St Albans Food and Drink Festival 2017 brochure

St Albans

Food & Drink festival 27 September to 7 October

Street Feastival 12-6pm, 1 October

www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

Welcome

A warm welcome to the 10th St Albans Food and Drink Festival, proudly sponsored by SA Law.

The Festival is a week of gastronomic delights and fun for everyone. A highlight is the Street ‘Feastival’ on Sunday 1st October, where St Peter’s Street will be closed to traffic for a day of fantastic feasting. Come on down for scrumptious food and drink, superb local produce and lots of fabulous family entertainment.

St Albans is home to SA Law, a leading regional law firm situated on Upper Marlborough Road. SA Law are committed to many local social responsibility initiatives including fundraising and sponsorship. This year, they present their third recipe book which features favourite recipes from staff, friends and top local chefs.

You can download a copy for free at www.salaw.com/foodforthought or grab a copy at the Street ‘Feastival’.

What’s new?

Brand new for 2017, we invite you to join us on the final day of the festival for ‘Sustainable Saturday’. On 7 October you can visit The Cobbled Kitchen Veggie Table and learn to cook with unusual vegetables, get involved with community food gardens or head over to the Courtyard Cafe to enjoy cake and conversation about the impact that the food we eat has on the environment.

The Food and Drink Festival is a high point in this city’s calendar, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Travelling to St Albans for any events? Check out up-to-date information on trains at thameslinkrailway.com and abbeyline.org.uk. Bus information can be found at intalink.org.uk and parking and cycling information at enjoystalbans.com For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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beer & wine Showcasing the best beer Wine Events you adore chocolate? Do you also love and wine St Albans has to Do wine? How about together? Join Rock, offer, try something new Pop, Candy and Flagship Wines for a Chocolate and Wine Tasting evening. Try or enjoy drinking your six handmade chocolate bars alongside six complimentary wines and you can decide old favourites for yourself which combination tingles your Beer Events

taste buds.

Enjoy the last few days of summer as the festival kicks off with the St Albans Beer & Cider Festival. You can choose from over 400 ales, ciders and beers from all corners of the world! Don’t miss the Fleetville Larder & Home Brewtique presenting a relaxed evening of British Cheese & Craft Beer with beer tastings perfectly paired with Artisan British cheeses.

Maybe you prefer cheese with your wine?

Enjoy an evening at Dylan’s Kings Arms with a film showing of ‘A Good Year’ with wine flight and cheese board. Visit our festival website to get your hands on one of a limited number of tickets.

Book a table at the Portland Arms for a social night of Burger & Beer with friends.

Or learn about your beer by joining Roger Protz for his Tutored Beer Tasting and impress your friends next time you’re at the pub!

Photo: Terry Richards

For a more traditional tasting, join Flagship Wines for an evening exploring the C’s of Chile tasting wines from the Carmenere, Carignan and Cabernet grapes. Or finish the month of wonderful food and drink with a visit to the Flagship Wines Annual Wine Fair where you will be spoilt for choice. More than 100 wines and champagnes will be on show and an array of winemakers will be on hand to share their expert knowledge.

For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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Entertainment Don’t miss the Streets of St Albans exhibition events! Start the festival with The Holywell Hill Grand Exhibition as the independent retailers come together for evening of fun with fashion shows, drinks receptions, tasting and prizes. Then experience George Street as you’ve never seen it before! Grass will be laid, music played and you can explore George Street’s boutiques, restaurants and bars for an evening of Gin & Jazz.

Unique cinema experiences have truly come into fashion in the last few years and The Pudding Stop is the perfect place in St Albans for just that! For the festival they've teamed up with Zero Sushi to offer a unique Japanese Theme Film Night with Japanese inspired desserts – we’re intrigued!

Are you one of the many local residents who walk past the beautiful St Albans Cathedral each week, but haven't ever taken a peek inside? Now is a perfect time to learn about the history of the building and its features with a special Cathedral Guided Tour with Afternoon Tea to top it off!

Photo top: David Thurston

Looking for the perfect event to attend with friends? Visit Ye Olde Fighting Cocks for the open mic night or see our website for the choice of local pub quiz events scheduled throughout the festival.

For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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SUSTAINABLE SATURDAY

It’s Sustainable Saturday and we’re rooting for you to attend!

