Food News – June 2012

The crazy thing about food news is that it seems to come from all over the country. While others may malign those of you from outside the two real cities, this column will always attempt to find a way to at least include you hilarious country folk in the conversation.

With that in mind, we present the Aberdeen International Street Market at the soon-to-be-revamped-for-no-good-reason Union Terrace Gardens. 70 stalls from all over Europe will feature produce and other fun food-based stuff from across the continent, as well as the usual market mix of tasting samples to misappropriate, and over-enthusiastic vendors' elbows to dodge.

This month's West End festival throws up a range of food events in Glasgow. The Three Judges (the pub, not a literal trio of judges) are celebrating the occasion with four separate small-scale beer festivals over the four weekends of June. From Sussex's Dark Star through to local brewers such as Kelburn and Atlas, there's plenty of choice to impotently navigate before breaking down under the pressure and asking for 'a nice beer, please'.

From beer to cake, and one of those events that provides the perfect mix of egregious gluttony and gratifying contribution to charity. Firebird plays host to a mass bake-off between the city's bars and restaurants in aid of Yorkhill Hospital’s radio station. All they need you to do is turn up, do your bit for charity, and eat tasty cake whilst being unnecessarily harsh with your marking to ensure a clear winner. Oh, and the name of the event? 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desserts'. Charity!

From good deeds unto men in Glasgow to boozing it up in Edinburgh, as Bon Vivant play host to a night of wine and spicy food. If you've ever wanted to know which wine you should be having with your burrito, or simply need to find an alternative to a nice calming glass of milk for your next curry then this could be the event for you. Worst case scenario, you have some nibbles and a few drinks whilst feeling superior.

Now, to this month's main event. Ladies and gentlemen, a pause please for the 2012 Scottish Real Ale Festival. Exclusive festival-only ciders from Edinburgh brewers. The looming threat of 'traditional' music after last year's deployment of an Oompah band on an unsuspecting public. Over 175 real ales under one oversized roof. Food news does indeed rain in from all over the place, but some of it seems designed to stop you from even finding your way home.