Good Grub

11^th & 12^th September 2010 at Bristol Harbourside

This year’s Organic Food Festival offers families and food lovers more than ever before – with the UK’s leading artisan producers, livestock shows, cooking demo areas with celebrity chefs and special kids zone to celebrate the festival’s 10th anniversary at Bristol’s Harbourside on 11 & 12 September 2010.

The festival, which is Europe’s biggest celebration of all things organic, provides an opportunity for visitors to taste the best food and meet leading producers from across the UK. Visitors can expect a weekend of gastronomic delights provided by over 150 of the very best organic producers, sponsored by Yeo Valley.

At this year’s festival, as well as a host of celebrity chefs sharing culinary wisdom in the Cookery Demo Tent, an expected 20,000 visitors will be able to discover delicious food and drink, luxurious skincare, leading organic fashion labels, organic textiles and home design as well as organic gardening.

At the heart of the 2010 festival will be The Food Market where visitors can come and look, taste and buy from stalls offering some of the best organic produce you can find. From organic pork pies, to organic ice cream, it will be a foodie lover’s heaven.

Kids will be entertained with a wealth of activities at the Kids Taste Experience Tent which is being led by the Youth Food Movement. Activities, which will encourage kids to think about how their food is made, include butter making, seed planting and bread baking.

The Organic Food Festival Sheep Show will offer visitors the chance to swot up on different breeds of sheep whilst learning some interesting facts from our local farmers. As well as offering more livestock to look at than ever before, the Organic Food Festival’s 2010 Sheep Show adds an educational aspect to the event, encouraging visitors to consider where their food comes from and what benefits organic farming can offer.

There’ll be celebrity chefs sharing their culinary expertise and recipes in the demo area, including Barney Haughton, Geetie Singh and Oliver Rowe.  The Show will be opened by Soil Association President, Monty Don, and the Soil Association’s Organic Food Awards will be hosted by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Finally, for those who want to sit back and relax with a glass of locally brewed organic cider, there will be a stage offering a line up of the best in unsigned musical talent, as well as free regular screenings of recently released film Food Inc. in the Planetarium.

Promising to be an entertaining family-friendly outing, this much loved festival is perfect for everyone.

• The Organic Food Festival is on Saturday September 11 (10am-6pm) and Sunday 12 (10am-5pm) at Bristol Harbourside. Tickets cost £5, with free entry for children and Soil Association members. Visit www.organicfoodfestival.co.uk for more information The event is being organised by the Real Food Festivals Ltd, in association with the Soil Association.
• Sponsors for the Organic Food Festival 2010 include Yeo Valley, Riverford Organics, Cono Sur wines, Bart’s Spices and Weston’s Cider.

Comment

Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association, says; “The Organic Food Festival in Bristol is the highlight of the Soil Association’s Organic Fortnight – in the ten years since it began, and 15 years since I’ve been director of the Soil Association, organic production has grown from niche to mainstream and is now at the forefront of sustainable food and farming systems, providing real solutions to the challenges of climate change and increased stresses on our environment. Buying organic food is a small way to make a big difference, simply through the way we shop – and during the fortnight the Soil Association is encouraging people to switch to organic every day.”

At a glance

• Saturday, 11 September, 10am – 6pm & Sunday, 12 September, 10am – 5pm
• Admission price: £5
• Free admission to Soil Association members and children under 16
• Hundreds of certified-organic food, drink, home, garden, beauty, fashion and textile exhibitors
• Cooking demos by a long list of celebrity chefs

Attractions

• The historic Bristol Harbourside will be transformed into a lively organic market with food pavilions, wine bars and cafes.
• Bordeaux Quay cookery school will host a special series of cookery lessons at the Demo Kitchen with Britain’s Renowned Chefs – look out for Barney Houghton, Ollie Rowe and Daniel Galmiche.
• The Health, Beauty and Textiles Pavilions will open up a world of organic that goes beyond the bubbling pots in the kitchen.
• In the Organic Gardening Pavilion visitors can get everything they need to grow their own greens, giving ‘eating locally’ a new meaning. Experts will be on hand to give budding gardeners some green fingered tips.
• One of the highlights for this year’s festival will be the Sheep Show which offers visitors the chance to swot up on over ten different breeds of sheep whilst learning some interesting facts from our local farmers. It’s not just sheep you can see either – look out for other animals including dairy cows and even a water buffalo!
• Many other exciting attractions in store, including demos on how to make preserves, chutneys your own beauty products and more!

