Food festivals in May (part one)

With so many food festivals happening in May we will aim to bring you as many as we can without you having an information overload.

So without further ado let us begin:

 

Eat Drink Bristol Fashion

When:  

1^st – 18^th May

Where:

Queen Square, Bristol

First up, starting right at the beginning of the month, is Eat Drink Bristol Fashion. Now in its third year this festival is in the heart of Bristol’s city centre in Queen Square and “champions sustainable food production, ethical food systems and food traceability”.

It’s all about sustainability and showcasing the best chefs from Bristol and the South West, with a tipi village (free to enter), 18 days of tapas, live music and entertainment and a tapas tipi serving a menu created by Josh Eggleton, owner of the Pony & Trap, this certainly is one festival that you need to put on your calendar.

Throughout the 18 days there will be talks from Nathan Outlaw, Josh Eggleton (co-founder of the festival), Dominic Chapman, Paul Ainsworth and Simon Hulstone to name but a few but hurry as these ‘Fine Dining’ lunches and dinners are ticketed with some already sold out. See who else is cooking at the event here.

 

Next is a festival dedicated to something you can either melt on toast, cube and partner with pineapple or have in a sandwich with pickle yep you guessed it it’s cheese.

 

Artisan Cheese Fair

When: 

3rd-4th May

Where:

Cattle Market, Melton Mowbray, Leicester

With 700 different named cheeses produced in Britain this festival now in its fourth year will give you the “opportunity to taste around 200 different cheeses and find the hidden gems you never knew existed.” With cheese makers galore and tutorials from industry experts expect nothing but a cheese-filled weekend.

If cheese isn’t your thing or if you are lactose intolerant then perhaps this next one might be up your street.

 

Hardwick Hall Food Festival

When: 

3rd - 5th May

Where:

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

On the first Bank Holiday of May the Great British Food Festival will set up camp in the country house Hardwick Hall. Expect a whole host of chef demos, man v food, cake-offs, live music and entertainment and competitions.

Appearing at this countryside event will be Steve Durham, a professional chef over 25 years who has worked with the likes of Sat Bains and Raymond Blanc as well as Marcus Bean, a TV chef and soon to be author, and Ralph Skripek one of the “most influential and passionate game chefs in the North of the Country”.

As part of The Great British Food Festival also be sure to catch Harewood House Food Festival at the end of the month on the 24^th-26^th May.

 

Next is Cambridge’s own “food and drink extravaganza”.

 

Eat Cambridge

When:

10^th – 24^th May

Where: 

Clue is in the title – Cambridge

Eat Cambridge is now in its second year and is festival of food and drink with the aim of showing off local independent producers to local food fans throughout the county of Cambridgeshire.

The people at Eat Cambridge have been ever so kind and created for you a festival brochure so you get to see exactly what they have in store for you this year including those all important details on the main event on Saturday 17^th.

Here is some of what you can expect:

• Pop-up restaurants


• Secret supper clubs


• Food debates


• Street food night market


• Food and wine tasting


• Behind-the-scenes tours


• Cookery lessons


• Chef talks and demos

However have a more in-depth look with their brochure here

 

 

Alchemy Food Market, Flavours of India

When: 

16^th – 26^th May

Where:

Southbank Centre Square, London

With an estimated 23 million of the UK fans of curry this is a must for any lover of Indian food.

Flavours of India is part of Southbank Centre’s Alchemy Festival and features a variety of events but with the main focus on food. “From the best restaurants and most creative and talented

London chefs, to the most authentic, regional street food -so integral to daily life across India- Flavours of India celebrates the full gastronomic diversity of this amazing continent.”

With chef demonstrations showcasing the skills and art of authentic traditional regional Indian food, as well as those who are reinterpreting or refining classic Indian flavours and techniques expect the Southbank Centre to be transformed into a “bustling Indian market.”

Other festivals happening throughout May include:

• 4-5th May - Scarisbrick Food Fayre


• 10th- 11th May - Chorley Food Festival


• 10th-11th May - Ludlow Food Spring Festival


• 16th-18th May - Ballymaloe LitFest of Food and Wine


• 16th-18th May - Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival, Norfolk
  


• 17th May - Witney Festival of Food & Drink


• 17th May - Alcester Food Festival (Spring Festival)


• 17th - 18th May - Letchworth Food & Garden Festival