21 September 2015
After welcoming nearly 30,000 people earlier this month to one of the biggest food festivals in the country – Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival – Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is continuing to earn its place as a top foodie destination.
Over the past few years, Scotland’s first National Park has attracted Michelin star chefs such as Martin Wishart as well as an increasing number of artisanal food producers and award-winning restaurateurs.
To celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has partnered with Love Loch Lomond and top local chefs to develop a range of sumptuous recipes featuring seasonal produce sourced from its lochs, forests, mountains and glens, which are available for visitors to enjoy in local eateries and at the many food related events held in the Park year round.
The food and drink sector is vital to Scotland’s economy turning over a record £14.3billion in 2013 alone and there has been a 30 per cent increase in new restaurants across Scotland, with diners now having access to 41,057 establishments, nearly ten thousand more than in 2008.
From lochside cafés to hotel restaurants, food and drink providers around the Park are being encouraged to use local produce in their dishes.
Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “We are blessed with world class natural produce in the Park; from venison and salmon, to cheeses and whisky, as well as many talented producers and entrepreneurial chefs.
“The Year of Food & Drink has been embraced by
businesses across the National Park with a packed calendar of events taking
place throughout autumn. For those passionate about food and drink there has
never been a better time to visit.”
Making the most of the Park’s edible assets and creative suppliers is Tom Lewis, chef-proprietor of boutique hotel and award-winning restaurant Monachyle Mhor, near Balquhidder, who has transformed an old shipping container into a fine-dining mobile restaurant complete with wood burning stove and wood panelling, capable of being positioned looking out over the breath-taking views in the National Park. The Park Authority and Love Loch Lomond have used the pop-up for a series of unique ‘wild dining’ events to promote local producers and enhance the Park’s reputation as a fantastic culinary destination.
Tom Lewis said: “People always ask ‘where does all this fantastic food come from?’. It comes from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park’s own amazing larder. It comes from the glens, the lochs and the wild countryside. And some of that wonderful wildness can be tasted in this truly natural and nourishing food.”
The celebration of all things food and drink continues for visitors to the National Park with a growing number of food focused events. The Balmaha Braw Weekend (3 and 4 October) will be offering food, drink, music and entertainment for all the family on the shores of Loch Lomond. The Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival, will be returning in 2016, along with Springfest in April, the Mhor Festival in May and Fyne Fest in June.