Whether it is its proximity to Scandinavia or the friendly folk; the breathtaking views or the abundance of amazing produce, both Orkney and Shetland are fantastic places to visit and now our sights turn to Shetland as it is time for Taste of Shetland, the annual celebration of their produce. Not that one needs an excuse to take the NorthLink Ferries northwards as Shetland has a natural wildness whatever the time of year.
Taste of Shetland Festival runs from 5th-7thOctober 2018 at Clickimin Centre, Lerwick, Shetland, where there will be producers from across all the isles in one place for you to meet and greet. There are chefs presenting cookery demonstrations and heritage talks too. Scotland’s national chef Gary Maclean leads this event celebrating everything that’s great about Shetland’s food and drink. https://www.tasteofshetland.com
For the place to stay they don’t come better than the Scalloway Hotel http://www.scallowayhotel.com where the hospitality is second to none and the food on the plate is all local: shellfish and seafood; heritage breeds and locally laid eggs.
The en suite bedrooms are also very beautifully appointed and the views of the harbour where fishing boats come in to market make Scalloway a very special place.
Shetland boasts more Slow Food Ark of Taste produce than on any other part of the British Isles and whether you are visiting Shetland or buying mail order from their websites you can source Uradale Native Shetland Lamb and Shetland Kye from https://www.uradale.com/pages/the-farm and Briggs Native Shetland Lamb http://www.briggs-shetlandlamb.co.uk all fabulous heritage breeds, reared naturally as they should be and on the Ark of Taste. For more information on Slow Food Ark of Taste on Shetland click here https://scottishfoodguide.com/places/slowfood/
Look out for Jakob Eunson too, Ronnie’s son, who farms at Uradale and is one of the Year of Young People Pioneers. If you see him ask for his fab Sassermaet, soon to be boarding Slow Food Ark of Taste and a real treat!