With St Albans becoming more sustainable there are plenty of ways you can get involved

Did you know there is a Food Garden in the centre of St Albans!

Come and get involved with the Incredible Edible, Civic Centre Garden and learn about growing our own food.

Saturday 7 October Take a look at the Veggie Table outside The Cobbled Kitchen which doesn’t just sell organic vegetables but also provides creative ideas for how to cook them.

The Vegan Afternoon Tea at The Green Kitchen Veggie Café serves you the sweet and savoury treats you desire along with that perfect cup of tea.

Food for Thought? Head over to the Courtyard Café to enjoy Cake and Conversation about what impact the food we eat has on the environment.

Photo left, below: Stephanie Belton

FoodSmiles St Albans open their gates for free tours of the farm followed by tea and vegetable cakes.

Sustainable Food Zone is well worth a visit at the Saturday Charter Market.

For more information about all the Sustainable Saturday events visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

Street Feastival Sunday 1 October 12-6pm Free Entry A highlight of the festival calendar will be the closing of St Peter’s Street as it becomes a gastronomic wonderland for food, fun and feasting.

What to look out for… » Cookery Theatre » Poppycock Bar on the Green » Live Acoustic Music » Pop-up Restaurant » Craft Corner » Oaklands Farm » Champagne Bus » Local Traders » Children’s Activities

See Map Photos: Stephanie Belton

For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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STREET FEA

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Sunday 1 October

Tasting Tabure With its warm, welcoming atmosphere, why not visit the pop up Tabure Restaurant which embodies everything we love about Turkish cuisine and culture.

Cookery Theatre

Poppycock Bar on the Green

Inspiring demonstrations and talks from local talent including Theo Michaels, Becky Alexander, Ren Behan and Phil Thompson.

Poppycock presents the most lavish cocktails in the city with G&T's and Ultimate Bloody Marys plus locally produced Farr Brew beer. Take your pick and relax on the green with friends and family.

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something for the kids

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Bring along your teddy for our Teddy Bears Picnic, get creative at our craft stalls and keep an eye out for our free facepainting.

Food & Drink Traders

Dylan’s Kings Arms will be hosting Champagne with snacks on the Red Double Decker Bus.

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Popup farm featuring farm animals bred and reared at Oaklands College. Look out for the Tractor!

Live Acoustic Music Eat the food you have selected to a background of music from local acoustic artists. They will be playing throughout the feastival, so why not take a seat and enjoy the entertainment.

crafts corner From cocktail candles to ceramic coasters, browse our crafts corner for beautiful gifts, home delights and food treats.

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Champagne bus Oaklands College Farm

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Over 100 traders come together to showcase the finest food and drink from local producers, suppliers and restaurants.

LOVE STREET FOOD

butchery The Master Butcher from Oakland College’s Hospitality & Catering Team will host butchery demonstrations. Learn about different cuts of meat and how to cook them at home.

Viewer discretion advised.

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Food & Drink awards

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St Albans Food & Drink Awards 10 years fe

asting

The 10th anniversary of the St Albans Food & Drink Awards will honour the best of the best in our local hospitality industry.

The public voted for their favourite local businesses in 13 different categories over the summer.

A pioneering new award for 2017 is ‘The Green Triangle Award for Sustainability’, introduced to give recognition to businesses that can show they are committed to improving the environment.

Tickets are available for purchase from the festival website www.enjoystalbans.com/ foodanddrink

Photos: Stephanie Belton For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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Workshops Come and be part of our festival by mastering a new skill, tasting new flavours and getting involved in one of the many workshops on offer Get rolling, cutting and shaping as you learn to make fresh pasta at the Chappell & Caldwell Pasta Cookery Class. Add some delicious sauces and you can enjoy the meal you have created with a glass of wine before heading home with new recipes and skills.

Having trouble getting the kids to eat their veggies? Why not join The Cobbled Kitchen for a popular social cookery class Versatile Veggies. It's a hands-on cookery class that gets everybody involved in exploring many ways to make vegetables the star of the dinner table.

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Maybe you want to get the whole family involved with creative drop-in workshops at the Rock, Pop, Candy shop. Try making your own candy brochette at the Candy Workshop or enjoy the innovative ways chocolate can be used and consumed at the Free Chocolate Tasting. Think you have tasted good popcorn? Pop along to Rock Pop Candy for a Popcorn Tasting of the unusual flavours from Ten Acre, each with their own story to tell.

