Food and drink

Chefs to cook up a storm at Wokingham food festival

By Victoria Corbett
June 26, 2009

Chefs will be showing off their skills live at the third annual Wokingham Food and Drink Festival.

Organisers are hoping attractions this year will boost visitor numbers to between 8,000 and 10,000 people.

Revellers will be able to check out the food, drink, entertainment and demonstrations on offer throughout the August bank holiday weekend.

The event on Elms Field in Elms Road is designed to showcase and support talented local producers and suppliers, as well as those of quality from further afield.

The festival will feature a large food and drink marquee, restaurant marquee, a kitchen theatre and numerous market stalls.

The kitchen theatre has been upgraded to allow better viewing for those watching chefs in action.

Foodies can also wrap their taste buds around sample foods and sip on fine wines and beer available for tasting.

The theatre will also feature pizza and pasta making and cake decorating.

The restaurant marquee will be dishing up food from all around the world, including Thailand, India and Italy.

Musical entertainment will come from local groups and on the evenings of Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, there will be live rock bands on the stage opposite restaurant marquee.

Musicians will also play during the day to entertain crowds as they browse what the festival has to offer.

Kate Lole, festival organiser, said: “The feedback from visitors last year was very much in favour of local producers and those businesses from which they were able to make repeat purchases.

“It was also important for visitors to meet the producers and learn a little about the food and drink they were purchasing.

“Products went down very well and one visitor said she was glad she hadn’t eaten lunch before coming to the festival.”

The festival has grown from its beginnings three years ago, when it was launched by then-town centre manager Brian Newman.

Town centre retailers will be supporting the festival by serving special dishes, drinks and offers during the week before.

The festival is being supported this year by The Wokingham Times, Waitrose, Wokingham town and borough councils and Web Dandy.

Keep checking The Wokingham Times in August to see details of the latest offers coming up at the festival, which will take place on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30.

Producers and suppliers wanting to book a pitch or advertise in the festival programme can contact Kate Lole at kate@wokinghamfestival.co.uk or by calling (0118) 978 8801.

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