Scotland Food News – May 2013

Summer might be on the way, and we can tell because this month's Food News is shot through with optimism and cheer. Never would have seen that in February, I tell you. Kicking off this month it's Cinco de Mayo, the annual Mexican-American celebration of all things Mexican-American. And where to go for this celebration of Mexican-American culture and cuisine? Glasgow, of course! The Grosvenor Cafe have a Mex-themed menu and plenty of margaritas and similar cocktails waiting, so go eat, drink and celebrate your people's victory over the French at Puebla in 1862. Take that, the French! Grosvenor Cafe, Ashton Lane, 5 May, all day.

If you fancy an anniversary-themed food and drink celebration that’s somewhat closer to home, Hendersons have just the thing. The vegetarian monolith has been on the go for 50 years in Edinburgh, and they’re celebrating with a 50-day festival to celebrate. It all kicks off at the end of this month, with a couple of key dates to point out. Sunday 26 May sees the festival’s Back to ’63 launch party, with a first hour cocktail list at 1963’s prices. Whether you'll be saying “wow that’s cheap” or “I have no idea what ‘one-and-six’ means, just give me some change” we can’t say, but we’re sure it’ll be a blast.

Then there’s the Hendersons Family Takeover on the 30th, where various members of the Henderson clan will cram into the restaurant’s kitchen and do their best to upstage each other with their cooking. As someone with four competitive and niggly siblings, I feel that this plan can only end well. Both events at Hendersons, Hanover St, Edinburgh; hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk

From family feuds to whisky, and the return of the Whisky Stramash. Returning to Surgeons’ Hall for more bizarre whisky-fuelled hijinks, storytelling, ‘sensory experiences,’ an on-site barber and whiskies from the likes of AnCnoc, Laphroaig and Bunnahabhain are all on the menu for the event’s second year. Plus this time around, you’ll get your own branded glass as well. That’s the kind of improvement we like to see, the addition of free tableware. Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh, 25-26 May, £26/session.

And from whisky in a surgery to beer in a dissection hall, with Summer(beer)hall, Summerhall's take on the classic European booze-up (that is to say, lots of drinking in a large room with pretzels and musicians). They have plenty of beer thanks to their on-site brewery and a host of guest brews, they've arranged an array of things to keep you occupied like talks and pop-up events, and they even have a beer garden. Not ‘outside’ or ‘over there,’ but a beer garden. Summer’s here folks, let’s make the most of it before it starts snowing again. Summer(beer)hall, Summerhall Place, Edinburgh, 24-25 May, £5-8