Foodie Heaven

You might find it hard to believe, but 2010 will see the 13th annual Lancashire Food Festival to be held in Accrington. Visitor numbers have been growing year on year, and 2009 saw record numbers attend the event at Accrington Town Hall. The Lancashire Food Festival is now established as one of the most popular events in the Hyndburn calendar. Organised by Leisure in Hyndburn Trust, the festival won the accolade of Tourism Event of the Year in the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 2008/09.

This year is gearing up to be every bit as popular. For the second year running TV favourite Gino D’Acampo will be demonstrating in the cookery theatre and also doing a “meet and greet” and book signing. Be prepared for long queues, Gino has quite a following!

Other highlights will include local girl Philippa James who will be demonstrating ways to “Feed the Family!” and from Cheshire, Christina Tilbury who will be showcasing some inspiring vegetarian dishes.

Over 50 exhibitors from Lancashire and beyond will be on hand with a varied selection of treats to sample and buy. These will range from All Fruits Ltd (from our own market hall) who will be launching a new delivery service at the Festival, to Weatheroak Farm in Preston which is famous for its ostrich and venison products. You could even learn how to smoke a kipper with the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse. Children will have their very own “foodie workshops”, and when it all gets too much, there is always the Festival Tea Room for a sit-down and a nice cuppa.

While enjoying this culinary weekend, don’t forget our other attractions. Accrington Market, next to the Town Hall is currently undergoing a £1.5m facelift. Haworth Art Gallery will be serving Lancashire treats in its own Tea Room, and at Oswaldtwistle Mills there is the wonderful Northern Ingredient Food Hall comprised of Ye Olde Sausage Shop (sausages to die for), The Crumbly Cheese Deli (huge selection of cheeses and deli items) and Rainhall Drinks Company (200 different types of bottled beer, lager and cider, plus a fabulous array of wines, sherries, whiskies and ports). Ossy Mills also has three cafes for a lunch-time pit stop.

This year’s festival will be held on Saturday 10th April and Sunday 11th April from 10:00 to 15:30. Admission is just £1 and free for under 16s. Gino’s demonstrations are bookable separately and will be £10 per session. For more information visit www.lancashirefoodfestival.co.uk.

Update.

A reminder that next week is the 13th Lancashire Food Festival.  The event runs over the weekend from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April at Accrington Town Hall.

Guest chef on Sunday will once again be “King of the Jungle”, Gino D’Acampo.  All tickets have now been sold for his cookery demonstrations, but Gino will be doing a “meet and greet” session between 12:15 and 1:15pm.  Going on last year’s experience, be prepared for very long queues to see him and there is no guarantee that you will get to the front of the queue before he has to leave for his next theatre demo.

But never fear, there will be lots of other luscious treats to sample and buy from the many suppliers in the Festival Hall and the Marquee, and also street music and dancing for your entertainment.

This is a fabulous event and one not to be missed in Hyndburn’s calendar.