Dundee Flower and Food Festival

How was the Festival for you?

Su Nicoll — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:20:55 +0000

Well, the Festival may be over for another year but we are already planning for 2010! Tell us what you thought of the Festival and you could be the lucky winner of a £25 Marks & Spencer Gift Card!

Click here to complete our online survey…

Open on Saturday and Sunday!

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:43:26 +0000

We’ve been given the go-ahead for the Festival to be open on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September. We apologise again for the inconvenience of having to close to the public on Friday 4th due to the constant rainfall over the previous 48 hours.

This is the first time in the history of Flower and Food Festival that it has been shut because of the weather. Please note that members of the public who have purchased tickets for today can use these tickets on either the Saturday or Sunday. But if for any reason the tickets cannot be used on these days, a full refund will be given.

We hope to see you there on Saturday and Sunday!

Programme of events

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:23:15 +0000

Programme for 2010 coming soon. Meanwhile, if you want to take a look at what was on offer in 2009, click here.

Just a few days to go!

Su Nicoll — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:18:08 +0000

Just a few days until the start of this year’s Dundee Flower and Food Festival at Camperdown Park, Dundee. A great day out for the whole family and accompanied kids-go-FREE!.

Don’t give up on Summer just yet!

September is here, the kids are back at school and Autumn is trying to make an early appearance. We won’t let it! Not until we’ve enjoyed this weekend’s Dundee Flower and Food Festival.

You’ll be glad to hear that the recent rain hasn’t dampened the organiser’s and participants enthusiasm. Right now the finishing touches are being made to the marquees and exhibits, and through Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning, the horticultural exhibitors will set up their displays to be at their best for the weekend’s visitors.

Weather update

Great news! Sure it’s been raining but somewhat less than forecast and the weekend is set to be dry.

The best of Scottish food and drink

This year’s Festival will mark the launch of Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight. Celebrity chef Nick Nairn along with some of Scotland’s top chefs including chef and food columnist Geoffrey Smeddle from The Peat Inn, will demonstrate how to cook like a professional. You’ll also be able to taste and buy from the many food and drink exhibitors.

Visit the Real Ale Tent to sample award winning Scottish beers. Check out the Famous Grouse Whisky Bar to sample and learn what’s possible with whisky. And don’t miss the opportunity to sample locally produced wine in the main marquee.

The gardeners festival

To support the gardening interest broadcaster Freida Morrison and her team will be on hand throughout the weekend to answer gardeners questions. Gardening enthusiasts can join the audience for a recording of BBC Scotland’s Potting Shed at 2:00pm, on Friday. Attractions also include the Garden Fair, Garden Design, the Floral Hall and Floral Art.

Keeping the whole family entertained

There’s something for everyone at this years Festival. The Children’s Marquee theme is gold throughout the ages with the focal point of a pyramid, pharaoh’s tomb and areas of desert and delta plants, many with a golden hue. Children can also dig for potatoes in an Inca plot.

Visit the Inside / Outside Garden to appreciate what we can all do, including children, to make our spaces more ‘Green’.
See all things wood in the Woodlands 4 Yew Marquee including crafts and enjoy a shot on an interactive forest bike ride.

A variety of entertainment will take to the music stage throughout the weekend including on Saturday groups representing the October Fest-n-Furious event.

Still time to BOOK-n-SAVE!

If you haven’t bought tickets you can still book online up to midnight on Thursday 3rd September and save £2 on the standard gate price. Under 16’s go FREE. Tickets will be valid for the Friday, Saturday or Sunday – you choose your day. Buy a 3 day pass and get one day FREE for £14 (£12 senior citizens and concessions).
Book your discount tickets now – print your booking reference – and present it at the Festival Office adjacent to the entrance.

Click here and book your saver advance tickets now!

Robert Tiffin, The Sizzling Scot, Edinburgh

admin — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:32:31 +0000

Robert Tiffin has worked all over the world, and early in his career he was on Nantucket Island, off Cape Cod, cooking with fresh produce straight from the area’s famous fishing fleet. Robert spent two formative years in Denmark honing his craft with the fantastic team at the Globen Flakket Restaurant. His greatest influence is Alan Yau, the creator of Hakkasan, for his sheer self belief, tenacity and attention to detail.
Web: www.sizzlingscot.co.uk

Walter McCrindle, Dundee College

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:18:48 +0000

Dundee College chef lecturer Walter McCrindle’s cookery demonstrations, using the best of local produce to create tasty and healthy dishes, have become a firm favourite at the Flower and Food Festival.

Bruce Price, Apex Hotels, Dundee, Edinburgh and London

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:15:46 +0000

Bruce is the Executive Chef for the Apex Hotels group, and has responsibility for overseeing the menus and kitchens in their hotels in Dundee, Edinburgh and London. He started his career as an Apprentice Chef at the Hermitage Hotel at Mount Cook in New Zealand. He has won a number of awards throughout his career, and has also been a competition judge on many occasions.
Web: www.apexhotels.co.uk

David Rutter, Dundee College

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:12:20 +0000

David started as a commis chef at the Isle of Skye Hotel, then worked at the Tayside Hotel in Stanley and Kinfauns Castle, where he was promoted to chef de partie. In 2003 he went to Australia for a year, then worked at the Seafood Restaurant in St Andrews before a spell working in the Channel Islands. David started working at Dundee College while working as senior chef de partie at Murrayshall House Hotel, then became a full-time member of the College staff.

Daniel Radtke, Dundee College

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:05:54 +0000

Daniel started working as a chef in 1989 in Germany and worked in several local Hotels and restaurants, including in the Michelin-starred restaurant “Landhaus Scherrer” in Hamburg, he then came to Britain in 1994 and worked for Stakis / Hilton Hotels in Keswick and Dunkeld. He worked in Gleneagles Hotel over the 2005 G8 summit and most recently as Senior Sous Chef in the Apex Hotel Dundee, before starting as a chef lecturer in Dundee College.

Charles Lockley, Boath House

Admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:59:41 +0000

Charles has taken the hotel to a coveted Michelin Star and 4AA rosettes, placing the restaurant among the top four in Scotland and securing its status as one of the most notable in Britain. Charles was also named the 2009 Scottish Chef of the Year at the Scottish Chef Awards.

Charles and Boath House owners Wendy and Don Matheson are very proud of the hotel’s kitchen gardens which provide much of the organic fruit, herbs and vegetables for the restaurant. Honey comes from their own bee hives and local suppliers provide high quality seafood (caught and delivered daily by West Coast fisherman), as well as meat and cheeses sourced from a nearby organic dairy.

Charles has a unique style and approach and his passion, dedication and confidence all shine through in his dishes. He has also introduced wild foods into his menus using traditionally foraged ingredients such as wild mushrooms and herbs.