PICTURE SPECIAL: Four-day food festival at Kingussie a feast for all

Kingussie’s magnificent Food on Film Festival hit a whole new level this year, with its entire season of mouth-watering films sold out and all the events on its ambitious programme supported by communities right across the strath.

And from start to finish there was no lack of backing, either, from within the organisation – no shortage of volunteers, no areas of expertise found wanting.

It’s not surprising, then, that the time has come to expand – into Europe.

“We have been approached by an Italian food festival, based in a rural area north of Milan, which wants to twin with us next year,” Lydie Bocquillon announced at the final event on Sunday.

“It’s the perfect finish to an absolutely fantastic festival,” said the chef, baker, cheese shop owner and prime mover of the first event on the calendar of Badenoch’s Little Town of Festivals.

A successful launch last Thursday at the Iona Gallery, with a warm welcome from local Highland Councillor Muriel Cockburn and a tasty showing of ‘2040’, was followed by Friday’s ‘Now Forager’.

There was standing-room-only at Saturday afternoon’s Food Hall in the Badenoch Centre followed that evening’s by ‘Jadoo – Kings of Curry’ in Talla nan Ros. Sunday’s delicious carvery, with ‘Grow Your Own’ brought the curtain down on by far the best festival to date.

There was no shortage of stalls in the hall, with the list of including Coffe O’Delice, Highland Boundary, Wild Cocktail Bar, Dog Falls, Elchies Farm, the Great Glen Charcuterie, Gut Feelings, Fodderty wood turning, Unravel tea and Hemp it up!

Badenoch's own Dalwhinnie Distillery was another of the well-patronised stands, proving very popular as ever with visitors to the strath.

The Isle of Skye Baking Company made a very successful trip the strath too, along with The Moray Honey Company,

Angels Nectar and The Crab Company.

Kingussie Parish Church laid on its Church Soup Kitchen for the duration and there was plenty of choice offered by the Rose Cottage Country Kitchen.

Literally, all tastes were catered for and it’s anyone’s guess where the Italians’ involvement next year will take things.

Mouths are watering already, especially with the promise of the return of Badenoch’s big bread-baking competition.

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