Loch Leven's Larder

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

From relatively straightforward beginnings two years ago, the farm shop and café on Channel Farm near Milnathort has developed prodigiously with a large gift shop and food hall added to the original café, itself now extended to seat some 60 indoors. If it weren't for the baskets of dirty carrots and leeks from the home farm you'd think it was Kinross-shire's version of the House of Bruar. If a glimpse at the well-stocked farm shop didn't betray it, this is a venue taking local sourcing and home cooking seriously, not just for the environmental advantages but also freshness and taste, as well as the local economy. This is further buoyed by the army of staff who keep everything ticking over neatly. The colourful standing menu with breakfasts, sandwiches and baked potatoes is supplemented by daily specials of two soups and a quiche or other main, or a roast for Sunday lunch. There's also a serious line-up of cakes and a decent kids' menu. Not only are the views great, but you can take paths past pens of farm animals and down to the shores of Loch Leven, where you can link up with the route leading all the way around the loch. Keep an eye out too for some broad-thinking events at the larder, including bread making workshops for kids.

• High point: Real evidence of really local food
• Low point: The barn's barn-like acoustics