Becca Perl reveals the tasty line-up of local food and drink, arts and crafts and award-winning chefs at this family-friendly event
From cockles and curry to churros and cheese raclette, there will be plenty to tickle your tastebuds at this year’s Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival. This popular free event, which showcases local food, drink and chefs alongside arts, crafts and makers, takes place over the weekend of June 10 –11 throughout Highcliffe village centre on Lymington Road and the Recreation Ground, known as the Green.
Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival CIC is a not-for-profit organisation, so putting community at the heart of this annual celebration, which is supported by renowned local businesses including Chewton Glen and Portman Stone, is always top of their menu. And with its location on the eastern border of the county, ingredients come from both Dorset and Hampshire.
With a firm emphasis on local traders, you’ll find New Forest Shortbread, Book and Bucket Cheese from Cranborne and Cakey Love treats from Christchurch. And when you get thirsty, put your order in at the bar on a 1966 red Routemaster London double decker bus.
This festival seamlessly blends the finest local produce and chefs with some of the best local artists and crafters. The craft stalls, which are located on the Green, are curated by Loz and Kat from The Little Craft Shack (thelittlecraftshack.com) – a community of creatives from across Dorset, Hampshire and beyond. As you stroll around this area, you’ll also come across live arts and crafts demos dotted amongst the gazebos.
There are stages at either end of the village hosting live music from Latin and swing to folk and big band. Included in this mix are The Fifinellas, a vintage and postmodern vocal harmony trio from Bournemouth. Your ears are in for a treat!
Find out more at highcliffefoodandartsfestival.co.uk
Learn from the best
With its dazzling line-up of inspirational chefs, the cookery demonstration tent at the Highcliffe Food and Art Festival always draws a crowd. And supplying the freshly caught seafood for these celebrity chefs is Highcliffe’s local fishmonger Russell’s Plaice. This family business, owned by Russell Murphy, runs three small inshore fishing boats that use sustainable methods of catching, such as rod and line.
Taking the headline slot on Sunday June 11 is one of the UK’s most exciting chefs working in Indian food today, Cyrus Todiwala. Best known for Café Spice Namasté, which opened in London in 1995, Cyrus was awarded an MBE in 2000 and an OBE in 2009 for his contribution to the British restaurant industry. He will demonstrate blending traditional Indian techniques and flavours with more unusual ingredients.
Christchurch-born Chef Director of The Pig Hotel Group, James Golding will be joined by his long-time pal from Dorset – TV chef, author and cookery school owner Lesley Waters. And chefs from renowned local eating establishments that you can also see in action include Alex Aitken from The Jetty, Kevin Brown from Lord Bute, Colin Nash from The Lamb at Winkton, Luke Matthews from Chewton Glen, Ismael Pajaro from The Oaks and Peter Axworthy from Offbeet,
Free fun for the kids
We all know that if the kids are entertained, everyone is happy, which is why there is a programme of free activities in the dedicated kids’ tent at the Highcliffe Food & Arts Festival. From yoga, meditation and fitness to musical theatre, street dance and nature-themed crafts, there are workshops for toddlers right through to age 11. Please check the website for the latest timetable.
In addition, our popular treasure hunt is running all weekend with a prize for everyone who finds all the clues. On both days, little people can get green-fingered in the ‘Grow Your Own’ tent. On Sunday, your child can try their hand at plate-spinning, stilt-walking and more in our circus skills area.
This year’s Kids Kitchen, sponsored by Highcliffe Residents Association, is being run by Biscuits by Sarah B. Sarah (pictured) is offering hour-long biscuit decorating sessions on the themes of animals and eat your veg. The different sessions, suitable for ages 5 to 10-year-olds and 8 to 15-year-olds, cost £10 per workshop and must be booked in advance via bookwhen.com/biscuitsbysarahb
There’s also a brilliant playground for infants and older children on the Green where the festival is being held if they need to let off some steam.
Plant powered chefs {vegan dish}
We are lucky enough to have a few chefs demonstrating the art of vegan cookery this year. We have Peter Axworthy, founder and executive chef at Offbeet which comprises two plant-based restaurants creating vegan fine dining dishes (above) and a cookery school. Taking to the stage alongside Peter is Will Firmin, Head Chef at Crow Spotter Café. And making his debut at the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival is Eduardo Sepulveda Lemus from Mental Lentil Ltd.
