November News Update on AFN Members ...new actions and achievements

A cluster of recent success stories from our members (please share yours with the editor). 

Roundsquare Roastery are proud to release a limited edition seasonal Christmas coffee! This special Rwandan single estate bean is 100% arabica and packed full of flavour: chocolate, ripe fruit & brown sugar sweetness with low acidity. It's the perfect winter warmer.

Check it out  at www.roundsquareroastery.co.uk

ADRattray - theWhiskyExperience are to be warmly congratulated on gaining Visit Scotland 5 star visitor centre status reflecting their unique approach, high standards and offerings.

Their full range of services can be viewed at www.adrattray.com/Whiskyexperience.

Talking  of impressions and an insight into Ayrshire at its best, do make a visit to
www.clenappcastle.com and watch their stunning new video "Dawn  to Dusk".

You too can visit hopefully this very special location and enjoy the luxury offering.

Congratulations everyone ...keep the good news stories coming.

Congratulations to Woody's Ice Cream.Ayrshire Local Food Heroes

warmest congratulations  to the team at #Woodys Ice Cream  for their win at the  ACCI  awards  last night ..so too to the runners up #Aye love real food   .... a great result  for two  very proactive   AFN members

AFN producers at Let's Eat Glasgow 5/6th September

  hi

 Come  and join in this unique experience  with  Aye Love Real Food;Corrie  Mains ; Nethergate ;  Dunlop Dairy ; Petrie Foods  Foods , Lime Tree larder; GC Growers  and Slow Food West of Scotland  Taste  Adventure    along with  30  other artisan  producers  and social enterprises  , + 8 pop up restaurants  .

All at SWG3  Finnieston  Glasgow   from  11am  -18.00

hope  to see you there

Ayrshire Food Network Members supporting the Ballantrae Smugglers' farmers' market

 This Sunday  16th  August   brings the return  of the successful  Ballantrae farmers' market at Craigie Main garden centre.,. and this quarter -  uniquely  it is part of  the established  Smugglers' festival..

 A  wide  variety of Ayrshire  producers  are    expected  to be present  or  represented  ranging   from  Nethergate  rare breeds meats ,  Dunlop   Dairy,  GC growers , Pieronis  fish and seafood,  Corrie  Mains  free range eggs, chutneys , Hidden Garden  jams, Everything Chilli  preserves , Rhone  Cottage fresh  seasonal vegetables ,  soft fruits   and  herbs , Graeme's Honey , home baking ,Granny Jean's fresh  baked produce etc  etc etc

Entry is free and timing is 11.00-15.00  with  a  raffle  being  coordinated by Cosses County  House

Come   and support business in the #gsabiosphere.org.uk

 you can check out the event on Facebook  and Twitter

the weather  looks set fare   so we look forward  to seeing  as many  people  as practical there

for more information  call  Susan   on 01465  831363

Ayrshire food network members at Burns Birthplace Museum Alloway 12TH July

 This  Sunday 12th July will see 9 AFN members  represented  along with   plus 5 other   local produces  at the Quarterly indoor farmers market   held in the  attractive  Robertson room 11.00-15.00

  fresh  Ayrshire local vegetables , soft fruits ,  herbs ,  plants.  baking  , breads ,  gluten free savouries , cow and goats  cheeses , free range eggs ,  non homogenised milk ,  relishes , jams . chutneys . oils , vinegars,  organic soaps , and artisan very locally produced  wooden  kitchen boards   and utensils .

come and meet the producers  behind these exemplary products

we look forward to welcoming you

free entry

Ayrshire Food Network at Celebrate Ayrshire in Culzean

Come and Celebrate  Ayrshire  today  in the  beautiful setting   of Culzean..

12  members  of the Ayrshire  Food  Network will be there or represented,   providing  excellent  quality  locally    sourced  food and drink , together with  hot and cold food to go  beverages  plus  alcoholic  drinks.

the  stories behind  these products  are  inspiring ... together with  the Slow Food ethos

there will be  many other other  arts & crafts attractions , community  groups    plus live music from the Ayrshire  Fiddle  orchestra  and   Maybole   Pipe Band

you  will find us in and around  the medieval  style jousting tents and collonade  area

so  a very warm welcome is guaranteed , irrespective of the coolish  mid summer weather!

14 AFN members will be represented at Largs Food and Drink festival 23/24th May

 The   Largest    food    and drink festival  in Ayrshire in 2015, the  Year of  Food  & Drink is   taking place  this weekend  23rd /24th of May ..  in a  a large marquee on the promenade  at Largs, North Ayrshire .

Over 40  food, drink and  hospitality providers  from across the west of Scotland , are scheduled to attend  the two day event .

There  are   major cookery  demonstrations  planned by the Cook  School Scotland ,  presentations  regarding Dunlop PGI status  cheese ,and  other tastings , both in the Marquee  and   selected venues elsewhere in the town..

live music ,  entertainment  and interactive   learning  programmes   are also included ..

the event  is scheduled to  be open  from 11.00 -18.00  both days

The  Ayrshire   Food  Network  is delighted  to be  supporting this important event  with the best of Slow Food   from Ayrshire

we  look forward to  greeting  you there .

