Daniel Galmiche will help you enjoy the Fresh Food Festival next week
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Food, glorious fresh food
By Linda FortMay 28, 2009
Next Wednesday, a new food festival celebrating the best produce in town will get under way. Linda Fort gives a preview of some of the tasty treats you can enjoy
A Cocktail of delights are planned for Reading shoppers at The Oracle shopping centre next week.
Celebrity chefs showing off their skills, a traditional farmers’ market selling the best local produce and a chance to learn cocktail-mixing are just some of the attractions at the first ever Fresh Food Festival.
Foodies will be drawn to the market stalls along The Riverside from Wednesday until Saturday, June 6 – and there will be activities in the evening to bring tasty treats to Reading shoppers.
Visitors will be able to buy the best local and seasonal produce at the farmers’ market which will be remain open throughout the event.
Top chefs Daniel Galmiche, Paul Clerehugh and Gino D’Acampo will be showcasing their culinary skills live at The Oracle – D’Acampo and Clerehugh on Friday, June 5 and Michelin-starred Galmiche on Saturday, June 6.
Chefs from the Riverside restaurants will also be giving signature dish demonstrations.
Food writer Sophie Grigson will be appear as presenter of the festival alongside the chefs.
“I am delighted to be in Reading to present The Oracle’s first Fresh Food Festival,” she says.
“The farmers’ market will bring the best in fresh, local produce right into the heart of Reading and I’m looking forward to discovering a few new tricks from the chefs, hot-footed from the best of The Oracle’s restaurants, as they show us how to cook some of their specialities.”
Youngsters can call in at the pet corner where they can hold the animals and learn about how to care for them.
In the evening, visitors to The Riverside will see the area transformed into a chill-out zone for customers to enjoy live music and cocktail-making master-classes on stage.
Sue Duddington, marketing controller at The Oracle, says: “The Fresh Food Festival is going to be a great event, giving our customers the chance to see fantastic demonstrations from celebrity chefs, sample local food, be amazed by
cocktail making and enjoy some of the best regional produce in the Thames Valley at our market.
“This is the first event of its kind we’ve held at The Oracle and will truly celebrate a summer of fresh food and drink.
“It’s great watching celebrity chefs on TV cooking programmes, but seeing it live really makes a difference,” she adds. “It gives people a real insight into what food is all about. You can smell it, touch it, and taste it too.”
Aware of the fashion for growing your own food, The Oracle will also be hosting gardening workshops, giving customers advice on gardening, taking cuttings and planting.
The workshops will be provided by expert Alan Gould of the Henry Street Garden Centre in Arborfield Cross.
The leading nurseryman at the garden centre is an expert in rose growing and every kind of horticulture.
Go along for a stroll along the River Kennet at The Oracle Riverside or find out more about the festival by logging on to www.TheOracle.com
What’s on at the Fresh Food Festival
Wednesday, June 3
10am-5pm
Farmers’ market
Thursday, June 4
10am-5pm
Farmers’ market
Friday, June 5
10am-5pm
Farmers’ market and Petting zoo
Noon
Cooking demonstration with Gino D’Acampo
12.30pm
Question and Answer session with Gino D’Acampo
1.40pm
Gardening Workshop
2pm
Cooking demonstration with Gino D’Acampo
3pm
Book Signing
Meet Gino D’Acampo in Waterstone’s
4pm
Cooking Demonstration with Gino D’Acampo/Paul Clerehugh
6pm-8.30pm
Cocktail mixing
Saturday, June 6
10am-5pm
Farmers’ market
Noon-5pm
Cooking Demonstrations by Riverside restaurants and Gardening workshop
6pm-8.30pm
Cocktail mixing and music
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