The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Angus: the place for food and drink in September
As we move into autumn, it’s all go for everyone involved in the popular Angus Farmers Market. With events in Forfar and Montrose each month, visitors know they are getting the best local produce when they come along to buy direct from farmers and producers from across Angus.
Market manager Carol Robbie says: “The autumn months are among the busiest for stallholders at the Angus Farmers Market. Stallholders come from Angus and also the neighbouring counties with an abundance of top quality food, drinks and quality country crafts.”
For September, the added excitement of Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight should help to draw even more food lovers to the markets.
Carol adds: “To celebrate, there will be some extra attendees at the Forfar market. Smallholder Rosemary Champion will bring along her Ryeland sheep so customers can meet some farm animals up close.”
Rosemary will have yarn made from her sheeps’ fleeces on sale, giving customers the opportunity to create some unique garments with beautiful locallyproduced yarn.
The September market will have more than 35 stalls, with new ones joining the fantastic regular line-up.
“You can find anything from locallyproduced Highland beef and delicious game to quality coffee beans roasted in Arbroath,” says Carol.
“The market has a resident chef and Hayley Wikles from WeeCOOK cooks throughout the morning using market produce, giving customers a chance to taste the wonderful foods.”
Hayley also has a free children’s cookery club giving youngsters an important connection with food but ultimately just great fun.
The Angus Farmers Market is held on Montrose High Street on the first Saturday of the month and in the Strathmore Hall, Forfar, on the second Saturday of the month, from 9am to 1pm at both locations.
Carol is also planning ahead for a fantastic festive market.
She adds: “In the build-up to Christmas the market always has something special happening, and on December 22 it will hold a special Christmas market indoors at its Forfar venue.
“This is truly a wonderful way to kickstart the festive holidays and will be held from 2-8pm with hot festive foods at the market café and mulled wine.”
The home of Angus Farmers Market will also be playing host to the Angus Brewfest in the coming months.
Carol says: “Last year market organisers decided it would be a great idea to hold a brand new event showcasing many of the new local brewers and distillers enjoying fantastic success in the food and drink industry.”
Angus Brewfest will feature cask ales from producers including Eden Mill and Kirrie Ales, as well as established North East of Scotland brewer Brewdog.
Fierce Beer will also join the line-up with their selection of pale ales, fruit beers, dark porters and IPAs.
The tipples on offer are by no means restricted to beers.
If you are a cider drinker then Thistly Cross and Cairn O’ Mohr will quench your thirst and for the spirit lover Angus has got its very own premium vodka from Ogilvy Vodka.
To keep the gin drinkers happy, local girl Kim Gall of Gin Bothy will bring her delicious mulled and raspberry gins.
Edenmill from Fife have a glorious range of gins and will also bring along the national drink, whisky.
In addition, the Brewfest will cater for lovers of cocktails using award-winning Summerhouse drinks and Dark Matter Rum, and for the designated drivers there will be non-alcoholic choices available including locally-roasted coffee from Sacred Grounds based in Arbroath.
Puddledub Pork will bring plenty of their popular hog roast as they sold out very quickly last year.
Hayley will have her Wee COOK kitchen, bringing authentic Bavarian bratwurst and her own Currywurst sauce.
Early bird tickets are on sale at £7 each, which includes a free tasting glass and entry to the Angus Brewfest raffle.
You can buy them at www. angusbrewfest.co.uk or at the information stall at the monthly farmers market. Vists www.angusfarmersmarket.co.uk.