News release: 09 August 2010
The annual St Albans District Food and Drink Festival will take place 1 – 10 October, and promises a variety of special offers and events designed to appeal to a wide range of food and drink enthusiasts. It aims to showcase the fantastic range of food, drink and produce available in the District.
Roman oyster shells and spoon in a black ceramic burnished ware bowl
In its third year, it has moved from early summer to Autumn, to coincide with the traditional time for Harvest Festivals. It begins during the same weekend as the annual St Albans Beer and Cider Festival organised by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale which began in St Albans) and ends with a finale event on St Peter’s Street..
It is worth putting the dates in your diary now. To give you a taster of the type of things you can look forward to, there will be events such as a dinner dance; a whiskey tasting; a wine talk and tasting; a venue celebrating regional pie week and featuring pies from across the country with beers to accompany them; a ‘haunted dinner’ which combines a tour of spooky locations after dinner and many more.
Reconstruction of a typical kitchen in Roman Britain using original Roman pottery amphora, mortaria and cooking pots, samian ware plates and bowls imported from Gaul, and black burnished ware bowls. The food seen here is all known to have been eaten in Roman Britain
Verulamium Museum will feature a special demonstration on how the Romans cooked and what they ate and drank, with recipe handouts for the adventurous.
Photo from photographic exhibition: Savanna at the Black Lion
There will also be a photographic exhibition* to illustrate the diversity of culinary cultures across the District. Candid shots were submitted by restaurants depicting an intimate view of the journey of their food from kitchen to table. The project was organised by Leisure Connection who manage the Council’s leisure facilities and facilitated by professional photographer Pete Stevens.
The Gala Dinner and the Food and Drink Festival Awards ceremony will be held at Sopwell House Hotel on 7 October. Nominations for the Food and Drink Festival Awards can be entered online from now until 9 September on the website: www.stalbansfoodanddrink.com. From now until the beginning of Oct you will be able vote for the shortlisted restaurants, cafes pubs and bars in the various categories.
Poggenpohl’s showroom
There will be a cooking demonstration at Poggenpohl’s showroom, St Albans, featuring special guest chefs from three of the District’s AA Rosette awarded restaurants: The St Michael’s Manor Hotel, Sopwell House Hotel and Chez Mumtaj. This charity event is in aid of Grove House Hospice, St Albans and will take place on Tuesday 5 October.
Photo from photographic exhibition: Anastasias
For further information visit the website: www.stalbansfoodanddrink.com. You can also join the mailing list for a brochure by sending an e-mail to: foodanddrinkfestival@stalbans.gov.uk. Alternatively brochures and tickets for the Festival events can be obtained from the Tourist and Information Centre in Market Place, St Albans tel: 01727 864511 or from the Council Offices St Albans.
Member contact:
Cllr Sheila Burton, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Heritage
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 863598
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, Information and Communication Officer
Tel: 01727 819316 E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
Thanks to event sponsors:
Allaboutstalbans (promotion)
First Capital Connect (promotion)
Herts Advertiser (promotion)
Darcys (launch)
Cellar Door (launch)
Flagship Wines (Gala Dinner and Rosette Restaurants)
*The Photographic Project was organised by St Albans Arts, Sport and Health (SAASH) the development arm of Leisure Connection.
St Albans Beer and Cider Festival
Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, this popular event at the Alban Arena has 6 bars, up to 350 ales, 50 ciders & perries, live music and more!
http://www.allaboutstalbans.com/directory/food-and-drink-festival-2010/3-44
Grove House Hospice:
http://www.grove-house.org.uk/