New events add more taste to food festival

Nick Nairn's cookery school, taster theatres featuring bite-sized sampler dishes and a food market with more than 90 types of produce are some of the options on the menu at the annual event, which runs from 28-30 May in Inverleith Park.

Now in its fourth year, the festival focuses on highlighting local, high-quality restaurants from a range of eateries across the city.

The festival will be officially opened by popular TV cook and author Rachel Allen, and other celebrity chefs will make appearances throughout the week.

One famous cook will even feature in a "Grill a chef" event, which will give 20 gastronomes the opportunity to ask questions.

Organiser Juliet Simpson said the idea behind the event was to showcase good food and help local food businesses during the difficult economic climate.

She said: "There are a lot of high-quality restaurants out there and each one will be providing three bite-sized sampler dishes for people to try, from 3 to 5.

"We find that people always enjoy the food and it's excellent for local business because those involved always see an uplift in sales after the event.

"There will be a lot of fresh produce available. The cookery school is a new feature this year and we think 'Grill a chef' is quite a unique experience. You can ask them anything from how to make the perfect omelette to how to shuck an oyster."

Other features during the three-day feast include two taster theatres – one demonstrating how to make delicious, hearty Scottish dinners with local foods and one with a French twist – and a VIP ticket holder area will be available, where visitors can hang out with the numerous celebrity chefs.

There are still a number of events to be announced in forthcoming weeks.

Tickets are now on sale at www.tasteofedinburgh.co.uk.