Treacle-flavoured rashers are among the intriguing new food products being launched at this year’s Taste of Grampian food and drink festival.
The award-winning event, which takes place on Saturday, June 3, is often used by food and drink companies as a platform to launch their new tasty delights.
Regular exhibitors Sandy and Ann Ingram, who farm at East Pitscaff, near Newburgh, will launch two new products – maple bacon and treacle bacon.
The couple run a 120-sow pig herd on their 280-acre farm, which is also home to their meat products business Ingram’s Homecure.
Launched in 1999, the business produces a range of dry-cured bacon and sausages.
The farm is also a member of red meat promotion body Quality Meat Scotland’s quality assurance scheme for pork – Specially Selected Pork – which is the main sponsor for this year’s Taste of Grampian event.
“Our aim is always to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. Initially our focus was very much on retailing direct to the public via farmers’ markets and events and as demand for our product range has grown we have developed the business,” said Mr Ingram.
“The new range has been produced after extensive new product development work. The result is an innovative product range which we are confident will both intrigue and interest our customers and, of course, tastes fantastic.”
The Ingrams are among a huge range of food, drink, craft and tourism exhibitors already confirmed.
To date more than 160 exhibitors have signed up for the event which is held at the Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie.
It will feature demonstrations from leading chefs including the former host of popular TV programme Saturday Kitchen, James Martin, and Scottish chef and P&J columnist Lady Claire Macdonald.
A new beer festival will also be staged immediately after the main event from 5pm to 11pm, and will include an array of outdoor street food, live music, piano bar and an acoustic lounge.
Tickets cost £10, or £5 if someone has attended the main event first. It is open to families until 9pm and over-18s only after that time.
Entry to the main event, which will also feature the popular Press and Journal/Evening Express Motor Show, is £5 for adults and free for children under 16. All tickets are available online at www.tasteofgrampian.co.uk