This month features Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight. Next year, is the Year of Scotland Food & Drink 2015. So you will be right in thinking that Scotland has a wealth of culinary delights to celebrate.
Recently, we revealed a treasure trove of foodie gems in Perthshire. In this article we focus on the Food & Drink Fortnight festival, which takes place from September 6 to 21.
A campervan or motorhome trips offers the perfect transport for visiting a few highlights of this annual foodie fest.
10 top Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight events
Hooray Haggis
Sept 12, 2014
The Loch Ness Inn offers a day of all things “haggisy” with first tastes for beginners and many different tastes for haggis fans. At the Loch Ness Inn, Lewiston, Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire. Tel: 01456 450991.
Best of the West
Sept 13 to 14
A family-friendly festival in the grounds of Inveraray Castle offering food, drink, art and crafts, entertainment and music from the West of Scotland.
One of the big parts of this festival is the Food from Argyll food tent where visitors can sample Loch Fyne Oysters, Inverawe Salmon, Arran ice creams, Inveraray Castle home-baking, Real MacKay’s famous stovies, Bumble Puddings and homeground coffee, among others.
Local drink is equally well represented, including whiskies and beers, such as Fyne Ales. And a fantastic line-up of live music includes Capercaillie, Skerryvore and Skipinnish.
Huntly Beer Festival, Aberdeenshire
Sept 5 to 7
The Beer Festival offers drink and music in one great event. The festival takes place at the Gordon Arms Hotel on the Square in Huntly. There will be up to 20 beers and real ales available on tap each day, including Orkney Brewers, Deeside Brewery, Spey Valley Brewers and Windswept.
The World Jampionships
Sept 6
Jam makers of the world unite at the World Jampionships! Everyone is welcome to enter and September is the day of reckoning.
Watch as celebrity chef Nick Nairn will presents the trophies in a host of categories, such as Artisan; Home-made; First Time Entrants; One Jammy Man; Team Effort and Junior Jam Makers. This event takes place as part of the Dundee Flower and Food Festival.
Trossachs Beer Festival
Until Sept 14
The 8th annual Real Ale festival offers beer tasting, locally produced guest real ales, great food and folk music on Friday and Saturday nights at The Lade Inn, Kilmahog, Callander in Perthshire. Tel: 01877 330152.
Scottish Game Demo & Dine
Sept 10, 5.45pm – 9.30pm
Scotland is home to some of the world’s best game. The chefs at this event at Cook School Scotland, Kilmarnock, will create a selection of recipes that utilise this abundant larder of wild game.
Enjoy a glass of wine while the chef demonstrates how to prepare and cook the meat along with the perfect accompaniments. You’ll have the chance to taste the dishes throughout the evening before moving to the dining room to enjoy a two-course meal served with wine.
Price is £45. Find out more and book at: Cook School
Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Sept 6 to 7
Enjoy two days of free food and drink on the banks of Loch Lomond and set within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. There will be food stalls, family entertainment, an ale tent, cookery demos, live music and much more.
Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
LOCHtoberfest
Sept 6 to 7
A new feature at Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival is Lochtoberfest (in September!). The Real Ale Festival on the Loch is another chance to sample cask pumped Scottish ales.
See Lochtoberfest
Craft Beer Rising
Sept 19 to 21
Offering a blend of craft beer, street food and music, Craft Beer Rising is hosted in collaboration with Drygate Brewing Co. The event leads a new wave of cultural craft beer festivals that celebrate street food, music and beer under one roof.
Festival goers can sample up to 200 beers from 45 local and international breweries, including Tempest Brew Co, Siren, Beavertown, Thistly Cross Cider, Pilot Brew Co and Harbour.
In addition to the festival’s beer and street food offering, there will be a programme of talks and demonstrations, such as live brewing from a collective of breweries.
Tickets for Craft Beer Rising at Drygate are on sale now for £20 from Craft Beer Rising.
Make Your Own Chocolate Bars
Sept 6
Learn how to create luxury chocolate bars at the Cocoa Black Chocolate & Pastry School in Peebles, south of Edinburgh. Developed by UK World Chocolate Master Ruth Hinks, the two-hour chocolate class is a delicious introduction to chocolate bars.
The cost is £50.00 for two hours. See Cocoa Black.
This is just 10 of the many events taking place as part of Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight. Check out the others on-line.