From Friday 1st October, food and drink lovers will be able to sample a wealth of local produce on offer at South Gloucestershire’s annual Taste Food and Drink Festival.
This year’s festival, now in its sixth year, moves to October rather than its usual September slot and features more than 30 events running through to Sunday 17th October, starting with a cookery demo at Turnberrie’s, Thornbury.
A special festival launch takes place in Staple Hill on Saturday 2nd October with Bedminster-based theatre company Show of Strength who will be performing their popular drama Trading Local at various foodie outlets in and around the High Street.
Actors will be visiting independent food shops and retailers to perform a variety of food-themed performances including stories, poems and skits to illustrate how the food and drink industry has made its mark in the area. Performances take place throughout the day from 10am to 4:30pm.
Creative producer Sheila Hannon from Show of Strength Theatre Company said: “We’ve got 6 actors performing 18 different shows in 19 shops from 10am to 4.:0pm. You’ll be moved, amused, amazed. And it’s all free. Pick up a schedule from one of the shops or download from our website at www.showofstrength.org.uk”
Cllr Matthew Riddle, who is taking part in the festival by providing guided tours of his cider farm near Thornbury, said: “Each year the festival goes from strength to strength and not only am I delighted to be taking part but I am also looking forward to some of the other events including a cookery demonstration by chef Ron Faulkner, of Ronnies fame, who will be cooking up a feast using produce sourced straight from Thornbury Farmers’ Market.” (Thursday 7th October, 10:30am)
Another festival highlight is the Chipping Sodbury Festival of Food on Saturday 9th October, which features bread tasting with artisan baker Tom Herbert. Tom is from Hobbs House Bakery – based on Chipping Sodbury High Street – and has been making a name for himself as an artisan baker and recently featured on BBC2 programme Mary Queen of Shops.
The day is chance to celebrate local food and drink with mouth-watering activities such as a chocolate workshop, cake decorating, waffle making, beer tasting and an extended farmers’ market stocked with all the best produce. More information about this event at www.visitchippingsodbury.com.
Meanwhile, festival favourites including butchery demonstrations with Alveston butcher Mike Perry and Italian cookery demonstrations with Thornbury-based chef Laura Geraci make a return. There are also a number of brewery tours, wine tasting, farm visits and orchard conservation events running throughout the Taste Festival which ends with Big Apple Day on Sunday 17th October.
Bring your own apples to Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood and have them pressed by the Scrumping Project and take home your very own bottle of apple juice. Alternatively, take part in an apple cookery workshop. The event runs from 10am to 2pm at the farm on Grimsbury Road. Bookings for the cooking workshop can be made on 01454 863592.
A full programme of events is available online at www.southgloslocalfood.org.
