Olive oil fresh from rural Italy; produce from twin city Stuttgart; award-winning cured and smoked charcuterie delicacies from rural Monmouthshire; cockles, mussels and laver bread from the Gower; gourmet exotic pies from the legendary Pieminister; and award-winning homemade chocolate brownies are just some of the delights across the weekend of July 8-10 with the return of the ever-popular Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival to the capital’s scenic waterfront.
Over 100 food producers from Wales, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will fill Roald Dahl Plass and around the waterfront for the many thousands of visiting foodies. There will be new features such as the food demonstrations from some of the leading culinary lights in Cardiff in the John Lewis Food Theatre.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr. Nigel Howells said: “The Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival is one of the most popular attractions in our summer-long Cardiff Festival, creating a fantastic atmosphere in a tented village that entices food lovers from the city and much further afield to this ideal setting overlooking the waters of Cardiff Bay.”
The John Lewis food Theatre features hands-on workshops, including those aimed at young culinary talent, and live food demonstrations from TV chef Angela Gray and some of Cardiff’s leading chefs who regularly spoil us at restaurants such as the new Crown Social in the Parc Thistle, the Park Plaza, and Jamie’s Italian.
Cardiff Bay offers the best locations to relax and enjoy the show. There’s the Food Piazza on the terrace in front of the WMC, a popular Champagne Bar right down on the water’s edge, and the Pimm’s Bar on the terrace of the newly refurbished Norwegian Church Arts Centre where you can watch the sun go down There are also wine tasting seminars going on here throughout Saturday and Sunday.
There is also a Craft Fayre and Farmer’s Market with a wide selection of Welsh and international goodies to chose from so you can even assemble your own picnic, accompanied by the views over the water.
The atmosphere is enhanced by a weekend-long programme of live music on the bandstand, and a variety of entertaining and interactive street theatre.
The Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival is mainly funded by the Welsh Government and represents a collaboration between Cardiff Council and Cardiff Harbour Authority, and a variety of local businesses.
The festival endorses Cardiff’s culinary credentials, with the Cardiff Harbour Festival including the British Fish Craft Championships to look forward to over August Bank Holiday, and the Great British Cheese Festival returning to Cardiff Festival over September 24-25.
The event is a staple of the summer’s Cardiff Festival, now in its 26th year and reflecting a broad and diverse range of colourful entertainment, largely free to enter and stretching over the summer holidays.
For up to date information about this event and all events in the Cardiff Festival please visit www.cardiff-festival.com
