Foodie Festival launched

Cannon Hill Park will be food heaven this weekend.

Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest celebration of food and drink, opens today, transforming Cannon Hill Park into a foodie heaven this weekend with Birmingham’s Michelin-star and top chefs, new tasting theatres, pop-up restaurants, artisan producers and more street food than you can shake a satay stick at.

The Aga Rangemaster Chefs Theatre welcomes 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 will cook their favourite summer recipes and share top tips for visitors to take away and impress family and friends with at home.

Fans of MasterChef can also watch 2014 winner Ping Coombes cook her signature dishes from the series in the Chefs Theatre and try dishes from her Malaysian Pop-Up on the Street Food Avenue.

Top Chefs appearing at Foodies Festival Birmingham include:

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
Rachel Green – Top TV Chef

New foodie hotspot Birmingham can look forward to toasting Foodies’ 10th anniversary in the New Wine, Champagne and Craft Beer Theatre, where experts Laura Clay and Charles Metcalfe will guide visitors through this season’s best British bubblies from the UK and around the world, while beer expert Melissa Cole hosts masterclasses in the New Craft Beer Theatre, matching foods with locally produced alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft beers.

The New Tasting Theatre offers ‘How to Sniff Chocolate like a Rockstar’ and Chocolate Safari masterclass with Coeur de Xocolat, and local experts guide visitors through Urban Bee Keeping and Cheese Tasting. Vegan blogger Katy B from Little Miss Meat Free will share her vegan recipes, inspiring visitors to create vegan meals and bakes at home.

The Cake & Bake Theatre is an inspiration for passionate bakers with top local cake makers and bakeries sharing their tips for baking delicious summer cakes. Visitors can also enjoy 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 is 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 are just some of the cuisines visitors can tuck into at communal tables in the Feasting Tent.

With over 200 exhibitors in the Artisan Producers Market selling award winning cheeses, wines, bakes and condiments; festival-goers will be spoilt for choice with samples and for what to buy to take home and enjoy – a perfect setting to meet the producers and share their passion for food and drink.

A BBQ Arena hosts grilling experts who will share their favourite recipes for fans of outdoor dining and King of the Grill Challenges takes place throughout the day. For those brave, or foolish enough, the famous Chilli Eating Competition challenges those who like it spicy to try and break the current record of 14 varieties of chillies eaten to win the Chilli Eating Crown.

Little foodies can explore their taste buds and learn basic skills with Picnic in the Park themed masterclasses in the Childrens Cookery Theatre, where Kiddy Cook will show them how to make finger sandwiches, jellies and chocolate bugs.

After a day of food and fun, foodies can relax 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.

Tickets are on sale now at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111