On 23 September the annual Universal Cookery and Food Festival saw chefs and culinary experts from around the country convene to celebrate the seasons and the harvest. Chefs were given the chance to rub shoulders with farmers, foragers and growers as well as suppliers, industry insiders and of course, their peers. This year’s event – held at Vallum Farm in Northumberland – saw over 200 chefs in attendance from those studying the profession to the very top names in the business like John Williams (Executive Chef, The Ritz), Terry Laybourne (Chef Patron, 21 Hospitality Group), Nigel Howarth (Chef Patron, Northcote Manor) and Craig Bancroft (Managing Director Northcote Manor).
The Festival was very successful in educating many professional movers and shakers of all ages. This annual food celebration is the brainchild of three directing chefs: Ian Nottage, Lee Maycock and John Feeney, as well as Billie Moore from McCollough Moore Ltd who organised the event. The event runs in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs and sets out to get chefs of every level out of the kitchen to reconnect with each other as well as the land around.
The day saw a wide range of activities available to visitors, from an innovation zone which allowed sponsors to showcase an impressive array of new culinary techniques and ingredients, to a feather and fur demo area hosted by Jose Souto, chef lecturer at Westminster Kingsway College, which demonstrated hanging, skinning and butchery of all kinds. National suppliers and local producers were given space to showcase their wares, and farm tours, clay pigeon shooting and insights into the future of Wagyu beef farming by Steve Ramshaw were only some of the activities available throughout the day. A special note to Westlands for their amazing display of micro cresses, herbs, and edible flowers. Keep up the innovation!
As part of an extensive lunch offering and BBQ after party, Steve Ramshaw produced some 200 delicious Wagyu burgers from his nearby farm which were delicious. Alan Paton and his team prepared a fantastic selection of delicacies to feast on, washed down by a superb selection of quality ales from Hambleton Ales. Congratulations to all for organising a wonderful food festival.
The next event is being held on 20 September 2016, at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire. If you are interested in attending, please contact marketing@reynolds-cs.com.
