Thame Food Festival proved a real destination for foodies, families and music lovers this weekend. There was a treat of tantalising artisan and street food producers, demonstrations galore, celebrity chefs and bakers.
Thousands of adults, children and four legged friends flocked to enjoy the event of over 100 artisan food and hot street food producers, offering delicious samplings, a pop-up pub, live music and fun children’s activities. There was an enticing mix of local charcuterie, cheeses, breads through to brownies, ice cream, gin, beer, cider and vodka in the Artisan Market. If that was not enough the Street Food Area served up treats from around the World including Greek Souvlaki, Indian Street Food, Bao Buns, Loaded Chips, Mac & Cheese, BBQ Pork and Pizzas.
A new feature for this year – The Festival Village – took visitors on a food journey with the chance to get up, close and personal with producers both on the Food Glorious Food and the Masterclass stages. The two days also saw The Queen Elizabeth Big Cookery Stage, showcasing demonstrations including many of the country’s leading chefs and bakers such as Giuseppe D’Anno winner of the 2021 Great British Bake Off and Eddie Stott winner of Masterchef 2021. Alongside other chefs such as Alex Hollywood, Steven Carter-Bailey and Val Stones (previous contestants of Great British Bake Off). They were also joined by Instagram sensation Becky Excell who gave insights into how to live, bake and create Gluten Free. Plus, local restauranteur Lucie Ellis from The Milkshed at Weston-on-the-Green to name just a few.
There was also the Humble Country shopping marquee filled to the brim with home delights to buy. While adding to the ambience and festival vibe was the live music stage by Thame Music Academy sponsored by local company Adactus with a broad programme of artists. In addition, there were also lots of activities for the kids including the very popular Fun Kitchen Cookery Workshops, free Circus Skills and face painting, bubbles and archery supporting local charity Thomley. And again, the foodie mix extended to our four-legged friends with specialist dog treat stalls and fun Dog Shows by another locally based, national charity - the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.
Lotte Duncan, Patron and organiser of the event says, “What a weekend! But after so much planning and shifting of plans building up to it, the pleasure in seeing so many people visiting and supporting all the wonderful artisan producers and street food vendors, made all that hard work worth it.”
She continues: “This is particularly important as our independent producers need our support now more than ever. And as members of British Food Fortnight, and falling on the middle weekend of that celebration, we are proud to have been able to showcase the diversity of wonderful foods and drinks that are produced in Britain.”
