Flavour Fortnight 2012 Launched

Jun 29 2012 by Susan Bryden, Dumfries Standard Friday

JAMES WITHERS, Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, launched the programme for Flavour Fortnight 2012 at the Royal Highland Show last week.

James joined Dumfries and Galloway chef Russell Pearce of Brodie’s of Moffat in the Cookery Theatre to help Russell prepare a selection of dishes that will feature in the Brodie’s Flavour Fortnight menu.

Flavour Fortnight is Dumfries and Galloway’s annual food festival which this year takes place from August 25 to September 9.

The 2012 programme includes over 100 listings and the festival is organised by Dumfries and Galloway food group Savour the Flavours. 2012 marks Flavour Fortnight’s third year and already it is considered one of Scotland’s most important food festivals, with hundreds of Dumfries and Galloway food and drink businesses hosting and participating in a diverse programme of events and activities.

James Withers said: “Scotland’s growing reputation as A Land of Food and Drink wouldn’t be developing in the way it is if it wasn’t for the fantastic larders in some of our regions.

“The work being done in Dumfries and Galloway, in particular Flavour Fortnight which puts produce from the area centre stage, means that Scottish food and drink is getting some of the recognition it deserves.

“I am delighted to support Flavour Fortnight and equally delighted that the Royal Highland Show has presented the ideal opportunity for Dumfries and Galloway to shine - I can’t wait to sample some of the superb food and drink on offer in the cookery theatre and elsewhere in the Food Hall.”

Flavour Fortnight is funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council and EventScotland. Councillor Ian Carruthers, chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning, housing and environment committee said: “With over 200 individual businesses taking part in events across the whole fortnight; Flavour Fortnight not only has a direct benefit in raising the profile of Dumfries and Galloway as a food tourism destination but also directly benefits the businesses taking part.”

Highlights from the 2012 programme include a gourmet foraging event, artisan bakery courses, a behind the scenes tour of the most cow friendly dairy in the world, brewery tours, ice cream, cake making workshops, a wild food beach party, an opportunity to meet the cattle favoured by Gordon Ramsay’s top chefs, tours of BBC’s Food Producer of the Year 2011, a masterchef Masterclass, a world champion pie maker challenge, steak nights, salmon smoking demonstrations, trout fishing, venison farm walk, rose veal demonstration, chocolate making workshops and a delicious selection of dining events and farmers’ markets.

Liz Ramsay of Savour the Flavours, title sponsor of the Royal Highland Show Cookery Theatre and organisers of Flavour Fortnight said: “I’m thrilled that James has been able to join us to launch Flavour Fortnight.

“I’m delighted that we can introduce visitors to the Royal Highland Show to the delicious line up of events on offer later in the summer. Our local food and drink industry has created an inspiring programme of delicious events that showcase the very best of Dumfries and Galloway’s larder.”

The Flavour Fortnight 2012 programme of events is available across Dumfries and Galloway from next week and copies can be requested via www.flavourfortnight.co.uk. The full programme is also available to view online.