Bristol Harbourside Foodie Festival 2013
Foodies Festival is delighted to return to Bristol Harbourside from the 12th - 14th July 2013.
The UK's largest celebration of food and drink will see visitors flock from the surrounding areas to feast on the vast array of culinary activities for the third consecutive year in Bristol.
Top chefs, including Michelin-starred Martin Blunos, Rachel Demuth from Demuths, Ronnie Faulkner from Ronnies, Romy Gill from Romy's Kitchen, Richard Davies from The Manor House Hotel and Chris Staines from The Allium Brasserie will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs' Theatre and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home.
The theatre will be compered by food writer and Daily Telegraph columnist Xanthe Clay, who will also host food and wine matching demos each day.
I'm thrilled to be involved with the Foodies. Vibrant, lively and full of great food, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. I'm looking forward to talking to the chefs and the audience - this is a great opportunity to put some of the biggest names in food and wine to the test so come armed with lots of questions and let's get a real foodie conversation going.
Bristol cook school 102 Cookery School, with the help of some of the area’s finest local chefs, will be giving creative cookery demos over the three days, while a specially-designed BBQ arena, hosted by Broil King, will feature hourly BBQ classes and competitions for foodies to get involved in and learn how to get the most from cooking outdoors.
In 2013, food-lovers can also enjoy the new dining and VIP area serving signature dishes from the best local restaurants.
And there will be a new bar area with a countryside theme featuring hay bales and focusing on British cider and ale. The bar bus, a converted open-topped double-decker bus, is a fun addition to the tent and pagoda bars on offer throughout the site.
These new elements complement Foodies' existing features including the Drinks Theatre where regular classes and demonstrations are given by some of the most talented sommeliers and mixologists and drink experts in the UK.
This theatre allows visitors to be amongst some of the first people in the UK to sample 100s of products as well as brush up on their knowledge at the daily wine, ales and spirits masterclasses with experts including renowned journalist and regular wine expert on BBC 1's Saturday Kitchen Susy Atkins who will be presenting wines with Beaujolais, TV's Charles Metcalfe and beer blacksmith Melissa Cole.
This year there will also be a Cocktail Theatre where top mixologists will demonstrate their skills with hands-on classes.
This year is an exciting one for Beaujolais which is exhibiting at the Bristol Foodies Festival for the first time. I will be hosting daily wine masterclass sessions in the Drinks Theatre all about this dynamic region. Beaujolais is riding a wave of new popularity at the moment after three excellent vintages in a row, so now is a great time to revisit the wines and discover the diversity and quality this region can deliver.
Susy Atkins
Launching at Foodies in 2013 is Pinkster Gin, a raspberry-infused botanical premium gin. It will be available by the glass or bottle exclusively at Foodies, before rolling out in bespoke bars and retailers across the UK.
Foodies Bristol will be showcasing local producers including the Bristol-based award-winning pie company Pieminister who only use 100% British beef steak and free-range chicken in their products.
Also selling their wares at Foodies Bristol are local fudge company AJ Confectionery, which was founded in the summer of 2012 by Bristol brothers Andrew and James Blackburn.
The Bath Food Company will be selling their range of chutneys, preserves and relishes made with locally-sourced ingredients alongside Bristol's award-winning Arch House Deli.
Bath Soft Cheese, who produce cheese at their organic dairy farm just outside Bath, will also be selling their produce.
Visitors with a sweet-tooth should seek out local chocolate company Zara's Chocolates whose best-sellers of chocolate teacups and caramel almond Florentines are certain to be a hit with the crowds.
In 2013 the Bristol crowds can again enjoy the huge selection of ready-to-eat hot and cold food from around the world including hog roasts, exotic meats, tapas, churros, burritos, Moroccan tagines, South American prime beef, sausages, pizza, Jamaican and Thai street food.
For more information and to book tickets visit www.foodiesfestival.com/bristol.html
Foodies Festivals also take place at Brighton, Tatton Park in Cheshire, Hampton Court Palace, Clapham Common, Edinburgh, Battersea Park London and Oxford.