Scottish Food News – October 2016

We kick off this month in Edinburgh, with some highly pertinent political chat from Bangladeshi economist Farida Akhter. Monsanto on Trial looks at the corporation's impact on farming and biodiversity – there's also an exhibition by award-winning photographer Jordi Cirera looking at Indian and Bangladeshi farmers taking on the agricultural giant. 9 Oct, 3pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny St.

Also in Edinburgh this month, Nightcap host Buffalo Trace's Master Blender Drew Mayville for a night of bourbon and chat. There'll be rare bourbons from BT's collection, a trio of bourbon-based cocktails, barbecue from Nightcap kitchen residents Feed and more. Plenty to be getting on with, there. 7 Oct, 7pm, 3 York Pl, £25, tickets via Eventbrite

Next up, a pair of Edinburgh film festivals with super-special foodie events. First is Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, screening a trio of foodie short films tackling sustainability and the environmental impact of high-end dining. The screenings are followed by a wine tasting with tapas from top-notch seafood restaurant Ondine – plenty of reasons to hang around for a post-screening chat. 12 Oct, 6pm, George Square Lecture Theatre, £25, tickets via edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com

For Africa in Motion, Serenity Cafe host a North African Feast consisting of film and food from across the region. There's a three course meal consisting of dishes from Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, plus a trio of short films in Arabic, Tunisian and French to get stuck into. 31 Oct, 7pm, 8 Jacksons Entry, £12, tickets via Eventbrite

Over in Glasgow, the Brigtoun Soda Lab project plays host to an evening of soft drink-inspired dining and chat this month. The Soda Lab is aiming to bring food and drink manufacturing back to the East End, with organic soft drinks made with locally-produced and procured ingredients. Expect a pay-what-you-feel dinner looking at ‘sugar flavour profiles, fermentation methods and the healing qualities of botanically brewed drinks.’ 18 Oct, 7pm, MILK Cafe, 452 Victoria Rd, free (ticketed); tickets via CCA box office. 

Also this month, as part of the ongoing Cooking Pot project, L. Sasha Gora takes on the issues of global population movement and change through the best possible medium – cake. The North, The Nordic and the New Stories about an Icelandic cake looks at the history of the vínarterta, an Icelandic sweet particularly popular among North American diaspora communities. Prepare to learn what happens when two groups simultaneously try to claim ownership over the same recipe, and then hopefully taste the results. 31 Oct, 5.30pm, Bakery47, 47 Victoria Rd, free (ticketed), tickets via CCA box office.

Oh, and before we forget, voting is well underway in The Skinny Food and Drink Survey. Click here to cast your votes for your foodie favourites – you have until the end of November. Go on.