I’m proud to say I’ve been support the vibrant Festival of Food & Drink since it began six years ago.
And in my opinion it’s one of the best of the UK’s food festivals. One of the things that struck me as I walked around this year was not only the diverse range of delicious dishes with cuisine from around the world from the fantastic Street Food ‘Pop Up’ cafés and bars, but the fact that they were all pretty much unique, with each stand selling something different. It makes for happy traders and customers.
The food marquee (Or the ‘tent of dreams’ as I nicknamed it a few years back) had a superb range of exhibitors and shopping opportunities from artisan producers, with a whole host of new products and ideas, showcasing everything from apple ciders to spicy oils, gooey brownies to zingy sauces – and absolutely everything in between.
Held at The National Trust’s Clumber Park , in Nottinghamshire, The festival attracts some of the UK’s best exhibitors offering mouth-watering fayre. This year there was a staggering 150 in total.
The Cookery Theatre played host to some famous faces, and it’s free to enter. I went along on Saturday when this year Eat Well For Lesshost, Chris Bavin was cooking live alongside Michelin star chef Dan Doherty and local chefs Andrea Wallace and Theresa Bovey.
There was also the chance for you to expand your own culinary skills by taking part in one of the many workshops – with sessions available for both adults and children from The School of Artisan Food teaching you how to make sausages, cheese, butter and ice-cream as well as meat and beer tasting (that ones adults only!).
Brand new for 2018 was the Gin School showcasing seven different Gins, how to mix them with different flavours, make cheeky cocktails – and you even got homework in the form of a goody bag.
Visitors with children were catered for with plenty for them to see and do. As well as the Cookery lessons at The School of Artisan Food for those over six years old there was also archery, laser clay shooting, axe throwing, sand art, forest school, a Ferris wheel, carousel, bungee trampoline and much more.
There’s always a fantastic atmosphere at the Festival of Food & Drink, helped along by fantastic live music, this year from John Adams, Alex Taylor, Joe Strange, and The Burgundys, bringing the true festival vibe.
With the festive season looming, it is the ideal event to stock up on gifts for the foodie in your life and, despite its title, the Festival is about much more than Food and Drink. The Beautiful Things marquee housed some great homewares and gifts and the Book People had all the latest cookery books that could be signed by the visiting celebrity chefs.
Being one of the last of the year, it’s perfect way to end the festival season for a foodie. I’m already looking forward to next years!
For more information and to sign up to the mailing list to be one of the first to hear news about next years festival visit: http://festivaloffoodanddrink.com
By Tanya Louise
Editor
@tanyalouise_
Disclaimer: My tickets were complimentary but my views are my own
