Get a taste of autumn’s finest
FROM gold-infused bubbly to an evening with Nigella, KATIE ROWE rounds up some of the best food festivals this autumn…
YORK FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL (SEPT 18–27)
SINK your teeth into everything from artisan pastries to Yorkshire salami at this ten-day foodie spectacular in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square. Join a feast fit for a king at a JORVIK Roaming Supper at Monk Bar on York’s city walls, or enjoy Thai street food in the cookery school tent.
THE GREAT CORNISH FOOD FESTIVAL (SEPT 25–27)
FOR the chance to meet some of the UK’s top culinary talent and stuff your face with top local produce, look no further than Truro’s Lemon Quay. More than 40 chefs and food experts are taking part, including Marc Bishop – one of only 87 qualified Beer Academy sommeliers in the world. And pick up tricks of the trade from celebrity chef Nathan Outlaw.
COCKERMOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL (SEPT 26–27)
CUMBRIAN chef Simon Rogan brings a taste of his Michelin-star cuisine to Cockermouth. Along with fine dining, there’ll be more than 100 stalls of artisan and gourmet goodies on Main Street and Market Place, whisky and gin tastings at the Lakes Distillery, and masterclasses on everything from sushi to coffee.
MELTON MOWBRAY FOOD FESTIVAL (OCT 3–4)
MELTON Mowbray in Leicestershire celebrates its eponymous pork pie at an annual festival featuring mouth-watering rural food and drink. Expect stalls piled high with the freshest countryside produce, including those pies of course, Stilton, local ales and a few surprises. Gold-infused bubbly, anyone? TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Nathan Outlaw
ROBIN HOOD BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL (OCT 7–10)
THERE’LL be more than 1,000 real ales and 300 real ciders and perries at Nottingham’s CAMRA festival. Held in the magnificent grounds of Nottingham Castle, this is a festival to top them all, with the widest choice of draught cask conditioned beers in the world.
NORFOLK FOOD AND DRINK
FESTIVAL (UNTIL OCT 31)
EAT your way through Norfolk as Eastern England’s luscious lowlands puts on the largest county-wide food festival in the country. Firm favourites include the immensely popular Battle of the Bangers at the Norwich Food & Drink Festival on September 13 and the Waveney Valley Food and Drink Festival held in the grounds of Bungay Castle on October 10 and 11.
GREAT BATH FEAST (OCT 1-31)
BATH celebrates its foodie credentials every October. Expect appearances from Nigella Lawson and Tom Kerridge and an Alice In Wonderland themed masquerade dinner during this month- long festival. Don’t miss the Great £10 Feast, a wallet-friendly initiative which sees restaurants across the city offering £10 promotions.