FOUR STAR CHIPPY MAKES THE GRADE
Edinburgh Evening News – Tuesday 29th January 2002

An Edinburgh chippy has become Scotland’s first four-star take-away as part of a scheme to promote tourism and reward quality and achievement in the catering industry. L’Alba D’Oro, in the capital’s New Town, is the first establishment to be awarded the distinction by VisitScotland in what is thought to be the first scheme of its kind.
Amanda Clark, the chief executive of the Food Grading Company, which is administered by VisitScotland, said: “when people come on holiday to Scotland they really want to know the best place to go for everything, from a top class meal to a takeaway. Until now, VisitScotland has not been able to differentiate the good from the bad. The stars will be reviewed every year and if our taste experts believe that the standard has fallen, stars will be removed.
Filippo Crolla, owner of L’Alba D’Oro on Henderson Row, was delighted with the award. He said: “I knew we were good, but I did not know we were this good. It is wonderful to be able to say that we are a four-star establishment.”
He added: “I have always tried to use the best quality and the freshest food and this is what the award reflects, I think.”
David Wilson, a member of the Natural Cooking of Scotland committee, said: “In Scotland, the top establishments are truly world class but it is some of our pub grub and café fare that lets us down. This scheme encourages people to use Scottish ingredients wherever possible and to cook rather than defrost frozen produce that has been brought in.”
The food grading scheme was developed in co-operation with the catering industry including input from some of the best-known chefs in Scotland. VisitScotland expects that up to 1,000 businesses will join the scheme this year. There are nine categories and five stars available in each category. The categories include fast food, take-away, home cooking, pub-food, bar food, restaurant, self-service restaurant, tea room and coffee shop.
Philip Riddle, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “Food grading is a new addition to our stable of quality assurance schemes and is another first for Scotland as there are no other such wide-reaching schemes in operation anywhere else.
“We aim to make Scotland a destination for good food. We have some of the finest natural ingredients in the world and many talented and committed chefs and operators.”

-Alison Gray