen Lyon Coffee Roasters, Aberfeldy

We buy our coffee for the restaurant directly from Glen Lyon Roastery in Aberfeldy, but they also have a lovely cafe to drop in and have something to drink alongside a pastry. With a seasonally changing selection of beans being roasted on site, there is a lot to deep dive into for any coffee aficionado.

Glenlyon Coffee Roasters, Dunkeld Rd, Aberfeldy PH15 2AQ

BREAKFAST

Gloagburn Farm, Perth / Aran Bakery, Dunkeld

If you’re in the mood for a full Scottish or something hot and comforting, the Gloagburn Farm in Perth does a quality fry up, with the sausages and eggs coming from the livestock on their own farms. For something, a bit lighter check out the excellent selection of homemade bread and pastries at the Aran bakery in Dunkeld.

Gloagburn Farm Shop. Tibbermore, Perth PH1 1QL

LUNCH

The North Port, Perth

The North Port in Perth, set in an end of terrace cottage dating back to the 18th century is a great spot for lunch or dinner. Chef Andrew Moss is cooking delicious seasonal plates, with an emphasis on Scottish produce. He forages for his own wild edibles, particularly excellent Scottish mushrooms in the summer, and serves up a fantastic homemade haggis.

North Port Restaurant, 8 North Port, Perth, PH1 5LU

DINNER

The Taybank, Dunkeld / The Glenturret Lalique, Crieff

The Taybank in Dunkeld for a casual meal is always great, and has become a regular when we have friends in town. It serves no frills, seasonally aware, British cooking, has a rotating selection of beers on tap and is baby-friendly. If I’m looking to splurge, or celebrating something, then The Glenturret Lalique in Crieff is a surefire win. Just awarded its second Michelin star, they are serving up refined French food in opulent surroundings, and have a fantastic wine list.

The Taybank, Tay Terrace, Dunkeld PH8 0AQ

DRINKS

Redwood Wines, Dunkeld

Redwood Wines in Dunkeld, run by husband-and-wife couple Morgwn and Roseanna, is a hidden gem. They are pouring really top-notch wines, from small producers, hand-selected for both their quality and value. You can join them for a guided tasting or just construct your own from their rotating pours, and if you find something you really like then grab a bottle to take away with you. To top it all off they offer a great selection of foods all prepared in house, from homemade charcuterie and pickles to their unbelievable take on a roast beef sandwich.

Redwood Wines, 12 Bridge St, Dunkeld PH8 0AH

INSIDER TIP

Explore Chocolate, Pitlochry

Explore Chocolate in Pitlochry is perhaps not yet getting the press it deserves. But Matt is making some of the finest chocolates I have eaten anywhere in the world. He roasts all the beans on site, buying directly from cacao growers whose quality lives up to his exacting standards, and is producing delicious single-origin bars alongside some super interesting and delicious flavoured bonbons. If you get the chance, try his ‘red onion tarte tatin’ bon bon - Willy Wonka eat your heart out!

Explore Chocolate, 47b Atholl Rd, Pitlochry PH16 5BX