In support of British Food Fortnight, 18 September – 03 October 2010, the National Trust will be celebrating the very best of locally grown produce through tantalising tasting events across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Child Eating Fruit - photo NPTL Ian Shaw

On the National Trust’s menu are fruit and vegetable workshops, cookery master classes and food fayres, plus many more tasting events  – there’s something for all food lovers.  Here’s a selection of British Food Fortnight events taking place in National Trust properties to tickle your taste buds:

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens & Lode Mill, Cambridgeshire

A Foodie Affair, 25 September 10.30am – 4pm

Celebrate the arrival of autumnal flavour with a whole day of food related activities and find out about our link with Red2Green. Discover our allotment project and taste wholesome local produce. For those seeking further adventure, why not join in seed gathering and our grow-your-own activities.

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
For more information please call 01223 810080.

Attingham Park, Shropshire

Food Fayre, 18 – 19 September 10am – 4pm

Over 40 stalls of local, quality produce for sale ranging from pork, beef and venison to cakes, bread, vegetables, cider and chocolate…and much more.

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
For more information please call 01743 708123.

Beningbrough Hall & Gardens, North Yorkshire

Food & Craft Festival, 25 – 26 September 11am – 4pm

Our third festival of great Yorkshire food and crafts, with stalls of produce, a BBQ & hog roast, family vegetable workshops, vegetable catwalk and much more.

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
For more information please call 01904 472027.

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

The Calke Show – Plot to Plate, 18 September 11am – 4pm

Enter your home-grown, seasonal produce in our vegetable, fruit and flower show. Meet some local food producers and Calke’s chefs will demonstrate some culinary ideas.

Farmers' Market - photo NPTL Pennt Tweedie

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
For more information please call 01332 863822.

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire

Some Like It Hot, 25 September 11am – 4pm

Peppers Day: Demonstrations will be held to show you how to grow and cook with sweet, bell and chilli peppers. There will also be a stall selling fresh produce from the Walled Kitchen Garden.

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
For more information please call 01909 544917.

Dunham Massey, Cheshire

Venison Cookery Masterclass, 30 September – 01 October from 1pm

Ever fancied venison but not sure what to do with it? Let local chef Paul Ratcliffe demonstrate how to make the most of this local, sustainable and healthy ingredient against the backdrop of our wonderful Edwardian kitchen.

Booking is essential for this event.
There is an event charge of £40 per adult.
For more information please call 0161 941 1025.

Erddig, Wrexham

20th Annual Apple Festival, 02 – 03 October 11am – 5pm

From William Tell, Granny Smith and Sir Isaac Newton to cider cookery and folklore. Come and celebrate our increasingly popular apple harvest with cider tasting apple press demonstrations dancers, games over 120 varieties of Erddig apples on show and lots more for all the family!

Booking is not required for this event.
There is an event charge of £10.30 adult, £5.15 child, £25.75 family and £7.90 group.
For more information please call 01978 355314.

Knightshayes Court, Devon

Kitchen Garden – Autumn Planting, 24 September 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Watch the autumn planting of broad beans, garlic, onions, chard and lettuces and pick up expert tips for your own vegetable patch or allotment.

Booking is essential for this event.
There is an event charge of £10.50 for all tickets.
For more information please call 01884 254665.

Petworth House & Park, West Sussex

Celebrating British Food Fortnight Supper, 18 September 7pm – 9.30pm

Our chefs will prepare a wonderful five course meal that will highlight and celebrate some of the best of British food sourced locally to Petworth House.

Booking is essential for this event.
There is an additional event charge of £45 per person.
For more information please call 01798 342207.

Stourhead, Wiltshire

Meet the Farmer, 25 September 2.30pm

Celebrate British Food Fortnight with entertaining sausage-making demonstrations by our tenant farmer Steve Harris. Discover how he manages his organic, wildlife friendly farm here on the Stourhead estate.

Booking is not required for this event.
Normal admission charges apply but there are additional event charges.
For more information please call 01747 841152.

The Argory, Co. Armagh

Autumn in the Garden, 26 September 11am – 4pm

Enjoy the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Join our team as they prepare the garden and greenhouse for autumn and winter.

Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
Booking is not needed for this event.

For more information please call 028 8778 4753.

Winchester City Mill, Hampshire

Jam & Chutney Fest, 18 September 11am – 4pm

Enjoy bread making and baking demonstrations plus discover how to make jams and jellies from the hedgerow and garden.

Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.
Booking is not needed for this event.
For more information please call 01962 870057.

