Kokova Magazine

EAT! NewcastleGateshead is a slap-up festival of adventures in food and will be back from Friday 17th - Sunday 26th June 2011 with a new programme of events, at various locations across Newcastle Gateshead.

EAT! NewcastleGateshead, the innovative food and drink festival that has put North East produce on the map, returns in 2011 for another ten days of eclectic events that serve up food in a brand new way.

Now celebrating its fifth year, EAT! champions local food producers, restaurants and culinary talent in North East England through a programme of events that includes;

The Big EAT! (Sat 18 – Sunday 19 June), a mouthwatering weekend of street food markets, themed satellite festivals, cookery demonstrations, competitions and food adventures.

Sample food and drink from the North East’s finest producers at the Food Heroes Tasting Market, satisfy your sweet-tooth at the brand new Chocolate Festival, spice up your life at the Chilli and Beer Festival and take your pick of the morning’s catch as a local fishing boat lands on the Quayside.

Cakebook (North) (Sun 26 June), an ambitious plan to create a giant edible map of North England using landmark heritage structures, modeled out of cake.

The Great North Eco-Art-Feast (Sun 26 June), an epic environmentally-friendly feast celebrating Hannah Glasse’s legendary cookbook.

‘The Art of Cookery’ and the return of the popular Artisan House Party (Throughout the festival), a series of food making themed parties with special guest artisans.

EAT! is proud to announce its partnership with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust , one of the largest mental health and learning disability NHS trusts in England, on a special project entitled, The Tastes Good, Feels Great Cookbook Project.

Working with 30 people currently undergoing treatment for a mental health illness, the project will encourage greater knowledge and understanding of food and cooking culminating in the production of a special cook book. Working with local chefs, this unique project will also see the participants take part in The Big EAT! weekend.

EAT! NewcastleGateshead takes place from Friday 17 June to Sunday 26 June 2011, it is directed by Simon Preston and managed by NewcastleGateshead Initiative as part of its innovative, eclectic and family-friendly festivals and events’ programme.

Further details for Cakebook North can be found at https://www.cakebook.org/

For further details see www.EATNewcastleGateshead.com

Full Festival Listings

NORTH EAST FUTURE CHEF 2011 Monday 21 March – Tuesday 12 April 2011
Eight students from Newcastle, TyneMet, Gateshead, Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside are twinned with a middle ranking Chef for a three week apprenticeship at one of eight regional restaurants/hotels.

Working alongside their mentor, students will develop skills and confidence in the kitchen with visits to local food producers, food and wine appreciation workshops and motivational seminars before starting work, shoulder to shoulder, in the kitchen.

After the second week each pair is issued with a list of ingredients to develop a three-course meal. The apprentices are also given a multiple choice exam and a mock job interview to test their readiness for the industry.

The cooking competition is judged as part of the prestigious NECTA Chef competition with a Future Chef North East champion duo announced.

Sponsored by the Cooperative Membership

ADOPT A SCHOOL & DESIGN A SALAD Pre-festival and Saturday 18 June 2011
Up to eight chefs from NewcastleGateshead team-up with Let’s Get Cooking primary school cooking clubs to show children how to experience and enjoy food using the five senses and four tongue tastes (sweet, sour, salt and bitter).

Each team of young cooks then produces a salad recipe, with the help of their mentor, which best caters to the five senses and four tastes. The Chefs and children compete live to prepare the best salad during The Big EAT! weekend. The winning team will be crowned Adopt a School Top Salad Design champion.

£ AT 20.11 Wednesday 1 June – Sunday 3 July 2011
The best restaurants in and around NewcastleGateshead have developed a special Festival three-course prix fixe menu for £20.11.
Saturdays are excluded and restaurants can make further exclusions. This promotion runs in partnership with Wines of Australia.

EAT! 2011 LAUNCH PARTY Friday 17 June 2011
The famous Stephenson Building, home to one of the founding fathers of the railway age - Robert Stephenson, provides the location for the EAT! 2011 launch party. Celebrating the awards and successes in the North East food and drink industry over the past 12 months, the event includes an Oyster Bar, opulent buffet and barbeque. There will be 25 local beers and 10 ciders on tap as well as local wines and cocktails.

