Litfest 15 a great experience

In just its 3^rd year Litfest, or the Kerrygold Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine is established not just in Ireland but globally.

A three night, two day, sensory experience it just has to be on your Must Do list.

Rory O’Connell, one of the Directors, summed it up by saying, “You have to have written a book to be a guest speaker” but it is not just about speakers. Hell, these are people who write about food, many of them chefs, brewers, winemakers so there are a lot of masterclasses, pop ups and tastings going on.

Some of the big names sell out in minutes and with names like Alice Waters, Claudia Roden, Madhur Jaffrey, Rene Redzepi and Yottam Ottolenghi that’s hardly surprising.

Based on the farm at Ballymaloe House and in the Cookery School a couple of miles down the road a number of venues are available and all are used hard.

There are formal venues, The Grainstore, Carrigaun Room and the Demo Room and kitchens of the Cookery School, but the Farm buildings are converted into venues, The Drinks Theatre, The Big Shed and, it is a Literary Festival after all, The Book Shop.

Displays and talks extend to the gardens with guided tours and this year a very strong Grow It Yourself presence and, for the first time The Garden Tent, a marquee set in a corner of the formal garden.

There’s activity from 9:30 till gone 6 and then a host of dinners and events to fill your evening with some great entertainment and a host of really good local food producers staging popups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My big formal events this year were the coffee sessions with Tim Wendelboe, learning about cupping and expanding my knowledge of the beautiful liquid far beyond its prior understanding, A Beer tasting with Garrett Oliver of the Brooklyn Brewing Company and a talk about Spices with Arun Kapil of Green Saffron. Janet chose Wine and Soil as her highlights. It’s that kind of event, and we were disappointed to find that the pop up restaurant by OX Belfast sold out in 5 minutes so we didn’t get to taste Northern Ireland’s finest.

 

Tim Wendelboe talks about influences on Coffee

 

Mark from Golden Bean pours tasters for cupping

 

1 of 6 tasted

 

 

Oliver Garrett of Brooklyn Brewery took us up the alcohol scale to 13.5%

 

There’s a very lively Fringe at the Festival, Demos, Blind Tastings and entertainment in the Big Shed and the Garden Tent hosting more informal events such as Caroline Hennesey hosting “Ravenous” the Cookbook Chronicles where anyone can talk about their Favourite/Least Favourite, Oldest/Newest cookbook.

 

Joe McNamee,  who writes the Menu column for the Irish Examiner, hosted a series of Rants, Raves and Ruaille Buaille. Again anyone could take part and had a chance to win the prestigious Golden Gob Trophy. Children’s Menus, Lack of Food Education in schools, Hipster Food such as Dude Slaw and Small v Big Food Business all got debated and in the end, I have to confess, the title came back to Wales as a result of my rant about Vegetarian Options on menus.

Joe

 

In full flow



 



The Golden Gob Trophy

Food and Drink wise it is very easy to graze all day with a host of pop-ups available in the Big Shed, We had superb Chicken on Sourdough from Annie’s Roasts and Arbutus Bread respectively, my caffeine habit was fuelled by Badger & Dodo and The Golden Bean throughout the weekend, Iyers Café had tasty Vegan food from Kerala, Jane Russell’s sausages filled a few gaps and on the sweeter side of life Yum Gelato lived up to their name and we had a Carrigeen Panacotta made with milk from the rare breed Kerry Cow.

Discovery of the year though was Oh My Goodness Minty Limey Keffir made with triple filtered rainwater. Such taste and so refreshing too. Their quirky stand won the Best Dressed award.

 

But away from both the formal and fringe side of the festival it is a great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

We always have great catch ups and meet new people. One nice touch is that Ballymaloe Relish make badges for anyone who wants one with their name and most importantly their Twitter handle on. Often you bump into someone you follow on twitter, but have never met and the handle leads to lots of “Oh, so you’re” conversations. My own this year was with Peter from Blackwater Gin a new distiller from Waterford. We had been discussing Gin online and were hoping to arrange an impromptu Gin Off between his and our Da Milhe Seaweed Gin from Wales. Sadly the Blackwater had proved so popular that it had sold out entirely so the match might take place at Ginapalooza in London later this year,

Nonetheless a tasting took place and the aforementioned Minty Limey Kefir proved the perfect mixer for the Seaweed infused. Though we didn’t get tickets for the OX pop up, we were introduced to them on the basis that the restaurant has a Gin Bar and they were looking for new and great ones. More friends made, and an increasingly hazy evening.

