Michelin star line-up announced for Foodies Festival Christmas
Chef Ernesto Paiva of Bubbledogs, a gourmet hotdog and champagne bar who’s Kitchen Table was awarded a Michelin star last week, will cook their award winning dishes in the newly designed open-air Chefs Theatre at the inaugural Foodies Festival Christmas.
Festival-goers can also watch Michelin star chef Robert Ortiz of Lima, Jesse Dunford Wood of PARLOUR, Kurobuta’s head chef Scott Hallsworth, The Bluebird’s Matt Robinson, The Corinthia’s head chef Garry Hollihead, Kim Woodward of York and Albany and Anna Haugh of London House prepare their favourite festive dishes, with a full range of produce available to buy in the artisan market.
Vegans and vegetarians can look forward to Little Miss Meat Free Katy Beskow - winner of Peta’s 2014 Great Vegan Bake Off - sharing her Christmas alternatives.
2012 Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite and series 4 favourite Glenn Cosby will head-up a Christmas baking initiative, sharing breads and cakes recipes – the perfect holiday gift to share. There are also free hands-on masterclasses in cake decorating and icing, where participants can learn sugarcraft skills and decorate edible treats to hang on the Christmas tree at home.
The festival boasts a huge selection of new features including a Producers Grotto with local artisan produce to browse and have gift wrapped to take home, a Craft Beer Market and Pop-Up Breweries, a Cheese Village with cheese-makers from the UK, France and Italy and a Pudding Hall - a haven of sweet treats featuring pâtissiers and chocolatiers selling eggnog tarts, marzipan bonbons and macaroons. A life-size Gingerbread House serves warm ginger beer and roasted ginger marshmallows.
Other highlights include a Whiskey Arena offering a range of whiskeys, malts and hot toddies; a Ski Bar serving après ski cocktails, off-piste snacks and live DJs to create a chilled out St Anton vibe; and a vintage Soda Bar serving retro ‘pops’ from the 50’s themed bar.
Regular masterclasses take place in the Drinks Theatre with craft beer and food matching with local brewers and festive port and sherry tastings with Charles Metcalfe; Wine Tipster Neil Phillips advises on the best champagne and wines to buy this season.
The Christmas Feasting Table sits under a sky of twinkling fairy lights at the heart of the festival, where foodies can tuck into international delicacies served from the surrounding Street Food Avenue, such as Fish& who recently won ‘Best Main’ at the British Street Food Awards.
Just like Christmas day there is lots of post-feasting fun to be had with entertainment throughout the day. Visitors can register their team to compete in the Christmas Bumper Quiz at 5pm daily, have a group Christmas jumper picture taken in the photo booth, sing carols and learn how to dance the Gay Gordon with ceilidh dancing and live music from the Accoustic Stage.
For the little ones, an Elf Cookery School invites children under 12 to bake snowballs and decorate gingerbread men, cookies and cupcakes to leave out for Santa.
