Scottish Food News – September 2013

This month's food news is brought to you by the letters F and S, and the concept of the online readers' survey

Feature by Peter Simpson | 02 Sep 2013

Before we begin, just thought we’d mention that our third annual Food and Drink Survey is underway, get the awkward plug out of the way early. Anyway, we start this month on the streets of Glasgow, with the second Street Feastival organised by Scottish social network upstarts Kiltr. Luckily for you, Kiltr’s skills extend beyond puns, and their first event saw the likes of Stravaigin, Hanoi Bike Shop and Dear Green Roasters all set up (temporary) shop at the Barras, so expect them to bring together a similarly motley crew this time around. See, the internet is good for something other than cat .gifs and interactive online food surveys after all. Barras Art and Design Centre, 21-22 Sep

From street food to Real Foods, and the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Edinburgh institution that’s been bringing joy, intrigue, and a wide range of exotic bits and pieces into our lives for half a century. Real Foods are marking the anniversary in a number of ways – surprise Noel Edmonds-style visits to local businesses with healthy snacks, a free online recipe guide with loads of advice on eating right, and a showpiece Real Foods Day with a whole load of other events which they plan to grow into an annual occurrence. If they need any advice, the team behind the third annual Skinny Food and Drink Survey (voting open now!) are happy to help. Real Foods, Broughton St and Brougham St, 7 Sep

A day-long celebration is one thing, but in volume terms it has nothing on Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight. We don’t have the word count to sneak-diss every event, so we’ve picked out a couple to watch for. Slow Food Edinburgh’s 1000 Gardens in Africa event at the Botanic Gardens gets a heartwarming vote, detailing a project to bring the aforementioned gardens to African schools. Prepare to feel uplifted by the power of the human spirit while taking in the music and grabbing a snack. Royal Botanic Gardens, Inverleith Row, 7-8 Sep

From earnest to excessive, and The Great Scottish Braves Harvest Chilli Festival. It’s got it all – brilliant premise, cracking name, it’s at a flipping palace, and the exhibitor list seals the deal. Chilli vodka? Yep. Chilli cola? Shouldn’t be a thing, but yeah. ‘Chilli cheese bombs’? Um… yes. Incredibly, it’s a yes. As for the centrepiece event, you guessed it – it’s a chilli-eating competition. Bit obvious, but it does remind us that no matter the event there must be a winner, even in our annual Food and Drink Survey, open now, vote at tinyurl.com/foodsurveyscotland, don’t think we’ve mentioned that yet. Scone Palace nr Perth, 21-22 Sep, £6

 

tinyurl.com/foodsurveyscotland