Food & Drink At The Caithness Mod

1st October 2010

ROYAL NATIONAL MOD ANNOUNCES EXCITING
FOOD AND DRINK LINE UP FOR OCTOBER EVENT

WICK MARKET CALLS OUT FOR MORE CULINARY EXHIBITORS -

Helping to celebrate Scotland's Year of Food and Drink, Am Ṃd Nàiseanta Ŕoghail (The Royal National Ṃd), Scotland's premier festival celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage, which is taking place in Caithness in October 2010, has announced the details of its food and drink programme.

The nine day celebration of Gaelic music, dance, drama, arts and literature, running from Friday 8th until Saturday 16th October, is set to attract thousands of spectators to the Caithness towns of Wick and Thurso, two of the most northerly points of mainland Scotland. This is the first time in its 118 year history that the event has taken place in Caithness.

A selection of the finest local food and drink companies will be showcasing their products including 'Mey Selections', 'Highland Business College ','Good Highland Food'...and a host of other local suppliers. 'Scotland's Year of Food and Drink', which is supported by EventScotland, has been launched to encourage people in Scotland to experience great produce on their doorstep.

The food element of the Mod will run throughout the week-long festivities from the 11th to the 15th of October and will feature an array of free culinary experiences using locally sourced produce through. Highlights include a welcome breakfast on Monday the 11th and a lunch on Tuesday the 12th of October, which will be catered for, using local produce, by The Highland Business College and will take place at The Dome, North Highland College in Thurso. The Literature Awards lunch on Wednesday the 13th of October will be catered for by Thurso's The Pentland Hotel, again using wonderful, fresh local produce.

Caithness based Mey Selections whose products and ingredients are sourced, wherever possible, from within a 100 mile radius of the Castle of Mey, will be creating a delicious three course meal using top local chefs and fresh Caithness produce - this will be served at the Highland Business College on Thursday the 14th of October from 1.30pm. Mey Selections has also designed and produced a specially branded shortbread for the Mod, which will be available to buy throughout the event.

A lunch to confirm the Royal Mod 2014 location will take place on Friday 15th of October at the North Highland College catered for by Good Highland Food (located near Inverness).

These events are all free and open to the public, Mod competitors & visitors - places are subject to availability.

As part of the Royal Mod Fringe programme, there will be Ready Steady Cook style events taking place in the college on 14th October as well as the Captain's Galley event where Scrabster chef Jim Cowie will be carrying out food demonstrations on Friday 15th in the Captain's Galley. Tickets for the Captain's Galley event cost £10 and money will be split between two charities - RNLA and RNMDSF.

And if that's not enough....there will also be a entertainment and culinary festival style event taking place in the Market Square, Wick on Saturday 9th October, running from 10am - 6pm. Entertainment will kick off at 11am on Stevens Stage and will feature an array of local and national artists including the renowned Skerryvore and Bodega - these daytime performances are free.

Visitors will be able to browse, sample and purchase from various market stalls showcasing Northern & Gaelic traditions and wonderful local produce, ranging from everything from Old Pulteney malt whisky/liqueur and Berry Good flavoured vodka to goats' cheese, bakery products, smoked products, pig roast, eggs and jams.... with more to be announced. Crafts and activities for children and adults will be on offer throughout the day .

Organisers are calling out for more food and craft stalls to take part - for more information and to register interest please contact John Bogle on john.bogle333[AT]btinternet.com

John Morrison, chief executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach said: "Scotland's larder is one to be proud of and we're delighted with the food and drink line up which is planned for the event. There will be a wonderful array of culinary delights for visitors to sample, as well as the opportunity to enjoy a number of lunches and demonstrations taking place throughout the week."

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer, Event Scotland said: "The Royal National Ṃd is an exciting event which we are delighted to be supporting through EventScotland's International events programme and as part of Scotland's Year of Food and Drink. The inclusion of some of the Highland's finest local food producers in this year's programme showcases the breadth and diversity of Scotland's larder. Bringing together people from across the Highlands, it is a fantastic celebration of Gaelic language, culture and food and drink, one which contributes toward making Scotland the perfect stage for events."

The Royal National Mod kicks off on Friday 8th October with a grand opening ceremony taking place in the early evening followed by a traditional energetic ceilidh to get visitors in the mood for the week long competitive festival. Competitions begin on Saturday 9th October and the main competitive element running from Monday 11th October, providing opportunities for people of all ages to perform in a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music, song, dance, drama, sport and literature. The grand finale will take place on Saturday 16th October when the Massed Choirs will gather and parade in Thurso town centre, led by local Pipebands.
For more information about the Caithness Mod 2010 go to
www.caithnessmod2010.co.uk