Michael Tough, set up the company, when on Skye in 1998 whilst continuing to work as a chef. It took off in 2000 as Skye Recruitment before becoming Chefs In Scotland in 2001.
Michael sometimes takes incoming calls to discuss chef recruitment on 07493716521.
This will be displayed on the CIS Facebook page.
Michael michael@chefsinscotland.co.uk
Out and About
Skye 2026
What struck me most about my week on Skye was how crazily busy the island is!
It would have been busy in the season and over peak holiday periods back in the 1990’s and into the new millennium before relocating back down south to Moffat in 2008 but nothing like the vast amount of campervans and cars that seemed to be parked side by side in Portree and beyond.
I don’t remember there being quite so many B and B’s as there are now and everywhere I drove there were more of them, perhaps breeding like highland coos and sheep in their eagerness to get some of the tourist pound.
A bus trip down to Sligachan and back was a journey via the tardis into distant memories of youth and a still recollection of brutal six day weeks worked for a pittance.
The beer was good, Skye Gold a particular favourite on draft and a case accompanied down through Eilan Donan, Fort William and Crianlarich to Moffat, which seems quiet and idle in comparison.
People!
First night out at The Isles and three young men up from Moffat working on the islands infrastructure and Martain Irvine who first worked on Skye at The Slig some 40 years back with Iain Campbell and his family who owned the hotel for over a century.
Martain still helps out in Portree working a few hours a week doing prep. and we joked about sending in an invoice for the hell of it!
“As if Frankie!”
Wee Jim was there alive and at the bar in the unchanged Tongadale just across from the old offices on Wentworth Street. One pint and a quick blether was good and no need to work a shift in The Royal where surely most chefs on Skye have covered the yards of the humongous kitchen, which always felt back to front in the last century.
Bank Holidays
Don’t get it!
The Royal Bank of Scotland in Portree was a great and supportive bank to a young man trying to get a business off the ground.
Check written to the wrong account, no probs Murdina just changed it and banked it.
Roddy, the manager who ran with Iain Cambpell, showed how to set money aside for a month to get some interest and David and John on the tills were always keen and helpful.
Scott stayed on at 1820, which has a pool table and saved the day for now.
Skye was good and much had changed but lots, like The Cuillin moutains remain the same.
It is something to look forward to every January when all is dark and cold, three days and nights in St Andrews in Fife, golf with friends at the esteemed and world famous courses of St Andrews Links, which are available when booking in advance, in the winter at some £200 for three games, free range balls and a £25 food and drink voucher.
Accommodation? The Premier Inn for £50 to £60 a night, not a hugely expensive trip when often the micro climate in the East Neuk of Fife, can keep the rain and wind at bay, not always but in the four years we have had one day out of 12 when the course was shut due to the weather.
We ate on the second night at Hotel Du Vin, on the Scores and my, how the food impressed!
Two courses for less than £25 and a small glass of wine for £3.50. It was buzzing in January. Bistro Style but cooked superbly, my home cured salmon starter with home-made bread and a dainty quenelle of a mix of green herbs and butter.
Mark, who used to own the Smugglers in Auchencairn when I was young and needed a job, and Colin, my former neighbour in Moffat both had the Cassoulet as a main course and rated in incredibly highly.
I hadn’t thought about the Hotel Du Vin in St Andrews until flicking through the 2026 AA Restaurant Guide Book just now. It more than deserves it’s AA Rosette and hopefully, all being well we will pop in next January for an early dinner, without breaking the bank, although the five course tasting menu with an accompanying wine flight for £65 is not without appeal, but maybe not best for a clear head and a game of golf!
Out and About 27th March 2026
We have 34 relief chefs out working that we are charging for.
Relief has picked up which is great ?
You can register by emailing CV’s to jojo@chefsinscotland.co.uk
Ian has lots of permanent positions available if you would like to find out more please email ian@chefsinscotland.co.uk
We would love to hear where your best placement(s) have been and if you would like to share any photos
Here are some of the chefs we currently have out
Dave Richards is at Fortingall Hotel and has been booked for the season
Ionel Rizea is at The Mishnish, Tobermory
Bill Brankin is at The Fife Arms Turriff
Colin Carberry is at The Lovat Hotel Beauly
Mark Murray is at The Sun Dancer in Nairn
Ste Flindall is back to work and if off to Stornoway to the County Hotel – this was his first ever relief job with us back in 2018
Ryan Williamson is at The Links Hotel, Montrose
Jarek Jandura is at The Dunavon Hotel
Will Pottinger is at Kinmount House
Thanks once again for all your hard work and continued support :)
Out and About 27th February 2026
We have 12 relief chefs out working that we are charging for.
Relief is still very patchy, the work that is coming in will be given as priority the chefs who have worked all season and who are known to us.
You can still register though please email CV’s to jojo@chefsinscotland.co.uk
Ian has permanent positions available if you would like to find out more please email ian@chefsinscotland.co.uk
We would love to hear where your best placement(s) have been and if you would like to share any photos
Here are some of the chefs we currently have out
Scott Maciejewski has finished at The Boat Inn Aboyne
Graeme Allan is at The Fife Arms Turriff
Keren Tweedie is still working away at Moness Resort
Mark Murray and Ionel Rizea are finishing at Angus Hotel
Leon Quate and David Carroll are both finishing at The Bridge of Orchy Hotel
Taylor Mcfarlane is at Knipoch Hotel as head chef
Scott Bolton is at Karma Lake Hotel
Patrick Johnstone is at The Kinloch Hotel Arran
Stuart Jackson is at The Fortingall Hotel
Thanks once again for all your hard work and continued support and patients :)
RSS