Cannon Hill Park to be transformed into foodie heaven.
Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest celebration of food and drink, transforms Cannon Hill Park into a foodie heaven this summer with Birmingham’s Michelin-star and top chefs, new tasting theatres, pop-up restaurants 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 and Atkar 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. Ping is also joined by MasterChef 2010 winner Dhruv Baker and finalist Jackie Kearney.
New foodie hotspot Birmingham can look forward to toasting Foodies’ 10th anniversary in the New Wine and Champagne Theatre, where experts Neil Phillips 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 or Chocolate Safari masterclass with Coeur de Xocolat, and local experts guide visitors through Raw Food, Japanese Soul, Oyster Shucking and Bee Keeping. Vegan blogger Katy B from Little Miss Meat Free will share her vegan recipes to taste, 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.
Biscuit Butter, Snowdonia Cheese, Tipsy Tarts, Fudge Heaven and Riverford Organics join the 200 exhibitors in the Artisan Producers Market, where visitors can meet the producers and sample and buy award winning cheeses, wines, bakes and condiments to take home and enjoy.
The famous Chilli Eating Challenge invites those brave enough to try and break the record of 14 varieties of chillies eaten to win the Chilli Eating Crown.
Little foodies can also join the celebrations in the Childrens Cookery Theatre where they can explore their taste buds and learn basic cooking skills with Kiddy Cook.
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 refreshing cocktail, glass of bubbly or a Pimm’s from the Pop-Up bars and cider farm.
Foodies Festival takes place at Cannon Hill Park from 15th-17th May. Tickets, from £10 for a day tcket upwards, are available at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111
