Dundee City of Discovery News Archive

News Archive

PRESS RELEASE – 05/09/2006
Flower and Food Festival

Celebrity chef, Nick Nairn, ‘Ready Steady Cook’ Tony Tobin and BBC Gardner’s World presenter Joe Swift were just some of the household names in the world of cooking and gardening who took part in the Dundee Flower and Food Festival 2006 at Camperdown Park which attracted 22,000 visitors.

Hailed as the premier show of its kind in Scotland, the three-day extravaganza, for the first time, brought wine connoisseur tutored tasting sessions opening with Mark O’Bryen, Wine Master from the House of Taittinger leading guests at The City of Discovery Champagne Evening as seen in the photograph. Festival visitors were offered a unique introduction to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust courses - enjoying samples of different wines and learning more about how to match them with a number of different foods.

Topping the menu for foodies included Nick Nairn preparing the venison dish that won the public vote for the Queen’s 80 th Birthday and Tayside Contract Dinner Lady and National School Chef of the Year 2005 following his healthy eating campaign programme in 2003 ‘Nick Nairn and the Dinner Ladies’.

The Floral Marquee was abuzz when Joe Swift, BBC Gardener’s World Presenter and Frieda Morrison of BBC Beechgrove Potting Shed fame were on hand throughout the weekend to give advice on everything from water features to climbers.

Among the other highlights were a variety of children’s musical productions and up and coming contemporary celtic folk violinist Laura McGhee.

City of Discovery Campaign Chairman Lord Provost John Letford, said:

“I am delighted the Campaign supported the city’s largest annual event in its 18 th year, and with such a high-profile line-up of such expertise the 2006 showed itself as the best show yet. The Food Festival Marquee had such a wide array of talent with local and celebrity gourmet expertise on show from both Nick Nairn and Tony Tobin to Tayside and Fife acclaimed chef’s Bruce Price, Craig Millar, Eadie Manson and Geoffrey Smeddle, while green fingers were itching in The Floral Marquee with renowned experts Joe Swift and Frieda Morrison.”