 

But that is what Litfest is all about, lots of people with Food in common coming together to learn, talk eat drink and celebrate.

Personally I can’t wait for next May to bring around #Litfest16

 

 

Talks 'n Tasters at Newport Food Festival

One of last year's great successes was the Talks 'n Tasters stage, where visitors could see chefs and producers close up, taste their offerings and often get hands on experience in making them.

This year there are more sessions and three venues!

Tickets will go on sale on 5th August so here's a preview of these popular sessions.

From a start in an unoccupied stall in the Market Hall the sessions have expanded into a designated area of the Hall, Waterstones in town and the Lamb public house.

In the Market the sessions start at 10 am with Nia Thomas running a Cup Cake session. Love em or hate em there is no doubt that Cup Cakes have been the latest Big Thing and Nia will bring 16 years experience to the session. She also does courses for Newport Community Education so you can find out how to develop your skills as well.

As a huge coffee fan the Coaltown Coffee session on Top Tips for Home Brewed Coffee is a must for me. Scott James started the company and also runs a Barrista School so yu should learn lots and perhaps make that perfect cup of Joe!

Next up is Isla Black of Tasty Bites who brings her Jamaican background to producing some extremely tasty food. Her Jamaican Beef Patty is amazing and one of my favourite snacks at Llanyrafon Manor Market.

For the Wine Lover Neil Cammie offers some insights and the chance to Know your Merlot from your Cabernet in a wine tasting session. Neil is an expert in his field, writing a Western Mail Wine column and his company Fine Wines Direct does what it says on the tin.

Welsh Food Heritage is the subject for Sian Roberts who will show that Wales has a strong food heritage and we do more than Welsh Cakes and Cawl.

Abergavenny based Barry Chantler of Chantler Tea will reprise his very successful Tea Tastings and offer an insight into finding your perfect blend and making a great cuppa.

Finally I will be doing another hands on dough making session where we learn that bread isn't too hard to make, needn't take up all of your day and tasted better than supermarket pap. You get to make your own dough and take it away, with a recipe, to finish at home.

Over in Waterstones, Coaltown Coffee will do a Latte Art demonstration twice during the day so combine these with the Market sessions to seriously up your coffee making skills!

Diane Corister from Honeybunch Cake Company will demonstrate Cake Icing and Decorating.

Lucknam Park chef Luke Woodward will be demonstrating the other Big Thing of recent times Macarons. Dainty little Almond based meringues that come in many colours and flavours.

Nia Thomas runs a Cup Cake icing demo after Luke and I would not be surprised of elements of Nia, Luke and Diane's sessions come together for the final session where Luke will create Afternoon Tea,

The third venue for the Talks 'n Tastings is The Lamb public house which will feature Beer Tastings from 5 local breweries. Gareth from Tiny Rebel, Jamie from Tudor, Martyn from Untapped, Natasha from Rhymney and Simon from Pipes will each showcase their fine ales and beers in tutored tastings.

Tickets for these events, and many are free, are available from the Riverfront Box Office.

Masterclasses at Newport Food Festival

Newport Food Festival is back and bigger than ever!

The beauty of this festival is that it is firmly rooted in the community, using the Market as one main venue and encouraging local producers and traders to take part and showcase what the area has to offer

Local chefs will be providing many of the demonstrations but as always there is a fair sprinkling of top names as well.

The Riverfront  is the venue for the Masterclasses, which are kept small so that you get up close and personal with the chefs, see exactly what they are doing and have the chance to talk to them both during and after the class.

A very strong line-up will be on stage and for your £7.50 admission you will get a great insight into some top dishes and techniques.

Starting the sessions is Emma Evans who runs Secret Supper Club, was a finalist in My Kitchen Rules and is about to open a new restaurant in Caerleon. Green’s will be located in the old Drovers pub and will offer top class food and a great atmosphere.

