10th Exeter Food & Drink Festival set to be biggest and best ever

From its humble beginnings ten years ago, always with acclaimed chef Michael Caines MBE at its helm, the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the UK, its rise corresponding to the huge surge in consumer demand for local produce. More visitors than ever flock to Exeter's Northernhay Gardens each year to visit artisan food and drink producers from throughout South West England.

In the popular Cookery Theatre, Michael organises and hosts the chef demonstrations, supported by the region's best and best known chefs. Be dazzled by the culinary skills of Lesley Waters (TV chef & Lesley Waters Cookery School), Masterchef winners Mat Follas (The Wild Garlic) and James Nathan (The Green Room at Retallack Resort and Spa in Cornwall), Masterchef finalist Jackie Kearney (The Hungry Gecko), Darrin Hosegrove (Ashburton Cookery School) and Exeter's own Ben Bulger (Head Chef at the Magdalen Chapter Restaurant and Devon Life Chef of the Year 2012).

Teaching young people to eat well and enjoy and appreciate real food is one of the aims of the festival, with Darts Farm's Food is Fun Teepees offering an exciting line up producers, culinary experts and chefs who will provide a range of fascinating masterclasses, demonstrations and hands-on workshops for all the family. The main theme of the teepees, ‘Understanding the Artisan’, investigates why artisans and their produce are unique and deservedly celebrated, with demonstrations and workshops from butchers, bakers, ale brewers and cheesemakers.

Meanwhile, the Little Cookies area, in association with Devon-based GroBag, keeps future foodies entertained with a range of fun, creative and educational children’s activities. Cookery workshops and a Bake Off competition will inspire budding young cooks. Plus meet very special guest Michael Morpurgo, War Horse author and founder of official Festival charity Farms for City Children, on Friday 26 April between 2pm and 4pm to give out signed book plates and talk to visitors in the Little Cookies activity area.

Farms for City Children will also be running children's cookery classes in conjunction with the Fun Kitchen and Minno Kitchen's experts, plus daily drop-in sessions run by Exeter Phoenix: 

  • Exeter Scrapstore – model making with food and food packaging - www.exeterscrapstore.co.uk
  • Merry Go Round Toy Library – providing a range of toys and games for children of all ages to play with throughout each day of the Festival – www.mgrtoylibrary.org
  • Push the Duck – a swimming group helping toddlers to learn to swim.  A representative will be available to meet parents on all three days of the Festival.

Families can also enjoy timetabled daily activities by:

For the grown-ups, to complement the vast array of scrumptious food on offer, the Festival Bars offer the chance to sample some of the South West's finest drinks:

The Festival Bar in Exeter Castle Courtyard in asociation with The Well House Tavern opens throughout the Festival, including the Festival Party After Dark nights. Enjoy a great selection of craft beers, real ales and ciders from many local producers including Otter Brewery, Sheppy's Cider, Green Valley Cyder, Clearwater Cask Ales, Branscombe Vale Brewery, Hunters Brewery, Killerton Cider, Barum Brewery and Exe Valley Brewery.

The Festival Gardens Bar in Northernhay Gardens offers relaxed surroundings and is run by the Exeter Brewery, which in addition to its own great range of real ales will be running a full bar, including Gin Fizz, fine local wines and ciders plus some guest ales.

Working with the fabulous Mama Stone's team, this year The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink brings you not one, not two but three nights of high quality music from some of the very finest musicians and talent in the South West at the Festival After Dark Party. Book in advance and enjoy fantastic live music, high quality regional food-to-go stalls, a huge choice of local ales and ciders plus the chance to see live chef demos.

Thursday 25 April (6.30pm-11pm) is 10th anniversary party night with performances from singer-songwriter Adam Isaac and his band as well as support acts Rob Rivieres and Cline dos Santos. Adam has built a strong South West following and is one not to be missed. 

Friday 26 (6pm-11pm) sees Leigh Coleman and the Mama Stone's Houseband take the stage presenting a style reminiscent of the classic Soul artists of the 50′s and 60′s, with a modern, fresh appeal.  

Saturday 27 (6pm-11pm) promises to be another great night of music, featuring the silky tones of Exeter's own Chris Ostler and the amazing vocals of local artist Phoebe Ions complimented by the renowned Mama Stone's Houseband.

These hugely-popular events will take place in Exeter Castle courtyard with tickets on sale now at the Exeter Phoenix box office or online at www.theticketfactory.com - £5.00 entry or buy a weekend ticket and stay at no extra charge for the Festival After Dark parties. Under 16s must purchase a ticket and be accompanied by an adult.

Alongside long-established food producers, the Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink will feature "Fresh at the Festival" - supported by Devon County Council - highlighting start-up producers who have been in business for three years or less and who have never exhibited at the Festival before. Please drop by and give them your support: Continental Crumbs, Delish, Frandie Macaron, Handmade by Moo, L’Amour Botanique, Partridge Farm Meats, Poole Farm and The Wonky Kitchen.

Michael Caines says, "In this difficult economic period, we are delighted that the Festival goes from strength to strength. Since we launched in 2004, there has been a sea of change in local and national awareness of the importance of food in our daily lives. Food miles, sustainability, traceability, provenance, biodiversity and the importance of shopping local are all now firmly on the mainstream agenda for all those who care about good, healthy and delicious food as well as the value of maintaining traditional lifestyles and communities."

The Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink has proven itself to be a great success and an event that is popular and sustainable. The many thousands who have visited over the past years are proof that people in Exeter and the West Country - ordinary people not ‘foodies' - really do care about real food, food made with passion, food that is not mass produced, food that is better and more tasty and more enjoyable to eat.

So come one, come all and enjoy the feast!

For ticket information click here. 

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