Foodies Festival announces new festivals for 2015 to celebrate 10th anniversary
Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest celebration of food and drink, celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer with ten festivals across the country. Expect Michelin-star and celebrity chefs, new food and drink theatres, artisan producers and more street food than you can shake a satay stick at. Foodies Festivals take place at:
Brighton, Hove Lawns: May 2,3,4
Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park: May 15,16,17
London, Syon Park: May 23,24,25
Bristol, The Downs: June 26,27,28
London, Alexandra Palace: July 3,4,5
Cheshire, Tatton Park: July 17,18,19
London, Clapham Common: July 24,25,26
Edinburgh, Inverleith Park: August 7,8,9
Harrogate, Ripley Castle: August 21,22,23
Oxford, South Parks: August 29,30,31
Festival-goers can join the culinary celebrations in the New Tasting Theatre, where local experts invite visitors to try the latest foods and learn new skills including Oyster Shucking, Bee Keeping, Cheese Selecting, Foraging, Raw and Vegan foods, and Herb Cocktail Making.
To toast Foodies’ big year, a Wine and Champagne Theatre hosts tutored tastings with experts Neil Phillips and Charles Metcalfe who will guide visitors through this season’s best British bubblies from the UK and around the world, and beer expert Melissa Cole hosts masterclasses in the New Craft Beer Theatre, matching foods with locally produced craft beers.
The Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre welcomes Michelin-star and celebrity chefs who will cook signature dishes from their summer menus, inspiring the audience to recreate these dishes at home for friends and family and experiment with new flavours and ingredients. Confirmed chefs include:
- Ping Coombes – MasterChef champion 2014
- John Whaite - Great British Bake Off winner
- Ben Tish – Saltyard
- Rakesh Ravindran Nair - The Cinnamon Club
- Adam Handling – Adam Handling at Caxton
- Jacques Fourie - Ember Yard
- Jesse Dunford Wood – PARLOUR
- Dhruv Baker – MasterChef winner
- Shelina Permalloo – MasterChef winner
- Katy B – Little Miss Meat Free
Chocolate addicts should head to the Chocolate Theatre for an instant hit of coco in ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a Rockstar’ masterclasses with Coeur de Xocolat, while the Cake & Bake Theatre offers masterclasses in 3D cake modelling, Pastry, Chocolate Making and Sugar-Craft with the country’s best bakers and pâtissiers. A complementing Chocolate, Cake and Bake Village sells bakes, jams, gadgets and baking essentials.
Delicious smells wafting from The Street Food Avenue will tantalise visitors to feast on the huge selection of hot and cold dishes from around the world, including Gone Burger, OHSO British, GB Sausage and Boy Meats Grill. Japanese, Thai, Brazilian, Argentinian, Vegetarian and Vegan, Mexican, French and African cuisines are also served for visitors to tuck into at communal tables in the Feasting Tent.
Visitors can meet and stock-up from over 200 producers in the Artisan Producers Market selling award winning cheeses and wines, breads and bakes, jams and condiments, cured meats and more to take home and enjoy.
Little foodies can explore their taste buds and learn basic skills with Picnic in the Park themed masterclasses in the Childrens Cookery Theatre, where Kiddy Cook will help them how to make finger sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs.
After a day of feasting and fun, foodies can relax with a spot on the grass and soak in the atmosphere with live music from the entertainment stage and a refreshing cocktail, glass of bubbly or a Pimms from the Giant Pimms Teapot and Galleon Mojito bars.
