The region’s award-winning chefs are putting the finishing touches to special menus, dishes and demonstrations as they prepare to welcome thousands of visitors to the New Forest Food and Drink Festival Week, the area’s first event of this kind.
The week runs from 31 October to 6 November and will offer a choice of 15 different themes, including a vegetarian banquet with celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, a Very English Afternoon Tea, a six-course food journey at the five-star Chewton Glen Hotel and hundreds of other events celebrating the forest’s foraged food, game, beers, spirits and produce. These will take place in the New Forest’s pubs, B&B’s, hotels, restaurants, colleges, tea rooms, vineyards and village halls; all showcasing the unique food and drink on offer in this special part of the world.
Two free events will see many of these producers gathering in the same venue. A Taste of the Outdoors (Wednesday 2 November) is a living & learning event all about the Forest’s rich history and cultural heritage, at the Pony Sales Yard in Beaulieu Road. In the Show Ring, Agisters and Commoners will tell visitors about the Forest’s animal culture and demonstrate various customs, while showing off some of the famous New Forest Ponies. Street-food lunches, cooked by local chefs, will be available.
The Producers’ Market and Chef Demos (Sunday 6 November) will be the festival finale - a day of demonstrations from local chefs and showcases from farmers, artisan producers and local craft talent. Head to Brockenhurst College to watch them at work.
For details on events and how to book see www.thenewforest.co.uk/newforestfoodfest