Tags: British food, food, local food, National Trust

Festival for Traditional Nutrition

London – March 21st

Doors open: 9  Event: 10-6

£40 advance, £50 at door (Concessions Available)

The Camden Centre, Bidborough St, London WC1H 9AU

World Renowned Speakers

The Weston A Price Foundation® campaigns for wise traditions in food, farming & the healing arts, challenging politically correct nutrition & the diet dictocrats.

Sally Fallon Morell, MA, president and founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation, author of the bestselling cookbook Nourishing Traditions and an internationally acclaimed nutrition educator.

Sir Julian Rose, pioneering organic farmer, and renowned countryside and raw milk campaigner. Julian is chairing the event.  Julian will discuss campaign issues in Britain and across Europe with Jadwiga Lopata, Poland’s top countryside campaigner.  Jadwiga and Julian have campaigned successfully for, amongst other things, GMO-free Poland.

Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, founder of the Cambridge Nutrition Clinic, and author of Gut & Psychology Syndrome (GAPS), her revolutionary nutrition program for mental and digestive wellness and the treatment of depression, autism, ADD, ADHD, and schizophrenia.

Barry Groves, PhD, author of Trick and Treat, the explosive book on why conventional “healthy diets” are ruining people’s lives and making food manufacturers and healthcare providers rich.

Stalls with information & books.

Bar: Raw Jersey cow, goat and buffalo milk, milkshakes and real ale.

Website: Wise Traditions UK 2010

For more information, contact Philip Ridley on PhilRidley@hotmail.com or 02076821093

Tags: diet, farming, food, healing, health, nutrition, weston a price

DJ Mr Scruff and make us a brew! launch new BIG CHILL TEA at The Big Chill Festival (6 – 9 August 2009)

Listen up tea lovers – avid tea enthusiast DJ Mr. Scruff is planning to launch his brand new make us a brew! BIG CHILL tea exclusively at this year’s The Big Chill Festival during his now legendary festival tea party. As The Big Chill regulars will know, the place to go for top notch DJ sets, home baked pies and cakes, and mug loads of quality make us a brew! teas. Mugnificent.

Made from a blend of organic rooibos, sweet pear, cinnamon and Mr. Scruff’s new favourite find, valerian (a natural relaxant), make us a brew! Big Chill tea (named after the festival obviously) helps you get into that laid back, “Heeeeey maaaan” atmosphere and makes reality television and the thought that Christmas is less than five months away distant memories…

So if you’re The Big Chill bound at the beginning of August, come and join the make us a brew! crew at Scruff’s tea party, every day and night next to the lake, and treat your lucky mug to some Big Chill tea. We find it best enjoyed after a night of cutting hardcore shapes on the dance floor and contemplating how we’re going to find the way back to our tent…

Big Chill make us a brew! organic herbal tea launches on 6 August at The Big Chill Festival and, for those not going to this year’s fest, the tea will be available from retail stores in September, RRP around £2.00 for a box of 25 teabags.

For more information on the new herbal range head over to www.makeusabrew.com or for festival info visit www.bigchill.net
The Big Chill: 6th – 9th August 2009
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8

Tags: big chill, festival, herbal, organic, tea

Soil Association Organic Food Festival 2008
6-7 September 2008
10-6pm on Saturday and 10-5pm Sunday
Harbourside, Bristol
Admission to the Festival is £4 (FREE to under 16s and Soil Association charity members – bring your card)
For more information on the Festival go to www.soilassociation.org/festival

The Soil Association Organic Food Festival, sponsored by Yeo Valley Organic, is Europe’s largest celebration of all things organic and kicks off this year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight, a nationwide campaign bringing together individuals, communities, retailers, restaurants, schools and organic farms.

Now in its eighth year the festival will be host to over 300 organic companies showcasing the very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with bustling food markets, a green planet pavilion, a demonstration kitchen, an exciting talks programme, food cruises around the harbour, and an arts and entertainment fringe that includes food demos, children’s activities, and music.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association said,
“Attending the Soil Association Organic Food Festival is truly memorable and inspiring and has become one of the highlights of my year. Meeting the producers and learning the stories behind the food you eat is a life enhancing experience. Making a commitment to buy local and organic produce is one of the most important actions we can take to build a more secure and climate friendly food future for ourselves and our children against a background of fossil fuel depletion and climate change.”

