Chef Tom Kitchin Explores the Wonders of Scottish Produce in GQ x Lexus Doc

International magazine GQ and luxury vehicle brand Lexus have launched the latest film in their ‘Journeys in Taste’ documentary series, taking viewers on a culinary journey through the Scottish landscape with Michelin starred chef, Tom Kitchin. 

The stunning film sees Tom, known for his skilled reinventions of Scottish cuisine, exploring all that the country has to offer - fishing in the Scottish Borders, foraging on the outskirts of Edinburgh, visiting a distillery near Stirling, driving across the north of Glasgow - whilst proving that being a chef is more than just a job, but a complete way of life. In order to expertly capture the striking vistas of Scotland, GQ publisher Condé Nast turned to UK-wide production service company LS Productions for their extensive knowledge of locations around Edinburgh - where Tom and his restaurants are based - and beyond. 

LS Productions was originally brought on board prior to the Coronavirus pandemic to service the shoot. After production was moved from York, the team worked closely with Condé Nast to revise the initial approach, relocating the shoot to Scotland. With the creative constantly evolving to encompass the various activities showcased in the spot, LS Productions oversaw travel over long distances and extensive unit moves, ensuring all operations were within the parameters of Covid safety. 

Shooting took place across the Central Belt of Scotland, close to crew bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow. With over 14 years of experience in the area, LS Productions were able to source the perfect backdrop for Tom’s driving scenes through the North of Glasgow, recognising that the epic landscapes of the Trossachs lent themselves perfectly to the shoot. In order to achieve this, the team liaised with councils in extremely tight turnaround times, securing road permissions for the driving shots. 

Beyond this, the team were also required to pull together a number of activities at short notice, including a game bird drive, fly-fishing, mushroom and bramble foraging, and cooking over the fire. Such activities saw LS Productions use their expertise to source specialist equipment and crew, ranging from a precision driver and smoke technician to forager and beaters in full livery for the game bird drive. Previous experience of shooting in distilleries even allowed the team to gain access at short notice to a working distillery’s workhouse space - the setting of Tom’s dramatic barrel breaking scene. 

Marii Stoltsen, producer at LS Productions, comments: “Authenticity was really important for this film. Beyond sourcing multiple locations, crew, and equipment, we worked directly with a number of Tom’s own kitchen suppliers and shot right at the heart of where their produce is sourced - whether this meant foraging for wild mushrooms or using local ghillie to find the best fishing spot. Whilst the pandemic meant that initial plans were affected, we employed our extensive local knowledge to accommodate changes without affecting the smooth running of the production. It was great to have Tom on board and really showcase the fantastic locations on offer in Scotland.”

Senior producer at Condé Nast International, Jude Spour, adds: “LS Productions bring incredible value to a project. They were the perfect fit for us on a recent shoot in the UK - the whole of the visiting team were impressed by the level of service provided. Their knowledge and efficiency during planning meant we could make the most effective use of our time and budget. The management of Covid measures was exemplary - everyone felt safe on set. The three-day shoot went smoothly and we can’t wait to come back to Scotland.”

‘Refining Taste’ is available to watch now on the GQ website and YouTube channel.