The Chester Food and Drink Festival to be staged at Chester Racecourse this Easter is featuring foods from almost every part of the planet. With over 155 different stands and stalls there virtually isn’t any foods you can’t find.
Little Somboon Kitchen are providing the tastes and smells of Korea, Perfect Samosa the authentic flavours of India, Ghin Ghin Kow show off their favourite dishes from Thailand, Contrast Catering specialise in Japanese foods and Mukkaase foods have the subtle flavours of Africa, all in the Restaurant Garden but this is only scratching of what has become the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the UK at Easter, with 30,000 expected over the 3 days.
Festival Organiser, Briony Wilson said “We have been astounded at the cosmopolitan selection of foods on offer this year. We always limit the number of similar foods to ensure that everyone gets a chance to show their products and this year we have seen so many different countries represented it has barely been necessary to turn anyone away. One of my personal favourites is Ank Marvin they provide a World spectacular meats, featuring, Bison, Blesbok, Crocodile, Eland, Goat, Impala, Kangaroo, Kudu, Mouflon, Oryx, Ostrich, Reindeer, Springbok, Venison Wagyu (Kobi) Beef, Water Buffalo, Wild Boar, Wildebeest & Zebra. You can have them in a Burgers or as Sausages and if your brave enough, try things you couldn’t imagine. Its foodie heaven this Easter”
Festival Chairman, Stephen Wundke believes that peoples tastes have developed so much over the 20 years and this offer shows where people are at with their food as he explains. “When we first started this event nearly 20 years ago we had pork pies, cupcakes, some hot dogs and lots of cheese, now the offer is just so varied and exciting. Who would have thought that the Tears for Fears Drummer, Manny, would become one of the leading makers of Chilli Jams with his wife Debs, Bongos Rock and Roll Chilli Company, right here in Cheshire. They sell side by side with the traditional, Powells Pork Pies and Marie who in Malpas uses a 100 year old recipe to hand craft the most amazing pies; then of course there is the Cheshire Cheese company and the myriad flavours of cheeses that they use to bring traditional Cheshire cheeses to life, all washed down with Craft Beers, Gywnt Y Draigs Ciders and Perrys and wine tasting classes from Absolute Beginners, to get everyone enjoying something they love. Its such a treat. My new personal favourite is the speciality Hungarian and Croatian foods with their dried meats and special black and white truffles. If you have never been before you really are missing out.”
In addition to all of the food and drink on offer there are cooking demonstrations on stage from the BBC’s Chris Bavin. Ready Steady Cook Star, Paul Rankin and Channel 4 celeb chef, Jun Tanaka. There is also Adult and Kids free cooking classes where you can create the food yourself and then eat it and BBQ masterclasses. There really is something for everyone.
Tickets are available online for just £6 per adults and children under 12 are free. Go to www.chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk. For more information or to purchase your tickets and save 25%.