New to the festival for 2008:

• With rising oil prices fuelling our passion for local production, this year we are showcasing a wealth of organic producers and retailers within a 30-mile radius of the city with our first Local Market in Anchor Square.
• If you really want to focus on eating locally what better than your own back yard! There will be a Grow your own organic garden area featuring a Garden Café, demonstration vegetable plots, talks, and opportunities to pick up useful tips.
• Organic Live! areas across the site will include cookery demos and wine tasting and visitors can engage with exhibitors and environmental experts on a range of fascinating subjects – from their personal stories to big panel discussions on climate change and sustainable fishing. Come along and learn everything from how Transition communities are moving from oil dependency to local resilience to how to be “Self-Sufficient-ish” from Bristol twins and authors Andy & Dave Hamilton.
• For budding Jamie Olivers the Food for Life Partnership cooking buswill be in the Kid’s Zone. There will be free, 90-minute cookery sessions taking place three times a day where 7 to 11 year-olds will be taught how to make delicious organic treats.
• The festival will open on Saturday morning with the Matthew sailing towards the Amphitheatre to the sound of ‘Food Glorious Food’ sung by the amazing People of Note Choir. They will also be performing again later on Saturday on the Millenium Square stage. This will be part of a whole feast of musical entertainment throughout the site over the weekend.

Helen Taylor, Soil Association development director said:
“Every year the Soil Association Organic Food Festival just gets bigger and better. There’s something here for everyone whether you’re looking for help growing your own veg, a chance to try out a new organic beauty product, or just looking for something tasty for dinner.”

This year’s festival is greener than ever

With the introduction of sustainably sourced biofuel (from used cooking oil) to power the festival generators, and an emphasis on travelling to the festival by train, bus and ferry. To keep it green and encourage people to come by train, the Soil Association, in partnership with First Travel, are offering a 2 for 1 offer on festival tickets on presentation of proof of using First Travel transport.
There will be comprehensive recycling facilities provided by Network Recycling, sponsored by Barts Spices, and the Soil Association is supporting WRAP’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign with sessions in the Demo Kitchen and interactive talks – highlighting that the food we throw away is a huge waste of energy, water and packaging. Come and learn about easy ways to reduce food waste, help the environment and save money.

Tags: Bristol, festival, food, organic, Soil Association, Yeo Valley

The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham will take place between 23rd April and 21st June (St Georges Day and Midsummers Day) the “traditional” growing period for Vale Asparagus.

Starting with “The Great English Asparagus Run” on St Georges Day, and with a plethora of asparagus related events taking place throughout the Festival period, Worcestershire’s Vale of Evesham is definitely the place to be for true aficionados.

At 8am on the morning of the 23rd April, the Festival will kick off with “The Great English Asparagus Run”.

A “Beaujolais type spectacle” from the Vale of Evesham to London, the Asparagus Run will be a celebration of great English icons, with a Worcestershire bias.

The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Mr Michael Brinton, will leave the Bell Tower in Evesham in a chauffeur driven “Morgan Roadster”, carrying a “100″ Round of the finest Vale Asparagus on a Royal Worcester plate.

This majestic departure will be to the sounds of the local Avonbank Band playing Elgars’ Land of Hope and Glory, the bells of a side of local Morris dancers and the dulcit tones of local singer, Bruno Galloway.

Upon arrival in London we have been invited by the “Enjoy England – Celebrate St Georges Day Campaign” to arrive at the Members Entrance of The House of Commons, in time for the St Georges’ Day Loving Cup Ceremony that will take place with the involvement of Miss England. The Round of Vale Asparagus will then be presented by the Lord Lieutenant to Mr Andrew Rossindell MP, Shadow Home Affairs Minister and Chairman of the All-party St George’s Day Group.

Tags: asparagus, festival, food, gourmet

This year’s Scottish Food Fortnight, the annual celebration of Scotland’s food and drink, is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.

Organised and funded by the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust, SFF, now in its sixth year, has grown to be one of the key events in Scotland’s food calendar.

SFF, supported by world-renowned cook Lady Claire Macdonald, has also received strong backing from the Scottish Parliament.

This year’s event will be launched in the spectacular setting of Glamis Castle in Angus and run from 6th – 21st of September. Details of the SFF 2008 programme will be rolled out over the summer.

Last year’s highlights included sunset dining in the Cairngorms, demonstrations from celebrity chefs, cheese and whisky evenings and colourful farmers markets including the annual market in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Nicola Chalmers-Watson, SCAET director, said: “Scotland has some of the best food and drink in the world. Our fresh produce and our meat, game and fish is prized by the best chefs across the globe.

“Scottish Food Fortnight is about encouraging everyone in Scotland to make the most of our amazing larder.”