A special 5th birthday cake will be presented with a prize going to the first 50 people that can guess the secret ingredient and a surprise part of the evening will end with the publication of an Ode to North East cooking…

THE BIG EAT! Weekend (sponsored by Alive after Five) Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2011
FREE (some paid-for elements)
EAT! takes over the streets of NewcastleGateshead on the weekend of 18 & 19 June in the biggest city-based food event in the UK. The Big EAT! weekend features an authentic international street food market, cooking demonstrations including the brand new EAT! Cook School, food producers talks and tastings, new for 2011 - EAT! Hub and Miniature Edible Garden Show, Wine Festival and Fish Festival which sees a local fishing boat sail up the River Tyne to deliver the morning’s catch.

Other events include the hot and spicy Chilli & Beer Festival, Chocolate Festival with guest appearances from some of the UK’s finest chocolate artisans, a Fairtrade City Fête and Food Heroes Tasting Market featuring 60 of the best food and drink producers from the North East, each competing to win a new EAT! Gold Award for their produce.

THE GREAT NORTH ECO-ART-FEAST Sunday 26 June 2011
This epic, environmentally friendly feast is laid out in opulent style inspired by the depiction of food in famous artworks and celebrates the cooking prowess of Hannah Glasse, author of The Art of Cookery, which was first published in 1747. Dubbed ‘the North East’s Elizabeth Beaton’, Glass was the world’s best selling cookery writer at the end of the 18th century.

In keeping with the theme of the evening, guests are asked to arrive by public transport, by bike or on foot before enjoying a magnificent feast with a plentiful supply of local beer and frolicsome entertainment. The only catch is, no waste is allowed, so guests are advised to bring empty bellies or deep pockets!

FOUND Dates throughout the festival.
Discover what food delights are hiding under our feet in one of three half-day foraging tours that uncover the wonder of nature’s free larder. Join an expert forager as they unveil the wealth of fare in our woodlands, urban landscapes and wilderness. Each tour includes a stop at a local pub or restaurant for wild refreshments.

EAT!NG – 15 MORE SECRET PALADARES Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 June 2011
A highlight of the EAT! festival, Secret Paladares returns as more guerrilla restaurants open in homes across NewcastleGateshead.

In the comfort of your host’s home, experience great cooking on a range of themes including authentic international dishes from around the world, sustainable fish, traditional ‘lost’ recipes and menus for people with special dietary requirements. The location of each ‘pop-up’ Paladar is only released to diners on the day of their meal.

CAKEBOOK (NORTH) Sunday 26 June 2011
Following 2010’s groundbreaking event which saw 100 iconic structures in NewcastleGateshead recreated out of cake, Cakebook is back and has set its sights on the North of England.

In a unique partnership with the National Trust, Cakebook (North) will see landmark heritage structures and places across Northern England modeled out of cake. All National Trust properties in the area will be included.

The event will culminate in a public event at National Trust property Gibside on Sunday 26 June where a giant edible map of the area will be created. The event will also feature food stalls and live entertainment throughout the afternoon. For more information please visit www.cakebook.org

EAT! ALONG… MOVIES Dates throughout the festival.
Enjoy some of the best ‘foodie’ movies whilst local restaurateurs serve you food simultaneously as it appears in the film. Movies include: Julie and Julia and Like Water for Chocolate.

ARTISAN HOUSE PARTY Dates throughout the festival.
Tickets £50 for a party of 8+ people, £30 for childrens’ parties

Think ‘Tupperware’ parties for the 21st Century. You bring the guests and EAT! supplies the rest as hosts are given starter kits full of recipes, tools and tips for the ultimate artisan cooking party. On the day of the party your chosen artisan - expert bakers, butchers, brewers and more - will arrive to teach the assembled party members some tricks of the trade.

THE TASTES GOOD, FEELS GREAT COOKBOOK PROJECT Throughout the festival.
EAT! is proud to announce its partnership with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust , one of the largest mental health and learning disability NHS trusts in England, on this special project.

With levels of ill health and obesity increasing in the UK, EAT! will be raising awareness of the physical and emotional benefits of healthy eating by working with 30 people currently undergoing treatment for mental health issues.

The project will encourage greater knowledge and understanding of food and cooking, focusing on low cost recipes that are healthy but also taste great. Culminating in the production of a special cook book that will be given to future patients, the participants will work with local chefs to write, make and photograph their ideas, cooking tips and recipes. The Tastes Good, Feels Great Cookbook Project will also see the participants take part in The Big EAT! weekend where members of the public can enjoy their cooking.

EAT! NewcastleGateshead is developed and produced by NewcastleGateshead Initiative as part of its festivals and events programme.
EAT! NewcastleGateshead is funded by Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council and Northern Rock Foundation.

For further details see www.EATNewcastleGateshead.com
Simon Preston is a freelance food consultant. For further details see www.graceonline.co.uk