Now in its tenth year, the annual St Ives Food & Drink Festival is fast approaching. We pick ten reasons to get really excited about this year’s festival taking place 10-12 May on Porthminster Beach
We get to sit on Porthminster Beach all day
Eating the best food whilst enjoying white sands and turquoise sea is one of our favourite ways to spend the day… We're just crossing our fingers for sunny weather!
There's more food to choose from than ever before
We've been attending the festival for a few years now and it just keeps getting bigger and better. For 2019 there's going to be up to 60 stalls to visit. From pulled pork nachos and locally made chutneys, to crumbly fudge and some of the best churros around, there's going to be plenty on offer to sate the appetite. The only difficulty is choosing what to have.
An incredible line-up will be hitting the Chef Demo Stage
We're not the best cooks and we need all the help we can get - that's why we're super excited to be watching some of Cornwall's best chefs taking to the stage at the festival. This year, you can expect to see demonstrations by Jude Kereama from Kota Restaurant in Porthleven, Ben Tunnicliffe from The Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn and Michael Smith from the Porthminster Group - amongst many others.
Live entertainment is livelier and longer
This year's festival runs from daytime entertainment through to the evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night which means the foodie party can go on for longer. A number of talented local bands and singers will be performing this year. Live performances will be from Jelly Jazz, Tankus the Henge and The Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys - to name a few.
Dinner with the 'St Ives' Chefs
Join a number of talented local chefs for a special supper at Una Kitchen in St Ives. Five chefs will each deliver a course to create the ultimate seafood tasting menu. Tickets are £70 and worth every penny as all profits go to the Surfers Against Sewage and Cornwall Air Ambulance charities.
Cooking with fire at the Asado Fire Pit
Festival-goers can look forward to cooking demonstrations on the Asado Fire Pit - a demo area that is all about cooking over fire. Learn to cook meat, fish and vegetables fireside by Ross Geach of Padstow Kitchen Garden.
There's something for the whole family
Little people are well catered for at the St Ives Food & Drink Festival. From bouncy castle slides and circus activities to face painting and mermaid dress-up, there's plenty to do and see.
You can go on a Wild Food Walk
This year the festival has added a couple of Wild Food Walks to its line-up. Join Josh from Wild St Ives on a foraging ramble along the coast where you'll learn to sustainably and safely harvest a plethora of edible plants around St Ives. The walks take place at 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children and need to be booked in advance.
Experience some of the best churros
We've got a sweet tooth and always leave room for pudding and we've certainly got space for the churros from Choccy Churros. Take your pick from Cream Tea churros, churros topped with Lotus biscuit and coconut cream, and peanut butter and brownie churros too. Churros, churros, churros… We just love them!
For more information visit www.stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
Or catch up on social media...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stivesfoodfestival/
Twitter: twitter.com/StIvesFoodFes