TASTING & DINNERS Tantalise your taste buds by discovering a wide range of food options available for you to devour throughout the festival Start your journey at The Boot with the Pop-up Mexican Kitchen inspired by the streets of Mexico. Then, why not try one of the steak or curry nights at the Portland Arms.

Fall in love with the healthy polish cuisine with a four course supper at the Street Café with Ren Behan, the author of Wild Honey and Rye. Or if you are quick to book you could get yourself a ticket for specialist chef events at Dylan’s Tasting Room.

Experience the ‘theatre of cooking’ in the modern open plan dining space on the Opening Night of the new academic year at The Stables Restaurant at Oaklands College. Or maybe you’re a coffee fan? Does an evening of coffee tasting with creative canapés designed to explore the flavours at the Coffee, Canapés and Conversation event at Charlie’s Coffee Shop tempt you?

As there is always time for tea, enjoy a musical afternoon with tea, finger sandwiches and delicious cakes. The Vintage Afternoon Tea event at the St Albans Organ Theatre will include demonstrations of the fascinating dance organs. Or use the Afternoon Tea with Prosecco event at the Portland Arms as an excuse for good catch up with old friends.

Make sure you book your table so not to miss out on these unique dining experiences. Find out more at www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink.

Photo top right: Yuki Sugiura

CHARITABLE EVENTS The wheat has been cut, the apples have been picked and it is time to celebrate the Harvest!

St Albans Cathedral, St Albans Harvest Festival, 1 October Celebrate the harvest and consider the challenge of how we can help those throughout the world who do not have easy access to food or water. It’s also a chance to donate gifts of food to support the work of our local Food Bank. Find out more here www.stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk

St Nicholas Church, Harpenden Harvest Across the World, 1 October To celebrate the Harvest on different continents with food tasting, crafts, music, quiz and lunches.

Ready Steady St Albans

Photo: Simon Wright

Join the Mayor of St Albans for his annual charity tasting evening Ready Steady St Albans at Poggenpohl, St Albans. Some of the finest chefs from the City will come together for an evening of demonstrations and tastings.

The event raises money for the Mayor’s chosen charity Youth Talk, a charity offering support and counselling services to the youth of St Albans. £25 per person including drinks.

Tickets are limited, visit www. enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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Photo: Stephanie Belton

In a City alive with tastes from around the world, we celebrate the best the world of food and drink has to offer alongside the great tastes of home every week, every month, every year Street Food @ St Albans Charter Market Join office workers and students queuing for their favourites to enjoy at their desks or in the sunshine. Sample spicy feijoada, pizzas fresh from the oven, crisp falafel tangled with vibrant herbs and more, all made fresh before your eyes.

Every Wednesday & Saturday throughout the year

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Flagship Wines Wine Fair St Albans School, Abbey Gateway A chance to taste new and old wines from around the world with a winemaker or two to chat with. Enjoy canapĂŠs specially chosen to complement the wines, all included in the ticket price. Christmas gifts ideas, special offers, great wines and good company. ÂŁ20 from Flagship Wines, 417 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL4 0XP or online at www.flagshipwines.co.uk Fri 20 Oct 7pm-10pm

St Albans Christmas Lights Switch On & Market Launch Entertainment throughout the city to mark the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Panto stars, music stages, street artists and plenty of glitter await, with the Switch On at 5pm.

Sun 26 Nov 12pm – 6pm

Harpenden Christmas Carnival In conjunction with the monthly Farmers’ Market, enjoy a carnival procession, festive stalls, Santa’s Grotto, food and more.

Stage acts on the Church Green from 1pm and the Switch On at 5pm.

Sun 26 Nov 12pm – 6pm

St Albans Christmas Market The fifth year of the beautiful and atmospheric Christmas Market, in wooden chalets around the magnificent 11th century St Albans Cathedral. Extended dates due to popular demand!

25 Nov – 23 Dec

Monthly Farmers’ Markets Meet the producers themselves as they showcase lovingly made produce from around the region. It’s the perfect place to pick up ingredients for a traditional Sunday lunch or stock up on the season’s finest offerings for the rest of your week.

St Albans: 2nd Sunday each month, 8am to 2pm Harpenden: 4th Sunday each month, 10am to 2pm Photo: Stephanie Belton

For more information visit www.enjoystalbans.com/foodanddrink

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