The Ayrshire food and drink events weekend is coming up 9th and 10th May

This coming weekend  9th and   10 th  May   there will be two exciting food and drink events in Ayrshire

On the 9th the Ayr  the  County Show takes place  at Ayr Racecourse , with @tasteayrshire     coordinating  the  Food and drink   marquee  complete with @cookschoolscotland cookery    demonstrations and   many  artisan food an drink providers  attending  ,with hot food provided

the 10th  sees the very exciting   innovative inaugural  Ballantrae food festival with  more than 32 producers and providers present  ..including   17  members of the Ayrshire Food Network   represented..

the programme  includes  3 pop up restaurants , afternoon tea with  fizz !;  talks  , cookery  demonstrations  including  TV  presenter and author  Kirsty  Walk.;  foraging with  Galloway  Wild Foods,  a  presentation and tasting of  the newly  awarded PGI  Traditional  Ayrshire  Dunlop  cheese;  horse  trailer wine  bar   and sales,  plus   a jazz trio !!,,,

the main events are being held  in  a  spacious steel framed   marquee   on the seashore  overlooking Ailsa  Craig  .  so  a stunning   setting  & backdrop

 the event   is being held in conjunction  with  the #Galloway &  Southern Ayrshire  Biosphere and supported by @slowfoodwestscotland  and  @tasteayrshire

Special  public transport arrangements have been set up ,and for sat  nav   followers  the post code is KA26ONQ

Timing 12 noon -18.00   there   are no   entry  fees   to the  Festival   so   you can enjoy  the event even more !

htcu there

Ayrshire Food Network members at BURNS BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM ALLOWAY farmers market

 Sunday 12th July  sees 9 members of the   Ayrshire Food Network   represented  at the quarterly  indoor farmers market    held in the Robertson Room between 11.00-15.00

 The freshest  of flavoursome  local artisan food ,  & plants and herbs  combined with  the stories behind the food , +excellent  very locally made   artisan wooden kitchen  boards and utensils.   ,@slowfoodwestscotland, + the newly  announced  PGI  status  for Traditional  Ayrshire Dunlop   cheese produced from non homogenised   whole milk

 we hope  to see you there

you  can stay    dry and relaxed  inside , and enjoy  Robert Burns Place Museum , Alloway,  KA74PQ

the Ayrshire Food Network congratulate Dunlop Dairy for being awarded with PGI status .. see detail

Ann  Dorward  of  Dunlop  Dairy  at West Clerkland Farm , Stewarton has been  awarded   PGI (protected  geographic  indicator ) European status for the Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop  (TAD) which is  made  uniquely  in the  small   adjoining  geographic area ,using non homogenised  milk  from the   small  herd of Ayrshire  cows  .

the specification of the TAD  cheese takes account of  the  micro climate , the terroir  and highly detailed  cheese making  procedures

All credit to Ann  and her team, -- for  a long  awaited ,hard fought  and highly deserved  accreditation

the cheese can be purchased at the farm, though specialist  cheese merchants and at  farmers  markets including Glasgow Partick  on  the second saturday of the month, and at Falkirk  on the first Friday .

Well worth seeking out .. Enjoy !!

Ayrshire Food Network welcomes the publication of The List Ayrshire Larder

Available   both on line  and in   48 page  leaflet format ,this long  awaited   publication  tells the   story of Ayrshire's  food and drink  in its richness and  practical  detail .

It  tells you about  the food grown, made , landed and reared in Ayrshire ' and just as importantly where to find it , from  local farm shops , markets to contemporary  restaurants , reflecting  the  current food culture of Ayrshire

We support  warmly its publication

the   Online version at   thelarder.net   has been optimised    for   mobile  access   and usage

Enjoy !

Carlo Petrini President-Slow Food comes to Dunlop Dairy

The    Ayrshire Food  Network   is    honoured  inspired  and  excited  to receive  the founder and president of Slow Food International    at Dunlop  Dairy tomorrow  26th of  February  

His  very busy    4 day  schedule  to Scotland  includes  2  public lectures, several dinners, receptions      and  meetings with   Government   officials , and food and drink industry leaders, chefs   and  the   Press   

However this is his one  scheduled visit to a working farm, the home of acclaimed  Traditional  Ayrshire  Dunlop cheeses , 

The  visit  is in conjunction   with @slowfoodwestscotland

He will be enjoying  traditional  Scottish poetry ,music   and dance (weather  dependent )!  from  local primary school children ,before enjoying a  rustic   lunch  of  farmhouse Ayrshire  fayre,  and meeting  several     AFN  and #Taste Ayrshire  producers   of  food and drink , and other invited community  guests .

We very much   hope he enjoys his visit to East  Ayrshire   and  Dunlop Dairy  

The Ayrshire   cows    and goats  will be on their best behaviour  (hopefully ) for his visit !   

AFN Members take up key role in the Meet the Producer event tonight Monday 26th jan

 The  important business to business event  organised by  Taste  Ayrshire in conjunction with the Ayrshire  chamber of  Commerce will bring together circa 22  food producers and    upwards  of  60  food operators /  hospitality providers and  buyers. to explore    future   trading opportunities  and priorities

it is  timed  also  to celebrate the start of the exciting  2015 Year of Food and Drink

we are delighted  to be  playing a significant   part .

there is still   time to register  via the chamber of commerce on 01292 678666

we hope to see you tonight at the Gailes  hotel in Irvine  between 17.30 -19.30