Stroud Festival of Food and Drink brings a line-up of culinary legends and food experiences to the town next month.
Stroud Times was invited to the launch party at the Sub Rooms last night, where organisers Dan Burner, Jon Finch and James Anderson revealed the exciting plans for the event that runs across the town from Friday, May 20 to Sunday.
Dan, who also runs the popular Chalfest, told Stroud Times: “We thoroughly enjoyed our Stroud Festival of Food and Drink press launch last night at the Sub Rooms. Not only did it give us a great chance to wax lyrical about the super chefs and speakers coming to our event from May 20-22nd, but it also gave us a chance to meet some of our local food heroes. From Burleigh Court Hotel to Funky Falafel, Woodruffs to Wilder, there really is something for everyone in our town.”
From street food trucks and bars to tastings from the Stroud’s home-grown food producers, the event is also bringing a series of talks and masterclasses to The Sub Rooms.
Highlights include a conversation with award-winning restaurant critic and MasterChef judge, Jay Rayer, as he reveals what his last meal would be at 7pm on Friday, May 20; with the chance to see him perform as a pianist in The Jay Rayner Quartet from 9.15pm.
Loyd Grossman will be on stage on Saturday, May 21. He began writing for a number of music publications – including Rolling Stone, Fusion, and Vibrations – while an undergraduate. After starting a full-time career in journalism with Harpers & Queen and the Sunday Times he was diverted into television whereas a writer, presenter or deviser he was involved in a wide range of programmes including Through the Keyhole, MasterChef, Behind the Headlines, History of British Sculpture, Loyd on Location and Build Britain, He also wrote and presented a series, Composers at Home, for Radio 3.
Loyd’s knowledge of and fascination with food led him to create his own brand in 1995, which became Britain’s most successful new premium food brand.
Rick Stein’s son, Jack Stein, will be hosting a series of seafood masterclasses on Saturday, May 21, with shellfish at 2.30pm, fish at 3.30pm and molluscs at 4.30pm; while wine lovers can join Oz Clarke, one of the world’s leading experts, for an intimate wine tasting from 4.15pm.
Plant-based foodies can catch a cooking demo from ‘Dirty Vegan’, Matt Pritchard, creating comfort food with a vegan twist on Sunday 22 May 2022 from 10.45am; with Caribbean cookery legend, Rustie Lee, in the kitchen from 5pm; and celebrated chef, Ken Hom, closing the festival with his fantastic Asian cookery masterclass from 7pm.
Visitors will find events and activities all over town, with free barbecue grilling mini-masterclasses; pop-up parties; and a dedicated, interactive kids’ area, keeping little ones entertained with arts and crafts, games and face painting.
Stroud’s famous organic farmers’ market will be in town as usual on Saturday 21 May, as well as fully open on Sunday 22 May 2022 – with additional market stalls dotted around the town, too.
If you want to get involved in the festival you can email: info@stroudfoodanddrink.com
For tickets: Stroud Festival of Food & Drink | The Sub Rooms
