One of the most popular events in the Cardiff calendar returns to the waterfront of Cardiff Bay next weekend (July 6-8) with all the ingredients required to excite every palette as the Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival attracts over 100 specialist food and drink producers to tickle the taste buds of the many thousands of visitors (cardiff-festival.com).
The annual event is free to enter, though there is a charge for some activities, and provides a fantastic, colourful atmosphere in Roald Dahl Plass and the Inner Harbour, stretching around the Bay to the Norwegian Church. In addition to the Producer Fayre, which is packed with everything from Handmade Scotch Eggs that starred in the Hairy Bikers show, to liquers made in Wales, visitors will be treated to a Farmer’s Market, Food Piazza, John Lewis Food Theatre, St. David’s Hotel & Spa Champagne Bar and much more to tempt the taste buds.
Cabinet Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Huw Thomas, said: “The sun has been a little shy so far this summer but this weekend the Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival will brighten up the capital with an array of food and drink to suit any weather.
“Each year the food festival attracts thousands of people and has become a focal point of the summer for people from far and wide.Tastes buds are in for a treat with one of the firm favorites in the Cardiff Festival programme and along with the fantastic assortment of food there will be the opportunity to see demonstrations and live entertainment.
“As always this promises to be a fantastic free event that the whole family can enjoy.”
A prominent figure in the John Lewis Food Theatre is TV chef Angela Gray who films her monthly feature on The One Show with Jay Rayner at nearby Llanerch Cookery School. Angela will show off a range of culinary skills from afternoon tea to pesto, and there is a Children’s Cookery Zone for the foodie stars of the future.
The Food Theatre features the usual array of cookery demonstrations by some of the finest exponents from Wales and beyond. These include Malaysian Kitchen with Norman Musa, a global ambassador for Malaysian food, and one of its finest exponents in Europe, who returns to the festival following a successful appearance last year. Executive Chef of Ning restaurants & cookery school in the UK, Norman is also a TV personality, author and tutor.
The event also showcases the talents of Richard Yearnshire, Executive Chef in Tempus at Tides restaurant of the event’s partner hotel, St. David’s Hotel & Spa, just around Cardiff Bay. Richard will be displaying his passion for one of the dishes from his seasonal menu, the Rump of Brecon Lamb with Peach, Sweetcorn, Broad Beans and Pan Jus, a dish marinaded in Peach Schnapps that shows off Richard’s creativity with largely Welsh produce to the full.
There is also Purple Poppadom Magic by inspirational Chef Patron Anand George who cooks up a spicy feast of seasonal dishes from the menu at his award- winning Cardiff restaurant, while Justin Llewellyn, the chef from the Laguna, Park Plaza, Restaurant of the Year in the South Wales Echo Food & Drink Awards 2012 provides an insight into his craft.
Cardiff Festival 2012 is 27 years old, and is this year Strawberry Jam – packed with 21 artistic, cultural and sporting events to suit a range of ages and tastes, and spread throughout the summer from June through to September. There is no better time for a ‘staycation’ in Cardiff this summer, with everything from food festivals to family picnics, musicals to Melas, and sailing to street theatre to entertain the crowds.
Further festival highlights include:
Picnic In The Castle supported by Brace’s Bread, 22 July, Cardiff Castle 12 noon – 4pm
Families across the city are on the starting blocks for this year’s sports themed Picnic in the Castle, with walkabout entertainers and a sporty fancy dress.
All Tickets £3.50
On Your Marks! 25 July, City Centre
Entertainment throughout the city streets featuring music, comedy and sport to mark the opening day of the 2012 Olympics.
Cardiff Harbour Festival presents Extreme Sailing Series, 31 Aug – 2 Sept, Cardiff Bay, free
This year’s annual Harbour Festival has moved forward a week, and expanded to feature the UK stage of the high-octane, global Extreme Sailing Series, giving waterfront visitors a grandstand view of an international competition of Extreme 40 catamarans crewed by Olympic medallists, America’s Cup veterans, World Champions and Round the World sailors. The weekend will also see the British Fish Championships, a Continental Market, the Last Resort traditional end of pier entertainment, and range of musical entertainment.
