Food festivals are sprouting like mushrooms. Here's some you should know about.
The Hampshire Food Festival kicked off yesterday and runs until 9 July. Talks and demos by Sophie Grigson, Mark Hix, Raymond Blanc and Shaun Hill and over 100 events across the county. Details: www.hampshirefare.co.uk; 01962 845999.
Taste of Birmingham 6-9 July is based at Cannon Hill Park where you can see Antony Worrall Thompson, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli and Raymond Blanc in action. Tickets from £12. Details: 0870 121 7585; www.tasteofbirmingham.co.uk.
Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival 14-16 July. Set in the bay area -if the weather's good -it's very children-focused, with entertainment and street theatre. Details:www.cardiff-festival.com.
Toast, Regent's Park London 15-16 July. Hot on the heels of Taste of London, capital dwellers get Europe's largest celebration of new Zealand and Australian food and wine. Chefs include John Torode (Smiths of Smithfield), Shane Osborn (Pied a Terre), David Thompson (Nahm), Brett Graham (The Ledbury) and Nic Watt (Roka). Tickets of£35 include lots of food. Details: 0870 906 3776; www.toastfestivals.co.uk.
Then head to the Kent coast for the Whitstable Oyster Festival 22-30 July. Winkles, blustery weather and fun. Details: 01227 779377.
Bristol is home to the Soil Association, so no surprises that their Organic Festival is held there at the Harbourside 2-3 September. Over 300 stalls, demo kitchens and lots to do. Details: www.soilassociation.org/organicweek.
Brighton is turning into a right little foodie capital, and this will be amply reflected in the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival 1-30 September. The focus here is on local produce, and there will be a huge market on 16-17 September in the North Laine with entertainment, competitions and lots for kids to do. Plus Battle of the Bars - Bar Idols, to find the best bartender. Details: www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk.
The Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival 8-10 September was the original that kick-started everything, and this is its 12th year. There are more than 80 producers and suppliers, a waiters' race and the local army battalion will be cooking on a Soyer stove from the Crimean war. Details: www.foodfestival.co.uk.
The biggie now is Abergavenny - 16-17 September and this year there's Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Giorgio Locatelli and flautist Guo Yue talking food and the Cultural Revolution. This one is really soaring, so expect anything and everything. Details: 01873 851643; info@abergavennyfoodfestival@aol.com.
The 10th York Festival of Food and Drink 22 September-1 October. Chefs to see here are Paul Rankin and Nick Nairn. There's a mutton promotion; and, for kids, the story of jelly in the castle. Details: 01904 466687; www.yorkfestivaloffoodanddrink.com.
Highland Feast 29 September-15 October. Events range from a Loch Ness monster barbecue to special gourmet breaks. Details: www.highlandfeast.co.uk
The fast-growing umbrella organisation for all aspects of food is British Food Fortnight, 23 September-8 October, co-ordinated by the tireless Alexia Robinson. The theme this year is 'Are You Cooking It?' to encourage everybody to have a stab at making a dish like shepherd's pie and to get cooking back on the school curriculum. There are tons of events nationwide. Details: www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk. OFM
