Mark Sutherland

  • How to Make Real Scottish Fish and Chips

    How to Make Real Scottish Fish and Chips

    Throughout 2015, my favorite St. Louis chef (and fellow Scottish expat) Ally Nisbet has been the face of Scottish food in the US and Canada. Each month, his culinary creations have been featured on Scotland.org and thousands of Americans and Canadians have viewed his videos and tried to bring a wee bit of Scotland…

  • The Brits Invade Missouri

    The Brits Invade Missouri

    Last month, a British invasion of sorts took place in Missouri, with James Bond, Prince William and even Her Majesty the Queen “popping up” to help out. It all came about because the UK consulate in Chicago has started visiting other places in the States for a week at a time. It hosts events…

  • Scotland’s First Minister Invades the US

    Scotland’s First Minister Invades the US

    Last week, I had the privilege of making a brief visit to DC. The occasion, a visit to the US by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Her first visit since being chosen as Scotland’s highest elected official last year. Her visit included stops in New York and Washington DC, including one meeting that the FM had…

  • Taking Down Mike Myers On Behalf Of Scottish Food

    Taking Down Mike Myers On Behalf Of Scottish Food

    Mike Myers has a lot to answer for. As a Scot adopted by America, I am reminded of this every time the conversation turns to food. “Scottish food? Isn’t that haggis? Gross!” is a typical exclamation from those Yanks who engage in said conversations with me. I’ve come to discover that their perception of…

  • Don’t Let Others Define You

    Don’t Let Others Define You

    When I was 22, I learned a lesson that has stayed with me my entire life. At the time it seemed like a small success, but in retrospect the mindset that came out of the situation is still with me today. #IfIWere22 again, I would make sure I realized this lesson then, rather than…

  • St. Louis Chef is the Face of Scottish Food in the US

    St. Louis Chef is the Face of Scottish Food in the US

    St. Louis chef, and Scottish immigrant, Alastair Nisbet is the face of Scottish food across the US and Canada in a new initiative by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government in the US is promoting 2015 as Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, and beginning in March a series of videos will be released…

  • Top 5 Ways to Destroy Your Effectiveness in PR. Is This You?

    Top 5 Ways to Destroy Your Effectiveness in PR. Is This You?

    We all want to be effective in our roles as PR professionals. But what dangerous practices, that are common in our industry, should we actively avoid? I have some suggestions on what the top five items to avoid are. Your top five might be the same, or you might have something to add to…

  • Big Folks, Heavy Stuff, and Fierce Competition

    Big Folks, Heavy Stuff, and Fierce Competition

    Since 2001, the St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival (SLSG) has been informing, entertaining and enlightening more and more people in the Midwest about the history, culture and contributions of Scotland. That success has now led to in the announcement that SLSG will host the Masters World Championship (MWC) of Scottish heavy athletics…

  • A Weekend of Scottish-ness in St. Louis

    A Weekend of Scottish-ness in St. Louis

    There are three big Scottish celebrations in St. Louis, the weekend of January 25, plus a visit from the British Government. Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet and the author of Auld Lang Syne, is celebrated each year by Scots around the world on Burns Night. It’s a night of kilts, haggis, scotch, toasts, speeches,…

  • Putting Edinburgh tech scene on the World map

    Putting Edinburgh tech scene on the World map

    We all take where we live for granted. I recall living 32 miles from London, and really not thinking that much about it. Or visiting Edinburgh, as I did every year for our annual “escape the clutches of the English” holiday, and walking past historic monuments and buildings without even a second glance. Now…