My BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW FAVOURITES

When food lovers converge on the BBC Good Food Show Scotland at Glasgow’s SECC this weekend they will not be disappointed.Well over one hundred of the countries top food producers will be showcasing their products and I’ve put together a list of my favourites to help get your shopping list organised.

I’ve been visiting the show for many years now and find it a great opportunity to stock up on ingredients and get organised with some great food gifts for Christmas.

Here’s the  first of my top five from this years show.

 Summer Harvest are regulars at BBC Good Food Show with their ever popular range of Scottish rapeseed oils, salad dressings and vinegars. At their Perthshire farm, owners, Mark and Maggie Bush grow all their own crops and press and bottle all their own oil. I’ve been using Summer Harvest oils for a number of years now and their rapeseed oil, mayonnaise and vinegars  are firm  favourites in my kitchen. Making it’s show debut this year, is their outstanding ‘White Trufle Oil’. I’ve been using it for some time now  and it makes a wonderful addition to risottos and soups. Perfect drizzled over the finished dish. The truffle oil will also be available in gift packs along with rapeseed oil and the delicious oak smoked oil. Another pack with Chilli & Red Pepper Dressing, Lemon & Honey Dressing and the wonderful Raspberry dressing will also be available. Visit Summer Harvest on stand C22

Good Food Champions, Iain MacKenzie and Kate Thornhill from Perthshire Preserves are back at this years show with their full range of  handmade jams, marmalade and chutneys. Having made jam with Kate and Iain at their Perthshire Kitchen, I can say that their preserves are truly handmade artisan products. There is a large selection to choose from but my favourites are their Hot Banana Chutney, fantastic to serve with spicy food and also delicious on a bacon roll. The Double Expresso Marmalade is a firm favourite at breakfast in our house and I love the Lemon curd on oatcakes with my 3 o’clock. For the show there is a special Orange and Lemon Curd and the full Christmas range of chutney’s relishes and luxury mincemeat. Visit Perthshire Preserves on stand A110

Also returning to this years show and spreading tasty crumbs of deliciousness is Border Biscuits. As a ‘Border Biscuit Taste Tester’, I can tell you without any hesitation that every one of their biscuits is fantastic. There’s  such a wide range of biscuits in the Borders selection and in our house everyone has their own favourites. In the  ‘Deliciously Different’ range there’s flavours such as Raspeberry & White Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry & Cream Melts and Danishly Caramel Apple. There will be samples to taste on the Borders stand, so no excuse for not stocking up on your favourites. The larger boxes and tins of Border Biscuits make ideal gift and with Christmas approaching, you might want to sample the biscuits in the ‘Classic Range’ and stock up on some ‘Classic Gift Packs’. Visit Border Biscuits on stand D52

An essential in my kitchen is good sea salt and a firm favourite  is Hebridean Sea Salt from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Owner Natalie Clayton founded the business in 2011 with the ethos of creating a sustainable product whilst making the most of what the areas surrounding area had to offer. The award winning sea salt is harvested from the unspoilt, crystal clear waters of Loch Erisfort on the East coast of Lewis, using the simplest of recipes; Hebridean sea water, heat and time. This creates pure white crunchy sea salt flakes that just melt in the mouth.  There are three salts in the Hebridean Sea Salt Range – Pure Original, Peat Smoked and Seaweed Infused. I use all three as the flavours are very different and can be used to enhance a wide range of dishes, I love the Peat Smoked Sea Salt for it’s real deep peaty flavour and the Seaweed is ideal with a range of dishes although I like using it with seafood. Visit Hebridean Sea Salt on stand C47

One stand you should not miss is Ramsay of Carluke . Andrew Ramsay and family will be proudly showcasing the company’s delicious and award winning bacon, haggis , black pudding and sausage products. The Ramsay family have been producing bacon for over 150 years in Scotland’s Clyde Valley and they are veterans of the BBC Good Food Show. Choose from the fantastic Ayrshire Cured Bacon, the 3 star Gold Great Taste Award Black Pudding and an outstanding range of sausages. In addition to Ramsay’s classic sausages, you’ll find some great flavours; ‘Pork & Caramalised Onion’ Pork & Really Garlicky and ‘Apple & Black Pudding’. Visit Ramsay of Carluke on stand B52

Look out for the next post where I’ll be telling you more about this years BBC Good Food Show Scotland’s Bursary Winners, Helens Herbs, Plan Bee, Hebridean Food Company and more about Scotia Spice’s ‘True Guide to Punjabi Cooking’.