An Italian touch will come from Sergio Pasquelle of Gemellis restaurant in Newport. Expect superbly executed dishes and some insight into great flavours.

Next will be Newport boy, and Festival Patron, Hywel Jones who will show why Lucknam Park regularly retains its Michelin Star.

Newly ensconced in his own restaurant in Penarth, Caerleon born James Summerin will demonstrate why he has a superb reputation for fine dining food and why Penarth can expect a Star soon.

Head Chef at the Parkway in Cwmbran, Clive Williams is next up and, having seen his demonstrations in the past, I can guarantee that he will offer some tasty treats and a great insight into cooking at a very high level.

Local hotels will be represented again when a chef from the Celtic Manor offers an insight into their cooking. As yet the name isn’t confirmed but when you cook for the Ryder Cup and NATO conferences you have to be at the top of your game, and all of the Celtic Manor chefs certainly are.

Finally Festival Favourite and multi-award winning Anand George of Purple Poppadom brings Modern Indian cuisine to the stage and demand for his Masterclass will be high.

Unlike some events, where a couple of hundred people are trying to see what the culinary champions are doing, the Newport Food Festival Masterclasses are small and intimate, you are right up with the chefs and with only 20 people in the audience hey are like private lessons.

Tickets are available from Friday 1^st August and check the Website at http://www.newportfoodfestival.co.uk/ 

Humble by Nature, Great by Design

I have followed the progress of Humble by Nature since my days as an officer with Monmouthshire County Council.

At a time when the County Farms Unit was reviewing the number of farms and small holdings which it owned, Upper Meend Farm, in Penallt near Monmouth, came vacant.

Rumours began to circulate suggesting that Kate Humble was interested in buying it and establishing a rural skills school.

Gradually the plans came to fruition, and Humble By Nature was born - offering a range of classes and courses including Animal Husbandry, Small Holding and Wood Fired Oven building. Indeed on our visit a small group were actively involved in Dry Stone Walling.

We were there, however, for the latest part of the development the opening of the Farm Shop and Café.

Kate and her team have gathered together some superb local products, and we are lucky that South East Wales has more than its fair share of Great Taste Award winners. From Liz Knight’s foraged foods to Graham Waddington’s Native Breeds charcuterie and Halen Mon Sea Salt the shop is a foodie dream.

I was very pleased to see both Angharad Underwood’s PreservationSociety jams and pickles including the epic Candied Jalapenos and Rhian Short’s range of Usk River chutneys, Tudor Brewery ales and beers, Calon Wen organic cheeses and butter and possibly the most local product Wye Valley Cheese made on the adjacent farm. The shop reminded me a little of Wright's Food Emporium, though without the Continental Selections, and seeing a display of Wright's Tomato Catsup reinforced that feeling.

As well as Kate’s own books the shop stocks a number of publications aimed at getting you to produce a little yourself, even if you only have room for a grow-bag or a couple of pots.

Most of the items sold in the shop are used to make the delicious meals available in the adjacent café.

A wide range of teas and coffees are available, and the coffee roasters and tea blenders have also made the bespoke House Blends for Humble by Nature.

Breads are by Alex Gooch and they taste as good as they look.

The menu is seasonal, changing monthly, and offers a good choice of light meals, mains and desserts.

We opted for the Pulled Pork Sandwich which came on toasted Sourdough - which had a malty taste- and was accompanied by a small salad with edible flowers from the Edible Garden next to the shop,

 and the Farmers Lunch. That would have fed a very hungry farmer indeed!  Two thick slices of ham, Wye Valley Cheese, A small frittata, Beetroot, chutney and jelly with huge hunks of bread filled one plate whilst a salad covered the other.

All made to order in the kitchen the food was superb and just what you would need after a morning on the farm, or indeed a good shopping experience! The mains were so filling that , despite the desserts looking and sounding delicious, we could not manage one.

The shop and café will become destinations themselves, as well as the range of courses and events on the farm.

Humble by Nature has come a long way since inception and will develop further.

Already though it deserves to be called Local and Great.

We paid for our lunches and most purchases in the shop but did receive a small goodie bag of shop goods and a free tea and coffee.