Chef Douglas Smith has been impressing the food critics with his cooking talents for almost 20 years.

He has won a string of national awards and cooked for a host of VIP diners.

Now one of Scotland's most accomplished chefs, Douglas has taken the bold step of opening his own café-bar-brasserie - Saffy's - in the heart of Ayr.

A glance at some of the comments he inspired while head chef at Enterkine House and McCallum's Oyster Bar only serve to confirm his status as one of the country's most exciting culinary talents.

"Winning awards and receiving praise from the critics is gratifying," says Douglas, "but as chef/proprietor at Saffy's I have another audience to impress - the customers."