Hollybank House is a self-catering house above Loch Lomond, near Tarbet — the estate’s own serving board is engraved “Luxury on Loch Lomond,” which tells you most of what you need to know about the setting. I was booked there for a canapés service, starting at 6pm.
The canapés were kept simple and proper: arancini rolled in breadcrumbs and finished with grated parmesan, fried scampi skewers with a pea shoot garnish, and bruschetta with tomato, rocket and a balsamic reduction — all plated on the house’s own slate and wood boards.
Everything was staged in the kitchen under heat lamps before it went out to the table — a full run of plates ready to move the moment they were needed, so nothing sits and nothing goes out cold.
It was a late finish — Hollybank House was fully dark by the time the last plate went out and the kitchen was cleaned down. Leaving a client’s kitchen completely spotless, however late the service runs, is part of how I work every time, not just when there’s time to spare.
I cook canapés, dinners and full events at self-catering houses and lodges like Hollybank House right across Scotland — see more of that work on my page for self-catering venues. With 35+ years cooking professionally and 220+ five-star Google reviews, get in touch to book a date for your own house or venue.