Foodies Festival started on 3rd May in Hove Brighton and is touring around UK at various outdoor locations from May - August 2014. Events at venues are held over 3 days. From 30 May - 1 June Foodies Festival took place within the grounds of historic Kenwood House Hampstead.
Festival-goers were drawn in by an appetizing selection of food & drink in the Street Food Avenue & World Food Pagodas. A vast choice of cuisine was made available such as traditional British food i.e BBQ gourmet sausages, beef burgers and hog roast plus global cuisine including Continental, Asian, Oriental, Middle Eastern. Adventurous foodies opted for unusual delicacies like zebra and kangaroo burgers...wonder if after eating this food people felt like hopping and skipping?? Michelin star chefs made guest appearances at the Chefs Theatre and Childrens Cookery Theatre for culinary activity programmes involving adults and children.
Fine foods were available for purchase in the Producers Market - rustic breads, speciality cheeses, olives, cakes, nuts, jams, honey, sauces, pickles, chocolate, pasta and organic produce were some of the items sold on stalls.
Vintage style afternoon tea was served in a marquee. Veuve Cliquot and Pimms had their own marquees and, a pop-up bar ‘Riot' with DJ playing club music were popular places for alcoholic refreshments. Groups of friends and families languished on the lawns whilst enjoying food & drink in the fresh air while others congregated near the live entertainment stage.
Final activity of the day was a chilli eating contest where volunteers were challenged to eat chillies starting off with the mildest working their way up a level each time until they reached the most fiery hot variety. Spectators were amused by red-faced, panting participants munching away at chillies.
Kenwood House & park is one of my favourite places in London particularly during summer and I was glad to be back there as it made a picturesque setting for Foodies Festival. I liked my Indian meal, Spanish churros and Pina Colada cocktail - lubbly jubbly as Delboy would say!
Foodies Festival runs till August 2014, for info on their other summer events visit www.foodiesfestival.com.
© Article & photos by Gina Chrysanthou
Chilli eating contest
Please view full photo collection in our Gallery:
Foodies Festival Kenwood House