Food News – November 2011

Celeb-spotting, WWII fighter pilots, and tasty cakes; it can only be November's Food News.

Feature by Peter Simpson | 31 Oct 2011

We begin this month by mentioning CELEBRITIES in the hope that you will be enticed into reading on. Why mention CELEBRITIES? Because A-list magnet and purveyor of healthy foodstuffs Whole Foods Market is opening its first Scottish branch in Giffnock, Glasgow this month. If past form is anything to go by, we can expect to see Scotland's celebs being papped while blearily stumbling through Whole Foods' car park as we head in to pore over myriad varieties of hummus.

If you enjoy healthy and ethically-sourced food but dislike soap stars and the paparazzi, the Fife Diet's Food Revolt conference will be right up your street. Speakers from across Europe will be on hand to pass on tips on how to be good to your fellow man and the planet, as well as pointing out that eating out-of-season fruit with more air miles than Biggles might not be a great idea.

Now, gang names. Some put you right off joining, while others can't help reel you in. The Wine Gang falls into camp number two. Sadly, you can't join – you'd have to be one of the UK's top wine critics and besides, they're full – but you can scope out the dress code and any secret handshakes at their Christmas wine fair. You can also try a huge range of wines, take part in masterclasses, and go for a 'wine walk'. You won't even have to rough anyone up. We assume.

There's even less chance of roughhousing at Make It Glasgow's cupcake decoration classes. Instead you'll discover the tricks and nuances needed to make your cakes as twee and cutesy as possible, rather than looking as though they've been sat on whilst in the oven. And if that doesn't take your fancy, Bar Gandolfi in the Merchant City are hosting an art exhibition entirely dedicated to the Tunnocks teacake. For the second time in as many months, we must point out that this is not a misprint and that this exhibition will actually take place. On that note we'll see you next month, in the bastion of sanity and reasonable behaviour that is the Christmas season.

Whole Foods Market, Giffnock opens Nov 16; Food Revolt, Kinghorn Community Centre, Nov 12, free tickets from foodrevolt.eventbrite.com; The Wine Gang Christmas Fair, Merchant's Hall, Hanover St, Edinburgh, Nov 12, £20; Cupcake Decoration, Make It Glasgow, 3 Osborne St, various dates, £20; Gandolfi Loves Tunnocks, Bar Gandolfi, 64 Albion St, free.