Four weeks to go until Flavour Fest

The largest food and drink festival in the South West, Flavour Fest, will return to Plymouth city centre from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 May with free entry to an enticing line-up of delicious food and drink, interactive family activities and cookery demonstrations.

This year the festival will look different with one huge marquee covering the Piazza, filled with food and drink traders, ensuring a great day out whatever the weather.

The Cookery Theatre, which gives visitors the chance to pick up new tips, tricks and skills, will be opened by Chris Tanner from Barbican Kitchen at 10am on Friday 27 May. He’s followed by a line-up of talented local chefs across the weekend including Peter Gorton, Jacques Marchal, Suphawadee Kaden (Supha’s Street Food Emporium), Ryan Marsland (The Fig Tree @ 36) and Jake Hardington (Salumi Bar & Eatery).

The festival’s own take on ‘Ready Steady Cook’ will take to the stage at 1.30pm on the opening day and will include some local well-known BBC Radio Devon and Spotlight personalities and two popular regional chefs.

Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Centre Company which runs Flavour Fest, said: “We’re really excited for the return of this year’s Flavour Fest, which attracts thousands of visitors. It’s a great opportunity to shop local, supporting the region’s best food and drink producers, while also soaking up everything that Plymouth city centre has to offer. While you’re here make some time to browse the fantastic range of independent stores and high street staples.”

Inside the marquee nearly 70 of the region’s best food and drink producers will be selling their creations, with tasty treats on offer including brownies and baked goods, gins, rums and liqueurs, fudge, cheeses and much more.

The ever popular festival bar will be run by official partners Bays Brewery, a family run brewery that creates exceptional, multi award-winning beers.

Along Armada Way and around Place de Brest, a wide range of street food traders will be serving up a huge range of treats to tuck into on the day to really add to the festival atmosphere. Enjoy a locally-produced coffee or indulge in a cocktail, or grab a freshly cooked stone baked pizza or BBQ dish for lunch.

Younger festival-goers can also enjoy interactive fun provided by local charity Jeremiah’s Journey, including face painting and a magician.

Flavour Fest has also been supported by City College Plymouth and students will be getting involved to assist with the running of the event and gain hands-on work experience. Catering students will be supporting the impressive line-up of guest chefs, whilst media and business students will also be soaking up the atmosphere whilst putting their emerging skills to use at this event.

Chef lecturers Richard Farleigh and Gemma Outtram will also take to the stage to give a very useful demonstration on cooking nutritious meals on a budget, whilst other members of the hospitality and catering team will be manning the City College Plymouth stall.

Laurence Moody, Academy Manager for Hospitality, Catering and ESOL at City College Plymouth, said: “As the event nears, I know all of the students lucky enough to be involved with this high-profile event are becoming increasingly excited. Our catering students are going to be supporting some of the area’s top chefs, which is great for both their knowledge and confidence, and will be extremely useful when they start working in industry.

“We are also really pleased that we will have an opportunity to support others in the community through our demonstrations of healthy eating on a budget, something that we hope will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of those in Plymouth and the surrounding area. If you are attending this event, make sure you stop by the City College stall.”

For all the latest information about Flavour Fest, visit www.flavourfestsw.co.uk.