Food festivals

Diving straight in, this weekend sees the return of the Hong Kong Street Market at Glasgow’s Barras. Alongside crafts, fashion, live performances and lanterns, the food aims to recreate the atmosphere of Hong Kong’s famous night markets with dim sum, stir fries and spice (Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 April). (Talking of the Barras, word on the street is that Merchant Pubs & Bars, home to Nonna Said and Blackfriars, are due to take over food and drink at BAaD.) 

The Biscuit Factory Beverage Festival features a dizzying array of drinks, with whisky, wine, gin, cider, brandy, beer and cocktails all repped. There’s street food too, as well as tastings and other shenanigans over three separate sessions (Friday 19 & Saturday 20 April). 

Mark this one in your diary: Scotland’s Ladha is a new African and Caribbean food and drink festival, bringing producers from across Scotland to Glasgow’s C7 Conference Centre. Showcasing vibrant cuisines from Kenya to Jamaica, there’ll be a cocktail bar as well as workshops and live entertainment (Saturday 27 April). 

Get back to nature

Outdoor dining is always pretty special, so get yourself booked in to one of Jupiter Artland’s Wild Dining events tout de suite. Held weekly, you can arrive early to look at the art, before settling down to executive chef David Millar’s take on a spring feast under the stars (until Friday 13 September). 

Just outside Balerno, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, The Free Company have announced their Spring Series. The farm’s gorgeously rustic restaurant will be open for dinner Thursday–Saturday, with a new Sunday Sessions lunch (until Saturday 2 June). 

These are definitely worth a trip out of the city. Port Appin’s The Pierhouse Hotel are hosting three Forage & Feast events this year. Led by Lucy Cooke, you’ll wander and forage around the stunning shoreline of Loch Linnhe, followed by a bit of lunch. Do yourself a favour and stay over (Saturday 18 May, Saturday 13 July & Saturday 28 September). 

More food stuff to get excited about

There’s still time to catch the tail-end of Dundee Eat Week, which highlights the best of the city’s burgeoning food scene. A free pass unlocks discounts at around 30 cafés, bars, restaurants and takeaways, with plenty to explore. 

If a sugar-rush is exactly what your small people need to power them through the rest of the holidays, may we recommend Kilted Donuts’ pop-up at St James Quarter’s Bonnie & Wild, with lots of yummy treats (until Sunday 14 April). Planning ahead, Edinburgh Seafood Festival also makes its SJQ return next month (Saturday 4—Monday 6 May). 

And what’s the word on the street from the team with the heat (in other words, goss from Team List)? Well, we’re greedily eyeing up this Fhior x Pomelo pop-up (Sunday 21 April); have very much been enjoying the unlimited (not a typo) garlic butter frites from Innis & Gunn’s Taproom’s new menu; and can’t wait to check out new Broughton Street rum bar Ruma this weekend.

Finally, a food hack from Dishoom. They’re running a tasty offer giving customers a complimentary bun maska (a soft, brioche-like roll dipped in butter) and a bottomless house chai. To redeem this freebie, simply pop into Dishoom on Wednesdays between 2pm-5pm and ask your server for a bun maska on the house. 

Still hungry?

Jo Laidlaw’s got all the news: you’ll find a pile of new openings and even more food festivals in Side Dishes. The team have been out and about exploring some quirky venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Jay Thundercliffe takes a stroll along the western half of Sauchiehall Street, and in reviews, both Miju and La Masa Taco Bar hit the spot.