Tuesday 28 October 2008

Hereford Food Festival

This was held at Hereford Racecourse, a lovely setting, overlooking the town and Hereford Cathedral.



My friend's husband on stage helping one of his protegees give her demonstration of her award-winning recipes. Rachel was SO nervous, poor lass.

The steak looked mouthwatering, and I can verify that the lovely pear dessert tasted every bit as good as it looked! I have the recipes so am going to try them out soon as we have a birthday coming up next month.


It was too busy to take photos of most of the stalls but I managed to sneak one in of this handsome chap - the Monkfish - who fortunately tastes far better than he looks!

Many stalls had sold out, which was excellent news for artisan and local foods. We had tastes of various things, and I bought some excellent Dragon Orchard cider and a Gregg's Pit perry which is just like champagne, and is going to be saved for Christmas.

The highlight for me was the Marcher Apple Network display of old apple varieties http://www.marcherapple.net/ I identified the old Welsh russet apple I have in the paddock (a leathercoat russet) and got to do a taste test on a very old apple called Pitmaston Pineapple, which I have yearned for for many years. I have decided to ask for young apple trees for my Christmas presents from the family this year, to be potted up and taken with us when we eventually downsize. I am having great fun choosing my shortlist.

These chaps were dressed up as French waiters, with false moustaches and even falser French accents!

It was a good day out and the Hairy Bikers demonstration was excellent! Everyone wanted to see them and apparently lots of people got turned away on the Saturday.

The food at my friend's house was absolutely sublime - I must try and emulate the wonderful array of curry dishes we had in the evening - I can manage the prawn dish and have the recipe for that, so am off to get prawns today . . .

5 comments:

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Cheryl said...

I am a great supporter of local produce.....it is so good when you hear of small businesses doing well.......

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

All sound smashing!
I love any food or wine festival...
And that Monk fish...Yikes!

thelma said...

Ahh apple trees, planted a few old ones myself, the Reverend Wilkes keeps company with Annie Elizabeth for pollination - both cookers...
this year has been good for some but not for others, especially the plum trees - cold early spring no pollination. There's an apple tree nursery on the Isle of Wight with all the oldfashioned varieties, when I get home will post it...

Bovey Belle said...

Thelma - I've got the IOW company noted and a couple of West Country ones too, as well as a local nursery (though they don't do all the range I'd noted down - though I'm only getting 4 trees in all).

I like to support local produce Cheryl, and am becoming quite a perry fan now.

CC - all the Food Festivals I've been to are with this particular friend. May try the Narberth one here in Wales next year.