Though I may be mourning the passing of summer in September during my annual end-of-season blues, there’s always one event that manages to banish them and instil some much-needed sunshine into my life: the Great Cornish Food Festival.
In my opinion, if there’s something worthy of celebrating all year round, let alone during a long weekend in September, then a taste bud ticking, sense evoking, all-out unashamed commemoration of all things edible from Cornwall is definitely one of them.
Running from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September on Truro’s Lemon Quay, the much lusted-after food fest presents visitors not only with an exciting and jam-packed schedule of activities and entertainment, but the very best Cornish food available.
This year’s free, ever-popular event from Cornwall Food and Drink will see heavyweights such as Nathan Outlaw, Andy Appleton, Stephane Deloume and Chloe Marsland form the line-up of around 100 chefs from across the county’s world-class culinary landscape in what promises to be a thrilling, engaging and highly entertaining weekend out for everyone involved.
Two stages will be set for a series of fascinating demonstrations, talks, sampling sessions, workshops and live master classes, including the first ever Clotted Cream Tea Bake-Off along with an exciting mixology spectacle during the Cornish Cocktail Contest.
Admire the cheffing talents of the cream of Cornwall’s dining destinations including The Scarlet, Fifteen Cornwall, Outlaw’s, The Seafood Restaurant, Merchant’s Manor and St Moritz Hotel for a rare and exclusive insight into their top techniques and mouth-watering creations.
What’s more, a dynamic programme of free and enticing activities at The Discover Zone will engage younger visitors with some incredibly fun hands-on activities as they learn all about Cornish food, the surrounding ocean’s various fish species, and tuck into something sweet courtesy of Kelly’s fresh and supremely tasty ice cream.
Stake your space at the Croust Bar to indulge in a proper Cornish feed from a vast assortment of top street vendors on hand to spoil you with the flavours, sights and smells of their freshly cooked goodies. Imagine stone-baked pizza, pasties, lobster and pies served with one of Sharp’s ales or a glass of Polgoon’s award-winning ciders or wines for a gut-pleasing gastronomy of the most pleasing variety.
With names such as Tregothnan, Cornish Pizza Co, Big Pan Parties, Grumpies of Cornwall, Kernow Sausage Co, Cornish Venison Co, Coastal Crêpes, Seafood & Eat It and Proper Cornish offering their cuisine, it would be rude not to try at least a few of the dining options available.
The nearby Deck will see a running schedule of talks and tastings from food experts and producers including demonstrations from Padstow Seafood School, a coffee masterclass from Origin, Cornish sushi showcase from Fiona Were and mead-making special from Ninemaidens Mead.
Expect everything from butchers and bakeries to chocolatiers, breweries and dairies in The Food Hall, which will be crammed with over 60 of Cornwall’s most coveted food and drink producers and their delicious offerings for you to sample, buy and take home.
Stock up on freshly farmed fruit and vegetables, local meat, speciality breads, tea, brownies, cheese, jams, charcuterie, biscuits, preserves and chocolate – and even get ahead of the game by bagging some Christmas hampers and unique foodie gifts.
Or follow my lead and simply sit, imbibe the atmosphere (along with your preferred tipple) and scoff your way around the festival – all in the name of supporting local industry, of course…
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