Food Festival 2011

Following last year's inaugural event, Wild Thyme Restaurant with Rooms is hosting its second annual food festival. Joining with their suppliers and foodie friends, the day will be a celebration of local food and drink taking place on Sunday 1st May in Chipping Norton's Town Hall between 11am and 5pm.

The legendary Prue Leith will open the day which promises to be even better this year with more events, exhibitors and demonstrations than the first, highly successful festival, held a year ago.

So what's Happening?

They'll be a wide array of foodie events to choose from. Exhibitors will be showcasing the region's best artisan and ethical food produce. All are passionate local producers keen to share the story of their produce, offering samples and, of course, selling their food and drink during the day.
A range of fun food activities will be laid on for the little ones by pre-school, Town Nursery, leaving parents free to enjoy the festival.

Festival founder and chef proprietor of Wild Thyme, Nick Pullen, and his team, will be hosting cookery demonstrations throughout the day including an artisan bread-making masterclass and producing a great dish from their current spring menu using a delicious indigenous fish – Pollock.
Nick will be joined by Sunday Times Style editor, Lucas Hollweg, who will also be demonstrating recipes from, and signing copies of, his new cookery book, ‘Good Things to Eat.'

Nick Pullen's partner and festival co-founder, Sally Daniel says, "Nick and I were overwhelmed by the positive response we received at last year's Food Festival. We're delighted to be able to put on this great day for everyone to enjoy celebrating all the wonderful local produce available in this area. This day provides the opportunity to meet local producers, learn more about their great products, sample something new and hopefully be inspired to try out a few recipes."

Tickets

Entry to the Festival costs just £3 for adults and children under 14 go free, payable on arrival. Doors open at 11am. Tickets give access to all the exhibitors' stands, plus a rolling programme of cookery demonstrations, also held in the Town Hall.

Exhibitors

  • Cotswold Brewing Company, Foscot

    Will be offering tasters and selling their renowned local brews to drink on the day or take home with you www.cotswoldbrewingcompany.com

  • Slow Food

    Tthe Cotswold Convivium of this international movement to bring food back to its roots, will be selling local seasonal fruit and artisan cheeses www.slowfood.org.uk

  • The Meat Joint, Deddington

    Have a Butchery at Iron Down Farm and are regulars on the farmers markets; they will be selling their superb traditional cuts of local pork, beef & lamb www.themeatjoint.co.uk

  • Stevens Garnier Wines, Oxford

    Will be showcasing a selection of fine wines, a chance to try and buy www.stevensgarnier.co.uk

  • Upton Smokery, Hurst Barn Farm Burford

    Produce an array of delicious home smoked meat and fish products and will shortly be opening a farm shop just outside Burford www.uptonsmokery.co.uk

  • Sandfields Farm, Over Norton

    Local farmer Ben Millard offers delicious free range chickens and Aylesbury duck, (geese for Christmas) and eggs www.sandfieldsfarm.com

  • Compass Ales

    This Oxford based new business produces local ales, The Kings Shipment IPA and a Pale Ale to name a couple. Mattias will be tempting you with a tipple as well as joining Roger Crudge in the theatre kitchen for a beer and cheese matching www.compassbrewery.com

  • Jaffe and Neale, Chipping Norton

    Renowned local bookstore will be selling cookery books and foodie things as well as providing their delicious tea, coffee and cakes

  • Fieldbar Wines

    Absolutely delicious fruit wines to try, made in Stroud www.fieldbarwine.co.uk

  • Whichford Pottery

    Local family-run pottery whose pots are all handmade. Will display and sell as well as promoting an exciting forthcoming foodie event www.whichfordpottery.com

  • New Wave Seafood, Fairford

    Fine fresh fish direct from the Cornish coast daily. New Wave have a shop in Cirencester and sell to fine local restaurants and pubs, they will be hosting a seafood bar, (with Wild Thyme selling Champagne as the perfect accompaniment) www.new-wave.co.uk

  • Crudges Cheese, Kingham

    Roger and Karen Crudge, artisan cheesemakers will be tempting you to take some home with tasters of their local cheeses

  • Miette

    This independent chocolatier based in Stow on the Wold create artisan chocolates using traditional skills www.miette.co.uk

  • Blue Basil Brownies

    Chipping Norton based, this small business hand make divine chocolate brownies www.bluebasilbrownies.co.uk

  • The Natural Bread Company

    Bake hand crafted artisanal bread and cakes using locally milled flour. They have shops in Eynsham and Woodstock and specialise in traditional sour doughs www.naturalbreadcompany.co.uk

  • Wild Thyme Restaurant, Chipping Norton

    Selling some of their delicious ice cream, and giving you a taste of things to come.