Food Festivals Are Good For the Soul

Whenever you are in need of culinary inspiration you are bound to find it by visiting a food festival or market. From humble farmers markets to regional food festivals you are destined to discover a wealth of gastronomic delights to be savoured. A couple of weeks ago my husband Simon and I visited the Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink, which was held in the centre of Exeter around Northernhay Gardens and the Exeter Castle Courtyard.

This is the 6th year running for the Festival, which is the largest of its kind in the region, and its best yet. There were over 100 stalls by local producers, cooking demonstrations by top chefs and even live music on the Friday and Saturday nights. The Festival was inspired by local Michelin star chef Michael Caines, who kept things organised in the cooking demonstrations where there were a number of head to head cook-offs between local head chefs, including a special guest appearance by Matt Dawson - the winner of Celebrity Master Chef.

Apart from the exciting cooking demonstrations there were so many other wonderful sights, sounds and smells to savour. The numerous food and drink stalls showcasing local producers were a sight to see, and better yet most of them offered samples of their products giving you the chance to try before you buy. I was of course on the lookout for cows' milk free products and I was not disappointed - several stalls catered for goats' and sheep cheese and, when asked, most stall owners were happy to discuss the ingredients and manufacture of their products with me, giving me peace of mind.

So next time you see a regional food festival advertised I would definitely recommend taking some time out of your day to visit it - you won't regret it. And also don't forget about the more humble, but just as insightful, local farmers markets for your weekly dose of soul food.

For more information on cows milk free products visit our website.

Colleen Finn
http://www.MooNoMore.co.uk
Dairy Free Directory

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