Paisley Food and Drink Festival set to be a treat for the tastebuds

Some of Scotland’s best food and drink producers and vendors will be in Paisley this weekend for the annual Paisley Food and Drink Festival for what is set to be the event’s biggest year yet.

The festival takes place this Friday 27 and Saturday 28 April, when the very best of Scotland’s producers will showcase their wares to visitors in Paisley’s iconic Abbey Close. Visitors can enjoy a fantastic selection of street food vendors, food and drink stalls, interactive workshops, live music and Scotland’s largest real ale festival.

For the first time Pitt Street Food Market, Scotland’s first street food market which won the Scottish Street Food Awards and have catered Electric Fields and Meats and Beats Festival, will be at the festival with some of the best street food vendors from around Scotland such as shellfish and speciality meat vendor Barnacles & Bones, Scottish food favourite Bruadair, The Buffalo Truck and Harajuku Kitchen.

Hal Prescott of Pitt Street said: “The Pitt is delighted to be a part of this year’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival. We’ll be bringing some award-winning traders, from far and wide across Scotland. Expect some stunning food, drinks and entertainment across an amazing couple of days.

“People should come along to the event and try some amazing international cuisine from some of the best street food traders in the country. Come down and try dumplings from a tuk-tuk, hanger steaks off a bespoke bbq or shellfish with gourmet fries. It’s going to be a feast for the senses.”

Foodie fans can also sample some more taste sensations from Babu Kitchen, Mighty Mexican, Linton and Co Coffee, Scozzese Pizza and Sharma Street Food. Smaller portion sizes for children and a range of halal, gluten free, veggie and vegan options will be on offer and visitors will also be able to sample a wide range of craft beers, small batch gins from Gin 71 and prosecco on tap from FizzBuz. Visitors will be able to purchase some great produce from the Farmers’ Market, trader stalls and craft market.

Cooking demonstrations will take place with former Masterchef the Professionals winner, chef Jamie Scott, to allow visitors to learn the best tricks of the trade.

Chef, Jamie Scott, said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of this year’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival. Events like this are a great way to get insight into local producers, suppliers, restaurants and cafés.  It’s a great way for people to get involved with food particularly those that take an interest in cooking.”

There will be plenty to keep the kids entertained with a selection of free children’s workshops where they will have the chance to get some hands-on foodie experiences with Events Diva’s calzone and cupcake making sessions or Sweet Science’s fun food experiments. There will also be entertainment from kids favourite Mr Bloom.

Ben Faulks, who plays the role of Mr Bloom said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended the Paisley Food and Drink Festival before and it’s a great event that boasts a variety of different activities for the whole family to enjoy.

“I’m very much looking forward to making a return this year with my show, as well as getting the chance to sample some of the great activities on offer.”

There will also be a live music entertainment and giant lawn games providing all the ingredients for a great day out.

The festival will run alongside the Paisley’s Beer Festival which will take place from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 April run by the Renfrewshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, which attracts people from all over Scotland and beyond.

To find out more about what’s on at Paisley Food and Drink Festival along with updates on other great events taking place in Renfrewshire please visit www.paisley.is.