Scotland has really upped its game on the food front, writes Sue Hitchen

It seems that Scotland has developed an incredible appetite for good food and artisan drinks. Every time I look up there seems to be a new restaurant or cafe opening – from the Borders to Skye there are great, pioneering chefs cooking up a storm in Scotland. And what they all want to say is that, whenever possible they are using local and seasonal produce.

I can remember being rather embarrassed when visitors would ask me for advice on good restaurants. In Edinburgh there wasn’t really that much – some of them looked beautiful but that was not always reflected in the food that ended up on the immaculately set table. Nowadays the city has more Michelin starred restaurants in any British city outside London. That is a considerable turn around, and the even better news is that they are booming. Have you tried to get a table at Cafe St Honore, Martin Wishart or Six by Nico recently?

Last week, as I sat down to write this, an email popped into my inbox which showed that food and beverage is now the UK’S fastest growing export market. The research was carried out by an American bank but in dollars it is even more impressive to see that this sector was worth $27.2bn last year and is projected to rise by 6.3 per cent. We are not only a nation who love eating, but are pretty darn good and producing food as well.

It was 13 years ago that we organised the first Foodies Festival in Edinburgh. It was a small event but embraced by all who came. This year we are back at Inverleith Park and with lots more than just food because eating should be a family occasion. What started as a little add on by having live music, we now have a great line up over three days with Toploader, The Hoosiers and a great spread of tribute acts from The Oasis Experience to George Michael and a sprinkling of Abba (this is supported by Musicians Against Homelessness.) There are lots of activities for children with a new expanded Kid Zone and Kids Cookery Theatre. You can even bring your dogs.

Of course, the big stars are the chefs. We have gathered some of the best in Scotland to give demonstrations and dish out some handy hints and tricks of the trade. We are especially pleased to bring this year’s Masterchef winner, Kenny Tutt, to Scotland for the first time. The popularity of that TV programme mirrors the country’s rising interest in preparing and making food at home as well as dining out. He shows exactly what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and some truffle shavings.

I am often asked what changes I have seen over the years since that first Foodies Festival. First there is the incredible rise in artisan beer and gin; the latter especially with new brands being constantly launched and Scotland leading the way in the innovation of this spirit. Secondly, and here I would like to blow our trumpet a bit, is the popularity of the street food movement in Scotland.

No longer is this a poke of chips from a beaten up caravan, but tasty food from around the world at incredibly cheap prices. We have always championed this type of fare and this year visitors can choose so much from soft shell crab and paella to calamari, barbecue ribs, venison and lobster.

So come on down and join us during the first weekend in August. The diet can wait.

Foodies Festival is at Inverleith Park from 3-5 August. www.foodiesfestival.com