Monday mornings can be trying. Here at the 5pm Dining blog, we try to sleep through them.
When pesky deadlines mean that’s not possible, we keep our spirits up by fantasising that it is already the weekend and we are on route to Mhor Festival at Loch Voil in Balquhidder.
Food, fun and family
Now in its fourth year, Mhor Festival is a sort of foodie/fun/family-themed small festival organised by the Lewis family on their Monachyle Mhor home turf.
Highlights include the Whisky Galore Raft Race on the loch; trapeze artists; a ceilidh from the Scottish Ceilidh Allstars and more live music from bands such as King Eider and the Shiverin’ Sheiks.
Food and drink is at the heart of the festival and there’s plenty to choose from. Visitors have the pick of the Oyster Bar; the Pimms and Champagne bar; Whisky Bar; The Salad Bar; The Big Barbeque cooking up meats from the family farm; a hog roast, fish and chip truck and a vintage tearoom serving afternoon tea.
Omelette challenge
As well as fun stuff like the omelette challenge and Mhor Bake Off, the culinary high point of the weekend is the Festival Feast. This features five top chefs each cooking a course.
The chefs taking part this year are:
Fred Berkmiller from L’escargot bleu and blanc in Edinburgh, making his Mhor Festival debut
Roy Brett, Ondine, the award-winning seafood chef returns for his fourth year at the Feast
Michael Smith, the Michelin starred winner of BBC’s Great British Menu makes the journey from his home on Skye to take part
Neil Forbes, Café St Honore, Scotland’s current Chef of the Year
Tom Lewis, Monachyle Mhor, the man responsible for the whole extravaganza
Great outdoors
The festival’s Loch Voil setting is ideal for enjoying the great outdoors but, in the event of bad weather, the festival will move under cover to two large barns.
For more information or to book, go to www.mhor.net or check out their Facebook page.
The festival takes place on Sat 23/Sun 24th May at Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Perthshire, FK19 8PQ.