The countdown to this month’s Burnham-On-Sea Food & Drink Festival got underway on Wednesday evening (May 11th) with a launch party for thje event’s sponsors, supporters, volunteers and organisers.
The Food Festival team gave a run-down of the traders, events and entertainment planned for Saturday 28th May in the town centre, which includes two brand new elements.
First on the menu is The Cookery School, which will host a wide variety of drop-in classes throughout the day – all free to attend thanks to sponsorship from Bakkavor Desserts.
Secondly, the team have paired up with Quiet Waters Farm to create two after-hours meals.
Festival co-organiser Sarah Milner Simonds told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “People have told us that they want more of the festival and so we are really pleased to be working with John Gower of Quiet Waters Farm to create these two special meals.”
“John has pulled together an incredible team of BBQ cooks who will be demonstrating their skills on wood and coals throughout the day at the KDS Fresh Ideas Stage. This low and slow style BBQ will then form the heart of the Food Festival Feast at 5pm.”
The focus moves to celebrating the best of the festival at a 8pm meal with a “rustic fine dining” meal being served. This will be four courses prepared from ingredients at the festival that day.”
John Gower added: “I’m very excited to be bringing our travelling circus of fire cooking talent to the Burnham-On-Sea Food & Drink Festival for the first time. We have a wealth of wonderful food from a great bunch of characters.”
“The demonstrations will encourage questions and feedback as well as hopefully giving some helpful tips and I am especially pleased to then be able to cook for everybody at the evening meals, with a menu that I hope will offer something new and exciting to those coming to eat with us.”
The festival team are also celebrating this week after winning an award for their “Outstanding Contribution to Local Food Development” at the Western Daily Press Food & Farming Awards the previous evening.
Festival co-organiser Beverley Milner Simonds said: “The festival strives to create an atmosphere and an occasion where people come together, learn about food and drink, and experience new flavours.”
“We work hard to support our traders through social media support, creating a good footfall, providing connections and contacts and supporting them as they grow.”
“This award is our encouragement that we are doing the right things for Somerset businesses and we hope to continue to develop this for many years to come.”
The festival has a new logo. The organisers explained that they thought it was time that they had something that was theirs after using a stock photo for the past four years.
They worked with local designers The Design Hive to create the new look which will be rolled out over the coming months after a ‘soft launch’ at the May festival. You can buy tickets for the two meals at the festival through their Facebook page or website.
