June is perhaps one of the busiest months in Scotland's year of food and drink and we don't want you to miss out on any of the exciting events that are happening up and down the country.
We've picked out six of the best for you to check out, showcasing everything from Scottish farming produce to small batch gin and locally sourced seafood.
Crail Food Festival 12 – 14 June
(Crail, Fife)
The highly anticipated food festival in Fife aims to showcase the very best in outstanding local produce and will involve more than 80 participants.
With a line up that contains a unique chocolate larder, a series of street food pop-ups, producers’ markets and top chefs including Michelin-starred Geoffrey Smeddle you'll be spoiled for choice.
The festival, which is in its fifth year, brings the picturesque Fife coastal village alive with a full weekend of activities across a number of venues.
Graham Anderson, the Event Manager said: “Crail Food Festival just keeps getting better and I’m delighted to see 2015’s programme taking shape with new companies lining up alongside our local businesses and many of Fife’s favourite producers.
We would like everyone to come along and find out what’s great about our local produce. As Scotland celebrates the Year of Food and Drink, the Crail Food Festival is truly offering a banquet for everyone of all ages!”
We recommend:
• The Producer Workshops at Crail Legion Hall on the Saturday. Providing an opportunity to get hands-on with food and drink, the workshops offers a chance to learning more about the produce that is available to sample and purchase over the weekend. It’s a place to meet local producers, share their story and of course, sample their wares.
• The Chocolate Larder at Crail Town Hall will be a fun way to celebrate Scottish chocolate with a range of interactive sessions from different chocolate producers and a chance to purchase some truly handmade artisan chocolates.
Advance tickets and reservations can be purchased from crailfoodfest.co.uk or by phoning 0871 220 01260
Scottish Juniper Festival 12-14th June
(Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1PL)
The Scottish Juniper Festival is returning to Scotland’s capital in June for the second consecutive year, celebrating World Gin Day 2015 with an exciting array of the most glorious gins both made in Scotland and further afield.
It'll be a great chance to find out what all the fuss is about with the UK's fastest growing spirit category. Sample from a guest list of exceptional gins including Pickering’s, Darnley’s view and Rock Rose from Scotland and No.3 Gin, Ophir and Portobello Road from England.
Martin Duffy, founder, Scottish Juniper Festival commented: “The Scottish Juniper Festival was launched last year and it was such a success we’ve decided to bring it back in 2015. Gin has always been a British classic but the gin scene is really thriving at the moment with so many new flavours and serves being championed by international, UK and Scottish gin brands. It’s a fantastic time for gin lovers with a whole new world of gin to explore and sample!
Tickets are on sale now and are available here.
We recommend:
• Mike McGINty's talk on gins and cocktails in Summerhall’s stunning one hundred year old Anatomy Lecture Theatre.
• Trying out as many of Scotland's wonderful new small batch gins as possible. With Rock Rose, Eden Mill, NB, Pickerings, Crossbill and more it's never been a better time to discover Scottish gin.
Fyne fest 12-14th June
(Argyll, Achadunan, Cairndow PA26 8BJ)
The 'wee beer, music and food festival' is back showcasing some of the amazing food and drink that Loch Fyne and its surrounding locale has to offer.
Held in the picturesque Glen Fyne, the festival offered over 150 of the best craft beers from near and afar last year and is hoping to have even more available this year. 30 live acts will play over the two days and there will be a vast array of food stalls offering everything from seafood to locally sourced venison.
We recommend:
• Enjoying the craft beer! Seriously, outside of an actual dedicated beer festival, this is one of the best selections of beer you'll come across and we aren't just referring to the excellent Fyne Ales (try the FyneBank and the Mills and Hills). In attendance will be Scotland's Alechemy, Loch Lomond and Fallen, as well as some of the bigger hitters from elsewhere (including the always amazing De Molen from the Netherlands).
• Sampling anything that Loch Fyne Oysters are offering at their stall, they really are that good!
Royal Highland Show 18 -21st June
(Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston)
The Royal Highland Show is the premier fixture in Scotland’s farming calendar. Running from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st June, the show is held at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, near Edinburgh. Attracting between 160,000 and 185,000 visitors annually, the showcase festival also sees around 2,000 exhibitors – with 5,000 livestock – compete to win prize tickets, trophies and cash prizes.
Celebrating its 175th anniversary – and coinciding with Scotland’s year of food and drink – this year’s rural extravaganza is set to be the biggest and most exciting yet.
We recommend:
• Scotland’s Larder Live will give visitors the chance to sample wares from more than 100 Scots producers. Taking over the show’s food hall, SLL will feature cookery demonstrations, talks and tastings as well as an abundance of the very best of Scottish produce.
• The Children’s Discovery Centre is a must-visit for children of all ages – there are interactive sessions which children can participate in as well as lots of things to do including milking a ‘cow’.
Check out our Royal Highland Show guide. You can purchase tickets for the event here.
Cakefest 21st June
(Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh)
Everyone loves cake right? What about free cake?
Cake Fest Edinburgh is aiming to build a giant edible map of the city including over 50 magnificent landmark buildings in cake! you can witness the marvel, explore the gardens and get the chance to sample some great produce from some of the wonderful local producers who'll be in attendance.
And yeah, we mentioned free cake right?
We recommend:
• Waiting around to 5pm for all the free cake
• Checking out the street food vendors and producers who'll be in attendance and trying out their excellent wares. Los Cardos Mexican, The Scottish Larder Tablet and Fudge, The Wee Chocolatier and The Spice Witch are just some of those who will be there.
Night Market 10th June
(The Balgrove Larder, St Andrews)
Love barbecues? Enjoy Al Fresco eating? Why not check out the Night Market's summer barbecue?
The wonderfully unique Night Market - showcasing the best local produce and craft - returns to Balgove Larder near St Andrews this summer.
Five monthly - including this month's - ‘Night Markets’ are set to take place in St Andrews this summer. The markets will offer entertainment, local crafts, fresh food and drink from Balgove Larder as well as a selection of other producers. Eden Mill will also be on hand with its excellent selection of beer and gin.
We recommend:
• Check out Eden Mills, one of the most interesting brewery/distilleries around. They are producing some cracking beer and gin at the moment, perfect for accompanying all of the amazing food on offer.