Scottish Food Fortnight runs from September 6th to 21st across Scotland. For details of all events and further information please refer to website www.scottishfoodfortnight.co.uk

Tags: countryside, drink, festival, food, Scotland

The most exciting restaurant, food and drink festivals are back this summer. Expect Taste Festivals to be the hottest tickets in town when they go on sale on 5th March. Thousands of passionate foodies will be booking for the fabulous events at London, Bath, Birmingham, Leeds and Edinburgh that will showcase the country’s best restaurants, chefs and fine food and drink companies.

This year, the tickets are almost too hot to handle… To coincide with the launch, Taste Festivals are giving food lovers who book on 5th March the chance to win a place on the Chefs’ Table at Taste of London. With gastro luminaries such as Tom Aikens and Michel Roux Jr as hosts, the winner will be guaranteed an unforgettable culinary experience.

So what are you waiting for? Make your reservation for Taste Festivals now …

Taste of London, in partnership with British Airways, Regent’s Park, 19 – 22 June
Now enjoying truly World Class status, Taste of London marks the start of the ‘season’. It features over 40 of the capital’s top restaurants, including Le Gavroche, L’Atelier du Joel Robuchon, Arbutus, Dorchester Grill Room, Le Café Anglais, Tom’s Place and Angela Hartnett’s forthcoming restaurant, York & Albany.

Visitors will also be able to lose themselves among the 100 food and drink stalls, including the delicious. magazine Producers Market and enjoy demonstrations and tastings at the Sainsbury’s Taste Kitchen. Luxury train operator Orient-Express will be showcasing its fine food and drink offering through a restaurant and dedicated bar.

For the first time, Taste of London will also have an international flavour. Taste of China, sponsored by Amoy and Harbin, will play host to four Chinese restaurants including China Tang, Kai, Snazz Sichuan and Lan, the Philippe Starck designed restaurant in Beijing. Expect to see cooking demonstrations from top Chinese chefs and food experts, tea and Chinese lifestyle talks along with dim sum and noodle demonstrations at the Amoy Theatre.

Taste of Edinburgh, The Meadows, 29 May – 1 June
Taste of Edinburgh will feature some of Scotland’s best restaurants and food and drink producers. Meet celebrated chefs Martin Wishart from Restaurant Martin Wishart, Stuart Muir from Forth Floor at Harvey Nichols and watch Scottish Chef of the Year, Andrew Fairlie from Gleneagles, demonstrating his recipes. Plus, enjoy signature dishes from David Bann, The Tower and Duck’s at Le Marché Noir. Then shop for produce from the likes of Ashers Bakery and Berry Scrumptious.

Taste of Leeds, Millennium Square, 5-8 June
New for 2008, Taste of Leeds is a four-day celebration bringing together leading restaurants and bars and the best food and drink in the North. Restaurants already signed up include Harvey Nichols, The Star Inn at Harome, Casa Mia Grande and El Gato Negro and Anthony’s Restaurant, whose chef Anthony Flinn learned his craft from Ferran Adrià of famed restaurant El Bulli. Leeds legendary bar scene will be represented as well as serving up champagne and cocktail creations.

Taste of Bath, Royal Victoria Park, 3 – 6 July
The beautiful surroundings of Royal Victoria Park will host Taste of Bath for the second year. Fifteen of the region’s best restaurants will top the bill, including favourites such as The Bath Priory Hotel & Restaurant, Lucknam Park, Hole in the Wall, the Dower House at the Royal Crescent Hotel and the Olive Tree. New additions for 2008 include Martin Burge of Whatley Manor and the Wheatsheaf at Combe Hay, listed as one of only five ‘rising stars’ in the country in this year’s Michelin Guide. There will also be more than 100 stalls featuring the South West’s best produce including Great Western Wine, The Crackling Pig and Cotleigh Brewery.

Taste of Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, 10-13 July
Taste of Birmingham continues to grow with restaurants such as Michelin-starred Simpsons and neighbouring restaurants from Ludlow, often described as a centre for some of the best food and drink in Britain. Quality food and drink from producers such as Gaymer Cider and Flights Orchard Organics will ensure that Taste of Birmingham is a fabulous day out for all.

Taste Festivals are a unique opportunity to be up close and personal with the best restaurants and chefs in the country, reflecting the diversity and talent of each city’s culinary scene. They’re also a chance to discover, experience and buy some of the best food and drink on offer.

Visit channel4.com/taste or ring 08712305581 to join the reservations list.