Excitement is building here at Food Connections HQ as we count down the final days until launch. The whole city is buzzing in anticipation, just showing how amazing Bristol and its food community is.
There are 100s of events taking place all over the city during the 11 days, but this bank holiday weekend promises to be extra special. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday our streets and parks will be overflowing with good food and most of the events are free.
Head to the Amphitheatre for the First Great Western producers’ market to taste, try and buy from some of our best local producers. Find locally brewed ale, handmade cheeses, charcuterie, cider, vegetables, meats, preserves and breads and speak to the producers themselves. Then relax with a cup of tea and cake in the Garden Party area, where there will be entertainment from acoustic musicians and theatre acts.
Next stop should be lunch at the street food market in Millennium Square, where you can travel the world through taste. Authentic Spanish paella, French crepes, British burgers, Middle Eastern falafel, Creole BBQ, and Indian curries will make for some extremely contented bellies. There will also be a picnic area and the water fountains for the kids to play in.
Speaking of kids, there is plenty for them to do in the Organix Kids Family Area. The Organix Explore Tour will have sensory food sessions, vegetable planting, arts and crafts, and storytime activities, and kids can take Goodies bags home. Edible Bristol will be holding planting workshops and the Soil Association will be doing interactive soil-based experiments. There will also be a legacy left in the form of a planter outside @Bristol which will be planted by kids over the weekend and will stay there after the festival has finished for all passers by to enjoy. Circus performers will also delight all ages as they spin, fly and juggle, and musicians will take to the stage playing the soundtrack to all the fun!
The National Trust will also be in At-Bristol holding cooking workshops as part of their 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ campaign. The BBC Hub on Waterfront Square will of course be hosting celebrity chefs including Tom Kerridge, Ken Hom and John Torode will show you how to cook ‘affordable, achievable and inspirational’ dishes. On Sunday, May 4, families will be entertained by the CBeebies gang, who are bringing the likes of Stefan Gates: Gastronaut, Mr Bloom and Katy Ashworth for singalongs, hands-on activities and explosive science demonstrations.
Once you have had your fill on the waterfront head up the hill to College Green, where our very special guests Slow Food will be hosting their ‘Ark of Taste’ market and pop-up pizzeria. Taste pizza made by some of the finest chefs in Italy and find out all about endangered foods.
If that’s not enough, why not head to the Eat Drink Bristol Fashion tipis in Queen Square for a glass of wine and some tapas in the evening? You might even be lucky enough to have tickets to one of their fine dining events…
Phew, so much amazing food and fun and the reason we love Bristol so much. See you there!