Last year the Abergavenny Food Festival won the accolade ‘Best Event in Wales’ (National Tourism Awards 2013), so the bar has been set high for 2014. This year’s programme won’t disappoint. The Festival takes place over the weekend of 20 and 21 September and box office is now live at abergavennyfoodfestival.com.
Marcus Verberne, Head Chef at ‘Roast’
The special events programme represents a real melting-pot of diverse food cultures, each taken to new heights by amazingly talented people. The line-up includes Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall who’ll be launching a new cookery book, Claudia Roden, the legendary doyenne of cookery writing who will be giving rare cooking demonstration on the food of Italy; Iranian-born rising culinary star Sabrina Ghayour – one of the strongest voices in Middle Eastern food today; and Sam and Sam Clark, the inspirational duo behind ‘Moro’ restaurant and little sister ‘Morito’ with a focus on Spanish and Moorish cuisine.
And what of the UK? Well, Marcus Verberne, Head Chef at ‘Roast’ – a restaurant located in the foodie mecca of Borough Market – celebrates both heritage and innovation with his seasonal British cooking. Closer to home, Wales-based Illtud Llyr Dunsford – who raises Mangalitsa pigs with an Austro-Hungarian pedigree for his artisan company Charcutier Ltd – will be hosting a charcuterie tasting with restaurant owner and blogger Eliza Flanagan.
While the guests are performing live, the Festival’s five main venues will also be in full swing. “A buzzing place for tantalizing smells, exotic foods and smiling faces all over. Pure joy.” So says master chocolatier Marc Demarquette who’s looking forward to sharing a tasting of his sweet and savoury ganaches.
Chief Executive Heather Myers says, “Wales has loads to offer and the Abergavenny Food Festival is a great place to start. Monmouthshire in particular has an exellent year-round food offering which is why it’s now known as ‘The Food Capital of Wales’. Come along and experience it for yourself”.
