The York Festival of Food and Drink is now possibly the biggest celebration of food in Britain and certainly the longest with more than a hundred events stretching over ten days from 22nd September to 1st October.
Besides giving a mouth-watering taste of the best of regional and seasonal Yorkshire food, what makes the Festival unique is its use of York’s fabulous ancient buildings.
Festival goers can sip Champagne in the Guildhall, watch a movie on the east wall of York Minster, enjoy a rare breed beef dinner in the Merchant Adventurers Hall and attend a jelly workshop in the Castle Museum.
To help you through the events taking place during the Festival, we have picked out ‘three of the best’ to suit all tastes. So whether you are a pushover for the chocolate fountain or a dedicated gourmet, book your tickets for a seat at York’s top table.
Three Best Events for….
Gourmets
Black Tie and Beef Dinner - 24th Sept/Merchant Adventurers Hall
A gourmet dinner of rare breed beef in the beautiful Merchant Adventurers Hall
Black Pudding Tasting - 29th Sept/Melton’s Too
Learn the dark art of black pudding production
Mutton Dressed as … Mutton - 28th Sept/Bedern Hall
The forgotten taste of mutton is revived at an informal lunch served in the medieval Bedern Hall
Cooks
Summat from Nowt - 29th Sept/Guildhall
Posh TV cook Rosemary Shrager, will demonstrate how to make something from nothing (well almost nothing)
GNER Day - 28th Sept/Guildhall
Stars of ‘Ready Steady Cook’, Nick Nairn and Paul Rankin will host, judge and cook at the GNER chef of the year competition
Moorsfresh Day - 25th Sept/Guildhall
A day for serious cooks and professionals, when the region’s top chefs will be on stage to ‘think global, eat local’ while demonstrating the best of local produce
Imbibers
Champagne Tasting - 21st Sept/Guildhall
Launch event with Yorkshire Post wine expert Christine Austin
Bordeaux Tasting and Dinner - 29th Sept/Guildhall & Mansion House
A celebratory dinner in the Mansion House or dinner followed by Bordeaux wine tasting
Argentinean Wine Tasting - 24th Sept Chapter House
A master class set in the Chapter House of York Minster
Foodies
Table Talk - 26th Sept/Melton’s Too
A five course mushroom dinner with organic and wild mushrooms, at shared tables for a convivial foodie evening.
Literary Lunch - 1st Oct/Dean Court Hotel
How to be a Better Foodie is the intriguing title of Sudi Pigott’s new book. Check it out over lunch at the Dean Court Hotel
Can Ewe Taste the Difference? - 24th Sept Melton’s Too
So you think you know your cheese? Taste, compare and discuss a variety of Ewe’s cheeses with Slow Food
The Sweet-Toothed
Port and Puddings - 26th Sept Guildhall
The Guildhall will be filled with puddings. The challenge: taste them all.
Chocolate Tasting - 1st Oct Melton’s Too
Talk, tempering and tasting from Monk Bar Chocolatiers
Moonlight Cinema - 21st Sept York Minster
A special showing of the film ‘Chocolat’ on the East Front of York Minster
Historians
Dinner with Alexis Soyer and Mrs Beeton - 29th Sept Dean Court Hotel
A three course dinner in the company of Ruth Cowen and Kathryn Hughes speaking about their recently published biographies
Jellicious - 28th Sept Castle Museum
A talk and tasting with jelly expert and food historian Peter Brears with a tour of the Castle Museum’s Victorian street
Medieval Rove - 27th Sept Guildhall & others
Dinner and a tour of medieval York - take a course in three different medieval locations.
Children
Kids Day - 24th Sept Guildhall
A carousel of hands-on workshops where kids can taste, try and have fun in the Guildhall
Chocolate Fountain - 25th Sept Parliament Street
A demonstration in Parliament Street of the latest craze – need we say more?
Head to Head - 1st Oct Guildhall
Local headmasters take part in a cookery challenge, led by Rafi of Rafi’s Spice Box. Always a laugh
Educators
A Primary Do - 22nd Sept Guildhall
See what primary school children are capable of when they cook lunch for Festival goers
Adult Education Day - 23rd Sept Guildhall
A full day of events in the Guildhall to encourage everyone to learn more about food
Out to Lunch - 26th Sept Mansion House
Find out from the Yorkshire Organic Centre how to supply your establishment with organic regional produce
Shoppers
Festival Markets – every day Parliament Street
Indoor and outdoor regional Festival food markets, a farmers’ market, a continental market and a multicultural market
Over 50s - 26th Sept Guildhall
A day in the Guildhall with demonstrations, samples, tastings and lots to buy
Cream Tea Tasting - 22nd, 23rd & 24th Sept Parliament Street
When you’re shopped out, stop off for Slow Food’s Yorkshire Cream Tea tasting in Parliament Street.
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