Celebrating Dundee's food and flowers

Dundee’s Flower and Food Festival is home to major Scottish, British and global competitions. It’s the biggest competitive flower show in Scotland, prizes will be awarded to the Begonia Champion of Britain, and the World and Scottish Potato Championships, World Gladioli Championship, and the Scottish Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society Annual Show all take place in Dundee. For some, the competitions are serious business, for others a fun way to pursue a hobby, but there’s plenty to see across this three day spectacle.

The festival is split into key areas and marquees so visitors can target their interests and passions. The Food Fair is always a huge draw, with around forty trade stands and market stalls offering produce from both regional and national suppliers, for sale and for tasting. Visitors wishing to take home the best of the local larder should have lots of flavours and producers to choose between.

The food competitions are at the heart of the Dundee festival and tap into the city’s gastronomic heritage. Anyone can enter but the criteria is strict. First off, the Dundee Cake, known for its juicy sultanas and subtle flavour of Seville orange, must be decorated with the iconic blanched whole almonds. Judging by the Baker Trade of Dundee will ascertain a worthy winner. Another sought after title is the Scotch Broth Champion, sponsored by Fraser’s Fruit and Veg. Again, the ingredients are specific because tradition is at the heart of these fine Scottish dishes.

This year the Food Fair welcomes chefs Gary Maclean, Nick Nairn and Tony Singh. Gary, who originates from Glasgow, was recently crowned ‘MasterChef: The Professionals Champion 2016’. He beat 47 professional chefs to put his talent, and the culinary talent of Scotland, firmly on the map. All three chefs will be sharing tips on getting the most out of the Scottish larder.

Tony Singh, of ‘Tony’s Table’, ‘Roti’ and ‘Oloroso’, says: “The Dundee Flower and Food Festival is a highlight in my calendar since I first attended three years ago. It’s blooming wonderful! To see the perfection attained by the growers and the knowledge that is shared by them (my succulents have been saved with help from Sheila Gibbs Cactus). And then there are the food producers, using the best of the Scotland's larder with passion, it’s just a great event.”

Over in the floral marquee, gardener Jim McColl, of the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden fame, will be on stage on September 2 to present demonstrations and answer green-fingered questions. Guests can peruse a variety of nurseries selling a wide range of plants, in addition gardeners will be able to seek out advice and inspiration though attending a series of talks and demonstrations over the weekend, tapping into the talents of many of the country's national and local horticultural societies and national horticultural trade exhibitors.

For guests wishing to browse and admire the skills of producers then the exhibition marquee will house some of the finest flowers and vegetables in Scotland. A new introduction is the British Begonia Society 12 Board Championships: a bright display of orange, red, white and yellow begonias. A lot of judging will be carried out over the weekend: cut flowers, pot plants, vegetables, fruit, floral art, baking, preserves, wine, honey, handcrafts and a beekeepers section. The latter focuses on the beekeepers’ rich produce, from the honey itself, to beeswax products, honey gingerbread, spiced honey and almond cake, honey flapjacks, honey cake and honey sweets/chocolate.

Family is clearly at the heart of the event. This year the festival has combined the woodlands marquee and the children's activity marquee to offer a range of environmental stalls and activities, including feathered guests from Elite Birds of Prey, and horses from Highland Horse Loggers demonstrating their skills throughout the weekend. At the centre of the woodlands marquee is a reconstruction of Dundee Law with the opportunity for children to discover fossils on their own. The Forestry Commission, SNH, Tayside Biodiversity project, The Dundee Urban Orchard Project, Tayside Bat Group and Ninewells Community Garden are also on hand.

Children can enter multiple competitions that encourage creativity and indirectly teach them about local landmarks and history. Competitions include building a model of Balgarthno Stone Circle with recycled materials, creating a finger-paint picture of blue flowers, and assembling an arrangement of blue flowers and grasses in a personally decorated jam jar. The theme colour of the year is blue, and much inspiration for the events and competitions has been taken from Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. To this end one of the headlining guests to entertain the children is actor Andy Day, better known as ‘Andy’ from ‘Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures’. On Sunday, September 3, on the festival’s music stage, he’ll be starring in his family show, ‘Andy’s Dino Raps’.

“I love engaging children in the flora and fauna around them, and teaching them about our prehistoric planet," says Andy, "As it’s Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology it’s great to have Dundee in the diary. I’m looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for all things Dinosaurrific with the kids at the festival.”

If the excitement of dinosaurs is too much then perhaps a gentle spot of shopping in the craft or lifestyle narquees appeals: here a range of local artists and creatives will be selling their wares. Or head to the beer tent for a breather. This year the beer is supplied by Jaw Brew, a family-run microbrewery from Glasgow established in 2014. Beers on offer will include Spinnaker, Drift, Fathom, Surf and Wave. From food and drink, to begonias, beer and birds of prey, Dundee is in full bloom.

www.dundeeflowerandfoodfestival.com