So we're over halfway through the year (not sure if that's a good or a bad thing?) and the food festivals are still aplenty. The month where the majority of us decide to take time off work and go on holiday. so what better to do with your time off then go to one of these food festivals?
Happening up and down and side to side throughout the country here is our little guide of what is on.
First up is:
When:
5th - 6th July
Where:
Shugborough Estate, Stafford
As part of the Great British Food Festival Shugborough Estate Food Festival (near Staffford) this first weekend in July is jam-packed with chef demos, cake competitions, Men Vs Food Challenge, Artisan talk tent and appearances from:
TV chefs: Brian Mellor (BBC & Granada TV) and Marcus Bean (Good Morning)
As well as local talent Dean Cole from the world famous Belfry, Richard Cullen (Taste of Staffordshire Masterchef 2013) and award winning baker, Duncan Hindley.
Featuring the best local, seasonal and speciality food and drink the festival will also offer a mix of cuisines including some more exotic elements including:
- Thai noodles
- Ostrich burgers
- Samosas
- As well as pulled pork, prime steak, and the best local burgers and sausages.
Have a look on their website for
full listings on what is happening over the weekend.
Now we're heading back down South for a rather fishy affair:
When:
12th-13th
Where:
Weymouth, Dorset
Seafish, the UK authority on seafood, are once again supporting the free to attend, spectacular Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival taking place in Weymouth’s 17th century Old Harbour on the 12th and 13th July this year.
The festival alo prioritises the promotion of sustainable seafood from around our shores as well as the health benefits of seafood.
Clue is in the title with what this festival will involve but over the two-day event expect:
- Activities showcasing Great British BBQ Champion – Ben Bartlett
- Sue and Duncan Lucas from Passionate about Fish
- National, award winning fish and chip retailer Fred Capel, from Chez Fred
- There will also be a range of experts from industry – all with a great story to tell about catching, conserving, processing and ultimately serving seafood from all over the South West.
- Seafish Marquee where you can enter compe
As well as appearances from:
- Whelks
- Bass
- Lobsters
- Oysters
- Cockles
- Razor clams,
- Scallops
- Crabs
See the full schedule for the two days
here.
Also happening the weekend of the 12th is...
When:
12th July
Where:
Brampton Bryan, North Herefordshire
This one day event is now in it's seventh year and is this year to feature James Strawbridge as their chef in residence, and judge of the Kotlich Pot Outdoor Cooking Competition.
James is an established writer and presenter, and has recently started his own company so knows all about the demands of running a small high quality food business.
And to mix things up a bit The Fair is being opened by comedian, actor and writer Jo Brand.
The intention of this fair is to promote local food and craft producers, by featuring their products to local people who may have been unaware of how superb the food produced around them really is.
Here is their update on Facebook explaining exactly what they've got going on:
Back down south again for...
When:
19th and 20th July
Where:
Cressing Temple Barns, between Witham and Braintree, Essex
Organised by the Essex Chronicle Media Group in association with Adnams of Southwold, the festivals brings together the very best producers in Essex, East Anglia, London and beyond to serve up a huge feast of fabulous food and drink.
Over 120 stands and three cookery theatres Essex festival will be showcasing chefs and experts "demonstrating mouth watering dishes to tantalise your taste buds with continuous demonstrations all weekend long!"
Those offering their advice and tips this year are:
- Ruby Tandoh, 2013 finalist, Great British Bake Off
- Jo Wheatley, 1011 winner, Great British Bake Off
- Tony Singh,(one half of BBC2's Incredible Spice Men)
- Haden Groves, 2013 National Chef of the Year
- Mark Lloyd, Chef and wild food expert on the Love Food Hate Waste stage
- Daniel Clifford, 2 Michelin star Midsummer House, Cambridge
Plus:
At the heart of the festival sits the Outdoor Food Court where 500 visitors can enjoy listening to live music whilst eating fabulous street from Italian to French Basque style to authentic local hot dogs and local seafood delicacies.
For the Kids:
Free cookery classes for 8 to 12 year olds with the fabulous Italian cookery teacher Ursula Ferrigno.
Also happening the same weekend but just for the day is...
When:
20th July
Where:
Titchwell Manor, Norfolk
Back after a successful year last year Titchwell Manor's day event runs from 12pm - 5pm and is a unique celebration of East Anglia’s finest food and drink, with live music and entertainment.
I'll let Titchwell Manor tell you themselves about what they have in store as they certainly have crammed a lot in for the day:
- From live cooking demos and a bouncy castle, to the return of three year old Jemima Snaith’s homemade lemonade stand (helped this year by younger sister Verity) and dishes to die for from the region’s gastronomic stars.
- Signature dishes from the likes of Michelin-starred Morston Hall’s Richard Bainbridge and 2013’s Eastern Daily Press Chef of the Year Mark Dixon from the King’s Arms in Fleggburgh – all for just £3.
- Demos taking place throughout the day – from butchery to shellfish. Listen to talks from the finest local producers such as Marsh Pig Charcuterie and Letzter’s Seafood and Smoked Fish, then taste their produce in dishes created by Titchwell Manor’s head chef Eric Snaith and his talented team.
And for the kids:
- Face painting to apple bobbing and pottery painting. Parents can sit back and relax whilst the little ones tire themselves out on the bouncy castle or take part in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed games organised by children’s shop Bells and Whistles.
- For fuel, fill them up with pic‘n’mix-style picnic food or treat yourself to hard to resist homemade ice cream from the vintage Titchwell Manor ice cream bicycle - pistachio and brandy snap; baked white chocolate; lime and elderflower to name but a few.
And finally at the end of the month...
When:
30th July
Where:
Dorfold Park, Nantwich, Cheshire
This one day event is the largest Cheese Show in the world complete with celebrity chefs – James Martin, Will Holland, Jonathan Harrison and Sean Wilson. And cheese has just got bigger as the renowned Cheese Marquee is now enlarged yet again, to a colossal 80,000 sq ft to enable it to hold the world record entries of 3,926.
James Martin will be making his third appearance at the show and is now a firm favourite while Will and Matt will be making their debut appearance.
Matt has presented Food Unwrapped on Channel 4 and has championed forgotten foods on Great British Food Revival on BBC2. Matt has also co-presented Market Kitchen with Tom Parker-Bowles and Matthew Fort and is a guest presenter of Saturday Kitchen.
Will Holland from Ludlow, Shropshire has appeared on several television programmes including being a regular guest chef on Saturday Kitchen, beating the Hairy Bikers when they visited La Bécasse (his own restaurant) on their “Food Tour of Britain” and was the central region champion on BBC’s Great British Menu.
Also on the cards for Nantwich is:
- Cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, pigeons and dogs.
- Over 400 trade stands covering all requirements from clothes, tractors, new cars, shopping & craft marquee and a food hall.
More info
here on timings so you can plan your day.
