Chester's 11th Annual Food Festival Gets Underway
Tens of thousands flocked to Chester Racecourse last year to visit the Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival, and with 10 successful years under its belt, this year's festival, which will run from 7th - 9th April 2012, aims to exceed all expectations.
With over 130 food and drink producers from all four corners of the county, the festival promises to be a feast for all the senses. There will also be plenty of opportunities for festival goers to get all the inspiration they need to be creative in the kitchen with Cheshire's fine produce.
From delicious farm ice-cream, succulent game and home-reared pork to freshly baked cakes and produce from the farmer'’s market, the festival covers all aspects of what makes Cheshire a well-loved foodie county.
The ever popular chef demonstrations will return this year, allowing fans to meet their food heroes face to face, ask culinary questions as well as learn some kitchen secrets.
The line up so far has been confirmed with twice Michelin stared chef, Michael Caines of the ABode Hotels, TV's favourite chef and Wirral born Simon Rimmer with confirmations of additional tops chefs to follow soon.
Last year's CamperFest was hugely successful and saw the racecourse become a patchwork quilt of
caravans and tents as hundreds pitched up for a fantastic weekend of food.
With happy campers at the forefront of the organisers' minds, there will be plenty of activities arranged for campers to take part in and make the most of their weekend stay within the city.
Chester Food, Drink & Lifestyle Festival has always had a strong focus on families, especially the kids who have enjoyed the highly successful Kids Cooking Workshops.
Thousands of children adorned their chef hats and enjoyed learning about the importance of healthy eating as well as cooking basic recipes they could replicate at home.
New for 2012 is Extreme Adventure, a thrilling adventure playground for children where they can fly through the air on a 60 metre zip wire, scramble through nets and try their luck at the Spider Mountain challenge.
Spider Mountain sets Adventurers the task of finding their way up through a maze of seven elasticated spider's webs to the height of 7 metres and then slide down a fantastic vertical drop slide.
We have spent the last 10 years building this festival into what has become the largest food and Drink festival to hit the UK at this time of the year. The spring is of huge significance for the farming and food producing community as it is marks the start of what is their busiest time of year.
The festival is a wonderful opportunity to see much of our local produce at its peak as well as learn our chef's secrets as to how you can get the very best out of our wonderful food and drink that’s available on our doorstep.
Festival Chairman and Proprietor of Cheshire Taste Cafe, Jane Mooney
Due to popular demand, the festival will welcome back its restaurant 'try and buy' area where festival goers could sample dishes from over 40 different regional restaurants. This year, the homes and gardens section will grow considerably and there will be competitions throughout the festival and events throughout the city.
The 2012 festival will be kick started with its annual Cheese Rolling event, which will take place on 21st February in Eastgate Street in Chester. Each year teams roll a wheel of cheese around hay bales and farmyard obstacles in a hilarious but very serious competition. Last year’s five times winners, The Cheese Shop took the title again and are now the hot favourites for this year.
Tickets for this year's Giant Chester Food, Drink & Lifestyle Festival have now been released and can be bought via the website.
For further information and bookings visit www.chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk
Ticket prices are, Adults £7, Concessions £5 and under 12s FREE.
CamperFest tickets are £25 per person for adults (until the end of January), £35 Adults and £10 for children.