This year’s Abergavenny Food Festival has a distinctively international flavour. September 17, 18 will once again welcome thousands of visitors to the beautiful market town to sample the best international food and drink here in Wales.
Monica Galetti, José Pizarro and Cyrus Todiwala will be joined by more than fourty talented chefs sharing their passion and expertise. From bakers and foragers to mixologists and spice specialists, all cooking up delicacies from around the world.
The wealth of flavours from Asia will be served up with Indian cuisine from Arun Kapil of Green Saffron, amazing Malaysian from Norman Musa, contemporary Korean cooking from pop-up Busan BBQ’s Da-Haeand Gareth West and Persian delights from Simi Rezai.
From Israel, Tomer Amedi of Palomar London will be promoting the new Palomar cookbook so you can recreate his incredible recipes at home.
Hang Fire Smokehouse duo Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn and Lockhart London’s Brad McDonald champion the best Deep South cooking the UK has to offer.
From Europe, as well as José Pizarro’s take on Pintxos dishes, there will be a Spanish charcuterie demonstration from Owen Morgan of Bar 44, modern Polish dishes from Zuza Zak and Eleonora Galassowill show us how to do as the Romans do.
Closer to home, the Festival welcomes Naomi Devlin who will be showcasing gluten free cooking fresh out of River Cottage. Rude Health’s Nick Barnard will give an insight into healthy eating along with Great British Bake Off favourites Richard Burr, James Morton and Martha Collinson.
Abergavenny Food Festival Chief Executive, Heather Myers, said: “Every year we get chefs and cuisines from all over the world, but this year we are particularly proud of the diversity of food on offer. With so many foreign flavours to taste while wandering the market, we have a dedicated World Food Market for the first time in the event’s history. To get immersed in world food, it really is worth getting a ticket for some of the masterclasses and demonstrations our international programme has to offer.”
There will also be plenty in the line of drinks masterclasses and tutored tastings to wash down all the delicious food. Nick Strangeway and the Moorland Spirit co will create delicious gin cocktails, Kay Plunkett-Hogge explains which sherries to combine with which tapas, Marie Cheong-Thong and Jon Old will talk through Sake and Wasabi and Richard Ehrlich will teach us how to make the perfect margarita.
Eric Charriaux and Henry Chevallier will prove that cider and cheese is the perfect combination, Dave Broom de-mystifys rums, James Morton takes on home brewing instead of home baking and Richard and Joy Morris will be providing the best Ancre Hill Vineyard wines.
Alongside the bursting programme, new for 2016 the Festival will introduce the Gin Palace. The Palace will be showcasing some of the UK’s smaller artisan gin distillers. These will include The Moorland Spirit Company, Val Warner’s Hepple gin, Chase gin, Warner Edwards, Sibling Distillery and the Da Mhile Distiller from Ceredigion.
Boogie the night away next to some of the UKs top chefs, at The Friday Street Food Supper Party and Cabaret getting the party started with Dana Immanuel & the Stolen Band and Ish Kabibble. Saturday night’s famous Party at the Castle includes music from Little Rumba, CoCo & The Butterfields with headliners RSVP Music closing the evening. Eat mind blowing food and watch a spectacular firework display all to the backdrop of the beautiful Abergavenny Castle.
Book a place at the Artisan Kitchen School for a unique opportunity to receive expert tuition. Mini budding MasterChef’s can show off their culinary talents at the Children’s Food Academy with a weekend of free hands on workshops.
Fast becoming an institution at the festival The Rude Health Rants are back for their eighth year in a row. The team, led by co-founder and chief ranter Nick Barnard are a proudly outspoken gang who aren’t afraid of standing up for real, honest food. Throughout the weekend festival goers will be given the chance to join them in their mission to eat right by speaking up.
The 2016 Festival is supported by a number of high profile businesses from across Wales and the UK including Cardiff Airport, Chase Distillery and Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd. In addition to support from Welsh Government, Monmouthshire Council and Abergavenny Town Council.
Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to get your tickets, visit www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com
