Food lovers were in Heaven as the UK’s biggest celebration of food and drink, transformed Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham. The city’s leading Michelin-star chefs led the proceedings which included new tasting theatres, pop-up restaurants, artisan producers and street food producers airing there mouth-watering wares.
The Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre welcomed Michelin-star chef Glynn Purnell and top local chefs Matt Cheal of Simpons, Nathan Eades of Epi Restaurant and Aktar Islam of Lasan Group, who cooked their favourite summer recipes and shared top tips for visitors to take away and impress family and friends with at home.
Fans of MasterChef watch 2014 winner Ping Coombes cook her signature dishes from the series in the Chefs Theatre and were also able to try dishes from her Malaysian Pop-Up on the Street Food Avenue.
Top Chefs who appeared at Foodies Festival Birmingham included: Ping Coombes - 2014 MasterChef winner, Glynn Purnell – Purnell's, Matt Cheal – Simpsons, Aktar Islam - Lasan Group, Nathan Eades - Epi Restaurant, Ryan Swift – The Edgebaston, Dhruv Baker - 2010 MasterChef winner, Robert Grzesik – The Warehouse Cafe, William Noblett – Ju Ju’s Cafe, James Wong – Chung Ying, Nick Turner – Hotel De Vin, Jackie Kearney - The Hungry Gecko, Katy B – ‘Little Miss Meat Free’ Great Vegan Bake Off winner 2014 and top TV Chef, Rachel Green.
New foodie hotspot Birmingham toasted Foodies’ 10th anniversary in the New Wine, Champagne and Craft Beer Theatre, where experts Laura Clay and Charles Metcalfe guided visitors through this season’s best British bubblies from the UK and around the world, while beer expert Melissa Cole hosted masterclasses in the New Craft Beer Theatre, matching foods with locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft beers.
The New Tasting Theatre offered ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a Rockstar’ and Chocolate Safari masterclass with Coeur de Xocolat, and local experts guided visitors through Urban Bee Keeping and Cheese Tasting. Vegan blogger Katy B from 'Little Miss Meat Free' shared her vegan recipes, inspiring visitors to create vegan meals and bakes at home.
The Cake & Bake Theatre was an inspiration for passionate bakers with top local cake makers and bakeries sharing their tips for baking delicious summer cakes and visitors also enjoyed 3D cake modelling, chocolate making and sugar-craft masterclasses and a complementing chocolate, Cake and Bake Village selling bakes, jams, gadgets and baking essentials.
The Street Food Avenue was a feasting hub at the heart of the festival, offering a huge selection of hot and cold dishes from around the world. Japanese, Thai, Brazilian, Argentinian, Indian, Mexican, French and African were just some of the cuisines visitors tucked into at communal tables in the Feasting Tent.
With over 200 exhibitors in the Artisan Producers Marketselling, award-winning cheeses, wines, bakes and condiments; festival-goers were spoilt for choice with samples and for what to buy to take home and enjoy – It was a perfect setting to meet the producers and share their passion for food and drink.
A BBQ Arena hosted grilling experts who shared their favourite recipes for fans of à la carte dining and King of the Grill Challenges took place throughout the day. For those brave, or foolish enough, the famous Chilli Eating Challenges and those who like it spicy tried to break the current record of 14 varieties of chillies eaten to win the Chilli Eating Crown.
Little foodies explored their taste buds and learned basic skills with Picnic in the Park themed masterclasses in the Childrens Cookery Theatre, where Kiddy Cook showed how to make finger sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs.
After a day of food and fun, foodies relaxed with a spot on the grass and soak in the atmosphere with live music from the entertainment stage and a glass of bubbly or cocktail from the Giant Pimm's Teapot or Captain Morgan Mojito Galleon.
