I'm cream crackered. I've spent the last few days consuming more food than I've eaten in the last fortnight, drinking so much fizzy stuff that I should have floated away, and generally laughing to the point of tears.
The weekend of Bolton Food and Drink Festival is always a colourful one. We got all frocked up for the Magnificent Seven Gala Dinner, took selfies with John Torode, boogied with some 'old ladies' on stilts and motorised shopping trollies and sampled lots of lovely food. I thought photos would explain far better than words ever could, so here's a sample of the items I located on my phone once I was back in the land of the living...
My friend Lee and I sat and chatted to the lovely Keith Davies (Director of Development and Regeneration at Bolton Council), Councillors John and Lynda Byrne and that cheeky Gordo character from Manchester Confidential. The bubbles were flowing, there were cardboard cut outs to be papped with and the food was just delicious.
Pan seared scallops with Morcilla sausage (top) and terrine of local cured meats and bits to 'make your own' (bottom)
Pan seared scallops with Morcilla sausage (top) and terrine of local cured meats and bits to 'make your own' (bottom)
The Morcillo sausage on the scallop dish was unbelievably good, and I really have no words left for Andrew Nutter's terrine, which came served with homemade beans and hush puppies. All agreed that we could have eaten a full plate of those puppies.A cheeky little fish dish (top) and Lake District beef fillet, braised ox cheek, celeriac puree, girolle mushrooms and a Madeira sauce (bottom)
The beef main was stunning. The whole table went very quiet at this point. Rich and warming with a delicate Madeira sauce, which was just perfect as despite it being August, it was freezing outside.
Mike Harrison's Elderflower gel was so good that Lee nicked the rest of mine when I was flagging! She's a good egg. Debbie's sticky toffee pudding was joint winner for me with Nutter's terrine. Utterly delectable in every way. Corrie's own Sean Wilson also produced some fantastic cheeses; I'm not going to lie to you, I think Lee's parents may have about a kilo of it in their fridge still...
After Lee's birthday celebrations on the Saturday night, Sunday was all about John Torode. Good god he was funny. I've learned three things about John this weekend; he likes to buy nice shoes, he enjoys interviewing the interviewers (much to our amusement) and he bloody loves a good selfie! It also turns out that his cardboard cut out was actually Gino D'Acampo's body with John's head superimposed on it - and I quote 'I would never buy shoes like that!' He even gave Lee a big birthday kiss! I'm confident she won't remember much of the show.
John did a rather entertaining cook off between 'Chef to Go' Mike Harrison and Manchester House's Aiden Byrne. I think poor Aiden was terrified of him at times! Lee, Sarah and I sat watching the show whilst horrifically hung over, but proved that laughter is indeed the best medicine. By the time we had left the tent we were off to see Jackie at The Hungry Gecko for some much needed nourishment.
Jackie was a finalist on Masterchef, and has been cooking up a storm in her little mobile kitchen ever since. I first tried her food at the festival two years ago, and have dreamed of her mango lassi ever since. Girl did not disappoint. Lee and I both sampled her Bombay Frankie with auberine and potato masala, whilst Sarah had the Rendang for the second time in three days.
The festival itself was teaming with people enjoying the sunshine, sampling the vendors wares, drinking beer and generally having a good time. There were lots of familiar faces too, many of whom are friends I have met through the festival.
A huge thank you goes to Bolton Council and to Keith's team for putting on yet another belting Food and Drink Festival. Once again it brought the town to life, is the reason why I now have several pork pies in the fridge, and had to book today off as leave to recover. Next year Lee and I have decided that she is going to sell her legendary cheese toasties on a Local Artisan Craft Cheese Toastie Stall (snappy eh?). We might even let Sean Wilson provide the cheese. Oh and Councillor Byrne, we may have been drunk, but we've not forgotten about that ice bucket challenge...
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Elderflower gel, granola, soft cheese and pine cone extract (top left), sticky toffee pudding tart with bits for you to add (top right) and cheese from the Saddleworth Cheese Company (bottom)
Mike Harrison's Elderflower gel was so good that Lee nicked the rest of mine when I was flagging! She's a good egg. Debbie's sticky toffee pudding was joint winner for me with Nutter's terrine. Utterly delectable in every way. Corrie's own Sean Wilson also produced some fantastic cheeses; I'm not going to lie to you, I think Lee's parents may have about a kilo of it in their fridge still... After Lee's birthday celebrations on the Saturday night, Sunday was all about John Torode. Good god he was funny. I've learned three things about John this weekend; he likes to buy nice shoes, he enjoys interviewing the interviewers (much to our amusement) and he bloody loves a good selfie! It also turns out that his cardboard cut out was actually Gino D'Acampo's body with John's head superimposed on it - and I quote 'I would never buy shoes like that!' He even gave Lee a big birthday kiss! I'm confident she won't remember much of the show. John did a rather entertaining cook off between 'Chef to Go' Mike Harrison and Manchester House's Aiden Byrne. I think poor Aiden was terrified of him at times! Lee, Sarah and I sat watching the show whilst horrifically hung over, but proved that laughter is indeed the best medicine. By the time we had left the tent we were off to see Jackie at The Hungry Gecko for some much needed nourishment.Jackie was a finalist on Masterchef, and has been cooking up a storm in her little mobile kitchen ever since. I first tried her food at the festival two years ago, and have dreamed of her mango lassi ever since. Girl did not disappoint. Lee and I both sampled her Bombay Frankie with auberine and potato masala, whilst Sarah had the Rendang for the second time in three days.
The festival itself was teaming with people enjoying the sunshine, sampling the vendors wares, drinking beer and generally having a good time. There were lots of familiar faces too, many of whom are friends I have met through the festival.A huge thank you goes to Bolton Council and to Keith's team for putting on yet another belting Food and Drink Festival. Once again it brought the town to life, is the reason why I now have several pork pies in the fridge, and had to book today off as leave to recover. Next year Lee and I have decided that she is going to sell her legendary cheese toasties on a Local Artisan Craft Cheese Toastie Stall (snappy eh?). We might even let Sean Wilson provide the cheese. Oh and Councillor Byrne, we may have been drunk, but we've not forgotten about that ice bucket challenge...
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Looks like you had a fab time :-) x
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