Foodies Festival, the UK’s largest celebration of food & drink, returns to Bristol Harbourside on the 11th, 12th and 13th July for its fourth consecutive year. Each year the ever-growing festival sees tens of thousands of visitors flock from the surrounding areas to feast on a vast array of culinary activities, discover new produce and enjoy a day of fun and entertainment.
Exhibition Director Sue Hitchen said: “We’re delighted that Glynn Purnell, esteemed judge of Great British Menu, will be joining us in the Chefs Theatre. Bristol is always such an exciting event for Foodies Festival and with so many new features this year there’s sure to be something for everyone.”
Top Chefs
This year welcomes an extensive array of top chefs, including Glynn Purnell, head chef at Purnells and judge of BBC’s Great British Menu and MasterChef winner Mat Follas and finalists Larkin Cen and Andrew Kojima.
Glynn Purnell said “I am thrilled to be invited to such a fantastic food festival over the summer months. I just hope visitors can understand my accent as I will be cooking for people outside of Birmingham! I am looking forward to ‘Cracking some Yolks’ and spreading the word about my first book to the lovely people of Bristol.”
The festival is also joined by Romy Gill from Romy’s Kitchen, Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay, Diego da Re of Prosecco Restaurant, Louise McCrimmon of Harvey Nichols’ 2nd Floor Restaurant and Richard Davies from the Manor House Hotel, all of whom will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs’ Theatre while explaining how home cooks can prepare the same dishes for friends and family.
Louise McCrimmon said “I am thrilled be taking part in Bristol Foodies Festival this summer as it is a leading event which celebrates the best of Bristol’s local produce. I will be cooking some of our delicious seasonal dishes from the Second Floor Restaurant.”
What’s New?
Exciting new features for 2014 include a spectacular Chocolate, Bake and Preserves Theatre which will host top pastry chefs, chocolatiers, bakers, sugarcraft experts and jam and preserve makers. Audience members will be invited to roll up their sleeves and lend a helping hand on stage.
A new Chocolate, Baking and Preserves Village will delight those visitors with a sweet tooth who can sample and take away products from chocolate and confectionery makers, bakers and cake makers, as well as jam and preserve makers. The Village is a haven for those who enjoy home baking, with a selection of stalls selling baking essentials and the latest gadgets.
A brand new outdoor BBQ Arena will appeal to lovers of al fresco dining. A purpose built BBQ stage will feature hourly BBQ cooking demonstrations with BBQ experts giving top tips on how to get the most from cooking outdoors. Spectators will be invited to take part in BBQ challenges; meat-eating competitions and will even learn how to make a ‘BBQ cake’!
A new Chilli Food Market will excite those with a love for spicy foods with a range of chilli growers and artisan producers of sauces, sweets and jams. For those who can handle the heat, a Chilli Eating Challenge takes place at 5pm daily.
The new Real Ale and Cider Farm offers an area for visitors to chill out on hay bales and strike up a conversation with our beer and cider expert Melissa Cole and fellow beer lovers. There’s a guitar behind the bar for those in the mood to get a sing-along started.
A new Feasting Tent at the heart of the festival becomes the social hub, where visitors will enjoy eating with chefs, friends and family at long banqueting tables.
Another exciting addition this year is the Vintage Tea Tent that will hold daily tea dances, alongside a Vintage Kitchen Market allowing visitors to pick up beautiful pieces to add to their own kitchens at home.
Old Favourites
These new elements complement Foodies’ existing features, including the popular Drinks Theatre where regular masterclasses and demonstrations are given by some of the most talented sommeliers, mixologists and drink experts in the country. Here, visitors can be some of the first people in the UK to sample new products as well as brush up on their knowledge of wine, champagne, sherry, ales and spirits with experts including TV’s Charles Metcalfe, beer expert Melissa Cole, champagne expert Neil Phillips and local wine expert Suzy Atkins.
The extensive Producers’ Market offers a vast array of artisan produce from the local area and incorporates the Guild of Fine Food award-winning British produce. With over 200 exhibitors, visitors will be spoilt for choice!
This year local farmer Faye Litherland of Somerset Farm will be setting up shop in the producers market selling her range of charcuterie products, a selection of free-from soups and ready meals along with duck egg-fruit curds amongst others.
Faye said … “I am really excited about attending the Foodies Festival. As a very small rare and traditional breeds farm the focus of everything I do is the best quality products and the highest welfare standards possible. I will be bringing a wide selection of goodies to the festival, all made with ingredients from the farm and containing no artificial anything. If you can make it from a sheep, pig, duck egg or chicken egg I probably stock it!”
2012 saw the successful introduction of Street Food Avenue to all Foodies events. This year Bristol crowds can again enjoy a huge selection of award winning hot and cold food from around the world including hog roasts, exotic meats, tapas, churros, burritos, Moroccan tagines, South American prime beef, Jamaican and Thai street food.
There is plenty for little foodies to do with the Children’s Cookery Theatre hosting “Around the World” themed cookery classes. These workshops will help children find their taste buds and teach them basic cooking skills.
The entertainment stage features live music acts performing every day until the later closing time this year of 8pm.
For more information about Bristol’s Foodies Festival and for tickets, visit their website.