This is a super busy weekend for food and drink festivals.

We’ve already told you about Glasgow’s Juniper Festival, Cakefest in Stirling and the inaugural Taste the Wild festival which takes place in Mallaig this weekend.

We also need to mention the Best of the West Festival which is at Inveraray Castle on Saturday and Sunday.

As always, there will be bands and beer and whisky – all of which are in the 5pm Dining blog’s Top Ten Fave Things.

Local produce

However, it’s the food on offer that really gets our pulse racing.

At Inveraray, there will be plenty of top notch nosebag on offer from companies such as Loch Fyne Oyster, Winston Churchill Venison, Real Mackay Stovies, Shellfield Farms, Aye Love Food, Luss Smokehouse, Bumble Puddings, Castle Tearoom and The George Hotel Bar serving artisan beer from WEST.

There will also be lots of top drawer cooking demos from some very whizzy chefs.

Graeme Cheevers started working in professional kitchens on the West coast of Scotland when he was fifteen.

His cooking passion has taken him around the world working in famous kitchens including Daniel’s and Per Se in New York.

These days, he looks after the Michelin-starred Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond.

Michelin stars

Another proud holder of a Michelin star is Paul Leonard who works at the Isle of Eriska Hotel.

His trainers and employers to date have included: Marcus Wareing at Petrus and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, both of which have two Michelin stars.

Also on the line-up are Eric Lionnet of the George Hotel and Andrew Maclugash of Samphire Restaurant, both Inveraray restaurants.

Mike Knowles of Loch Melfort Hotel and Sujitra ‘Eddie’ Scott, formerly of Cairnbaan in Argyll, will add to the merriment.

The kitchen timetable is published below. The organisers advise that seats fill up fast in the Festival Kitchen so make sure you get there early.

Saturday

11:15 John McNulty – Taynuilt Hotel

12:00 Eric Lionnet  – George Hotel

13:30 Mike Knowles – Loch Melfort Hotel

15:00 Graeme Cheevers – Martin Wishart Loch Lomond

Sunday

11:15 Andrew Maclugash – Samphire Restaurant

12:00 Cullum Hall – Loch Fyne Oysters

13:30 Sujitra Scott – Thai Chef

15:00 Paul Leonard – Eriska Hotel

Tickets for the festival can be bought here.