Scotland serves up its 6 best food delights for July

It’s the ultimate makeover, as St Andrews destination The Kithmore, near the Old Course, has recently reopened after a £7.5million renovation. We’re keen to try the luxury boutique hotel’s restaurant, Bennie’s, which has room for 57 covers and 30 more on the terrace. Its menu is relaxed yet smart, with dishes including Cumbrae oysters, hand-dived Orkney scallops, steak, burgers and sticky toffee pudding, not necessarily in that order. Round your feast off with a West Sands cocktail, which has ingredients including vodka, lemon, sugar and saline.

2 Playfair Terrace, North Street, St Andrews (01334 472970, www.thekithmore.com)

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS EDINBURGH

If you're a green-fingered glutton, you may be interested in the new collaboration between the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy (EFDA) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). They're running a series of gardener and chef lessons from July until September. The first event takes place on Saturday July 11, starting at 10 am. and will focus on fermenting and pickling, with tickets costing £126pp. Attendees will tour the RBGE kitchen garden with an expert, then participate in a 90-minute demonstration with a cookery teacher. The second session has a seasonal summer cooking theme and will take place on Saturday July 25 for £137pp, with a two-hour demonstration session and a buffet lunch showcasing your creations.

www.rbgeshop.org.

TASTE DUNOON

We’re excited to see this fledgling food festival take flight. It'll take place on July 25 and 26, at various locations in the town, including the Queen's Hall, which will host live cooking demos from 10am until 5pm across the weekend. There will also be stalls, street food, talks, tastings and workshops, though the highlight has to be the Saturday Rhubarb Festival at the POP shop. As well as tastings and growing and cooking advice, they have promised us a "rude rhubarb exhibition". The mind boggles.

www.dunoonpresents.co.uk

GLENEAGLES HOTEL

Scotland's poshest fried chicken is now available on the Summer Lawn at Gleneagles in Auchterarder. The Chicken Coop pop-up will be stationed there from noon-4pm until late August, for residents and guests. Expect The OG (Original Gleneagles) crispy fried chicken served in a bucket with three Fowl Mouth sauces - The Rancher, The Flapper and The Rooster - alongside smoked pickles, with the more intrepid invited to try the secret Clucking Hell hot sauce. Meat-free guests can opt for the Don't Be A Chicken bucket of salt and pepper mushrooms and kids can try the Little Flock Feast menu of scampi, popcorn chicken and fries. The drinks list consists of the Flocktails frozen cocktails, chilled rosé and frosted beers, with Veuve Clicquot for fancier chooks.

www.gleneagles.com

SUSHI MAKING

Transform yourself into a sushi sensei with the help of new restaurant Sticks ‘n’ Sushi in Glasgow. They’re running a series of 90-minute masterclasses for adults or kids ages seven to 13, so participants can learn how to create their own kappa hosomaki (cucumber), pink Alaska uramaki (salmon, avocado, cream cheese and lumpfish roe) and shake nigiri (salmon). Tickets are £45 for the adult classes, £35 for the kids’, who also get soft drinks plus a goodie bag that contains a certificate, bandana, rolling mat, chopsticks, a chocolate fish and a Japanese numbers and phrases sheet. However, to celebrate the launch, the first three adult sessions (July, August 20 and September 17) and kids sessions (August 1 and September 5) will be gratis.

7 George Square, Glasgow (0141 724 4200, www.sticksnsushi.com/sct/en/events-glasgow/)

SCOTTISH NATIONAL WHISKY FESTIVAL

Unhand that Aperol spritz. This may be summer, but any season suits a showcase for the amber nectar. On July 11, join the whisky experts at Eden Hall Theatre, Inverness, from noon to 4pm, tickets £45. At the first of their sessions, which will be coming to other cities including Aberdeen and Glasgow later in the year, there will be a chance to sample whisky from various bottlers, from independents to world-renowned biggies, take part in cocktail pop-ups, and enjoy live music and seminars.

www.scottishnationalwhisky.com

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