Pittenweem and Fruity Vinegars

Usually we don't meet up with fellow bloggers except on the net. But I have had the pleasure of meeting two bloggers recently who live in the south of Scotland

Shirley  (Shirl's Gardenwatch) came to our Open Garden, wearing the most fetching hat and wrote a very flattering post about our garden.
Then at the weekend we met Pen.

Saturday was the start of the  brilliant (and well respected) Arts Festival at Pittenweem in the Kingdom of Fife. It's a very well attended event and has a real community feel. The town (population approx 1500)  still has a working fishing port  and there is a vibrant art community.

Artists are attracted to Pittenweem by the stunning location and subject matter as well the highly successful annual Arts Festival. Houses and other buildings in the town open their rooms to show and sell art work. There are about 90 venues in all.

We managed to get round about a dozen, and being slightly perverse started at the end and worked back.
One venue that caught our eye was of photographer and garden designer Robert Melville. His own garden was one of the main subjects of his photographs. The garden was packed with annuals sown to attract as much wildlife as possible.

 

We were tempted by many pieces of art work and bought a bowl at Amy Pages Pottery. There were also musicians, a Viking encampment, cafes, bars and a Food Tent at the fishmarket.

The local produce included piles of crusty bread on one stand, local seafood on another. For all chocaholics the Cocoa Tree Cafe had a stand dedicated to chocolate in all its forms. The Fife Diet were also there. The Fife Diet is all about growing and eating locally. Have a look at their link to find out more about it.

But I was looking for herbs and there they were in abundance at the  "Little Herb Farm" stand put together by Pen.
Pen is a fellow blogger. If you haven't come across her click on the link and have a look at her blog. We had arranged to swap some herb plants. It's always interesting to meet a fellow blogger and have a chat. I was keen to know about her enterprise and especially that engaging logo. I've always had an interest in signs and packaging (ever since an abortive attempt to sell soups and other produce at the Farmers Market in Orkney)

 Pen's well stocked stand full of gourmet delights.


Goodies for sale  included bunches of cut flowers, pots of herbs, bottles of fruity vinegars and herby salts and sugars. Everything was beautifully labelled and presented and we were able "to try before you buy". Pen's lables and bags were all stamped with her attractive logo.

P dithered over what fruity vinegar to buy. I think he must have tasted all of them.We bought two bottles (Raspberry and Rosemary and Blueberry and Basil). They have a delicious flavour and are quite addictive.We tried it drizzled over grilled camembert and salad. Mhhmmm...

If you would like to buy some of Pen's products she's at a Farmer's Market in Fife soon.
And if you can't get there, pop over to her blog  So Many Herbs, So Little Thyme or her Face Book page and see what you're missing. Maybe she'll do Mail Order soon.....