York Food and Drink Festival

By Lauren Masterman

All foodies behold:  the return of The York Food and Drink Festival. And you have to get it while it’s hot!  The festivities run from 21 to 30 September 2012.

The City of Festivals always proves entertaining for visitors and locals alike with a rift of events taking place throughout the year but The Food and Drink Festival is a firm favourite, attracting up to 440,000 visitors over the ten day extravaganza.

The streets of York have been transformed into a haven for delicious goodies and irresistible treats. A plethora of fantastic stalls and events take over the city and create an exuberant festival feeling as guests are fed, watered, and thoroughly entertained.

Around 100 stalls are providing visitors with exciting and unusual ingredients, and cooking demonstrations from top chefs are keeping the crowds entertained.  Fun-filled events and activities are happening throughout the city to celebrate all that is fabulous about local produce and each one serves to highlight this year’s theme, ‘Feeding the City in the Past, Present and Future’.

With inspiration to be found from every stall and event, mundane meals need never be on the menu again.  Personal favourites include the Demijohn stall, where they specialise in drinks and oils with a yummy unique twist; Newfields Organic where you can get fresh vegetables, including the particularly interesting purple cauliflower!  And I have to mention Phil Leverington, Festival Chef and The Hotel Du Vin cocktail demonstrations because any event that involves wine or beer tasting never disappoints.

The festivities don’t end when the stalls close.  After-hours, enjoy the relaxed ambience of the Fountain Marquee, the Champagne Bar, and the Real Ale Bar; all under cover and well heated!

If you want to take advantage of having the best food and drink that Yorkshire has to offer, it is right on your doorstep, but you have to be act fast!  The festival finishes on September 30th (sob sob).

For more information on The York Food and Drink Festival visit www.yorkfoodfestival.com.