Scottish Food News – December 2016

We start with the return of The Bon Noël at the Merchants' Hall in Edinburgh. The drinks fair from the combined minds behind the Bon Vivant and the Devil's Advocate promises hundreds of options from right across the boozy spectrum, as well as a pop-up cocktail bar and a series of cocktail masterclasses to help you get up to speed ahead of party season. 2 Dec, 6-9pm, 22 Hanover St, £16.50.

Next up, it's time to say happy birthday to Finland! Finnish Independence Day is celebrated at Scandinavian cafe-bar Akva with a Finnish buffet, live music, a live-stream of the big Linnanjuhlat bash in Helsinki, plus the chance to try out Lonkero (the much-loved Finnish gin and grapefruit concoction) and Salmari, the "black licorice and cough medicine" flavour liqueur. Well, it'd be rude not to. 6 Dec, 6-11pm, 129 Fountainbridge, £21.50.

Over in Glasgow, it's time to celebrate another landmark day. Repeal Day marks the end of prohibition in the United States, and the Liquid Academy cocktail school are celebrating the end of the madness with a night of 1930s style boozing and jazz in the recently-refurbed Savings Bank building on Bridge St. 8 Dec, 7pm-1am, 67 Bridge St, £20. A Glasgow stalwart making its Edinburgh bow this month, Street Food Putter Club combines burgers and Korean street food and drinks from Harviestoun and Thistly Cross with the wonders of the mini golf course. Burger in one hand, golf bat in the other; you'll be scoring golf goals in no time. 10 Dec, 1pm, The Bread Factory, 4 Anderson Pl, £6.

Also this month, it's the Scottish Chocolate Festival. If you're looking for somewhere to find a load of edible presents, or just somewhere to hide from the perils of Christmas shopping while stuffing your face with delicious sugary treats, this is the place to be. Chocolate workshops? Check. Chocolate cocktails? Mmm-hmm. Hot chocolate? Not just one hot chocolate, but a whole bar full of them. Plus a string of tastings, a chocolate school, plus a whole host of presumably-non-chocolate craft goods to bulk out your presents. 17 & 18 Dec, 11am-7pm, 4 Anderson Pl, £10.50.

And for a final festive treat, The Pitt street food market are branching out from their Leith home with a seven-day residency at New Waverley Arches next to Waverley train station. Expect a collection of the country's best street food traders all together in one super-handy location, offering the chance to take a suitably arms-length look at the bright lights and big sandwiches of the Princes Street Gardens Christmas extravaganza. From 14 Dec.