For this little adventure we didn't have to go very far at all. Christchurch food and wine festival is now in it's 13th year and had quickly become one of the must visit food festivals in the UK and I'm sure you'll agree from the pictures there's something for everyone. There's a mix of celebrity & local chefs (we spotted James Martin!), cider makers, cheese masters and veggie growers, the cafes and restaurants of Christchurch come out in force to display their best loved dishes and show just how varied this little town can be. There's also classes for kids and adults and a whole heap of events throughout the week, from free chef demos in the marquee to a black tie charity dinner to celebrate the end of the festival. There's tonnes more information on the website - if you're local you should definitely check it out, it's well worth a visit. If you've got a sweeter tooth the last weekend of the festival (18 / 19th May 2013) is bake weekend & fete on the quomps (what a great word!), the whole quay gets transformed in to a gorgeous little fete and on the Saturday Jo Wheatley from the Great British bake off is coming along to judge to baking contest and do some demonstrations. I'll definitely be front row for that!
We headed down around mid day and the festival was already in full swing, everyone seemed to be braving shorts and sunglasses despite the dull skies, we can wish the sunny weather back surely? After a quick natter with one of my favourite ladies, Marina (check out her blog) we headed through the crowds, enticed by every smell and sign, to the marquee to watch the demonstrations. After a while our taste buds were tingling with excitement so we headed back out to the high street to find something yummy & bumped in to Max and mummy in the macaron stall. We set to work smelling out our lunch, I settled for a hot dog & Dan went for a venison burger then we washed everything down with a summery cup of pimms. We wondered on down to the square where we watched some belly dancing before grabbing an ice cream and heading home, luckily we just missed the rain!
Have you been to Christchurch food & wine festival before?
xo