ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL’S CHRISTMAS Fair will take place on Saturday and Sunday 8 & 9 December, 2012. Don’t miss out, if you’re within touring distance! Events include tutored tastings in the Angel Hotel Ballroom, Cross Street.


SATURDAY 8 December
6 – 7pm
Homes of Elegance, 7 Mill Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5HE
Cheese and Whites – Tom Harrow and Eric Charriaux
In a novel twist to the usual cheese and wine story Tom Harrow, aka ‘WineChap’ and top affineur Eric Charriaux avoid the obvious and show that its not just red wines but dry and sparkling whites that can make the perfect partners for delicious cheeses. Tom’s much-followed blog makes him one of The Evening Standard’s 1000 most influential Londoners. As well as supplying top restaurants, Eric and colleague Amnon Paldi offer a fantastic selection of British and French Farmhouse cheeses at their boutique shop La Cave à Fromage. See their stall in the Market Hall. Tasting tickets £7, in advance.

 

SUNDAY 9 December

11.00 – 11.45 am

Sherries of Spain – Ultracomida

Join Paul Grimwood of Ultracomida and Spanish wine expert José Velo-Rego of C&D Wines for a journey around the sherries and fortified wines of Jerez and Malaga. From the full-bodied Monteagudo Palo Cortado to the light and delicate Delgado Zuleta Fino, Paul and José will showcase the spectrum of sherries available from The Welsh Deli of the Year 2012, alongside tasters of their superb range of artisan foods imported directly from Spain. Tickets £6 each, in advance. They’ll also have a stall in the Market Hall.

 

12.30 – 1.15pm

Advance Party Preparations – Lindy Wildsmith, The Chef’s Room Cookery School, Blaenavon
Lindy Wildsmith introduces some simple and delicious treats that can be made in advance and stored in the freezer or fridge and pulled out and served at the drop of a hat. Think potted crab canapés, gravalax with cinnamon and orange notes, or marzipan and mincemeat tart. All the recipes of the dishes you taste can be found in Lindy’s book ‘Cured’ which was short-listed for the André Simon Food Book of the Year. Tickets £6 each, in advance.

 

2.00 – 2.45pm

Single Cask Whisky – Eddie Ludlow, The Whisky Lounge
A unique opportunity to taste The Whisky Lounge’s current Cask Series. These are individual casks bought direct from the distillery and bottled at the point when the whisky is at its prime. “With every cask from any distillery containing minute or even massive differences, each bottling contains a different flavour conundrum waiting to be unlocked,” says The Whisky Evangelist Eddie Ludlow. A £2.50 refund is offered on your ticket when you buy a bottle from The Whisky Lounge Stall. Visit their stall in the Market Hall. Tickets £7.50

 

3.30 – 4.15pm

Chocolate from Bean to Bar – Barry Colenso
A

guided tasting through the art and science of chocolate making with

Master Chocolatier Barry Colenso – from cultivation through the

different origins to the process of chocolate making including tempering

and decoration. Barry was the youngest ever Chef Patissier at The Savoy

Hotel, and for many years Master Chocolatier at Thorntons. The icing on

his glittering career came last year when he was asked by the McVities

Cake Company to help design and create the chocolate cake made for

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. Pictured below is his latest project, a chocolate clock for Dublin department store Clerys. Tasting tickets £6, in advance. Visit

his stall in the Market Hall.

 

Box Office at the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny – call in person or phone 01873 850805. Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am – 5pm.


Stroller tickets, £3.50 adults

On Sunday there’s family entertainment lined up, free for those with a stroller ticket.  A fanfare of Strumpets – brilliant four-piece acapella group; the Santa Lucia Youth Choir from Skaftö and Solberga, Sweden, and the St Mary’s Church Choir. Plus The Big, Bad Wolf who’ll be out and about spreading Christmas cheer, with his stories of fairytale characters and what they get up to over the festive period.

 

A Stroller Ticket gives access to the three market venues, with over 90 exhibitors – they think they have everything covered on the culinary front. Traditional, rare, exotic, or innovative – all tastes catered for. They’ve hand-picked over 90 of the very best local and regional speciality food producers so you can stock up cupboards and get everything in place for the perfect Christmas celebration.

FRESH & CURED MEATS
POULTRY & GAME
CHEESES & CHOCOLATES
CAKES & DESERTS
WINES & LIQUEURS
ALES, CIDERS & MORE

Chef’s Demonstrationson the Robert Price Kitchen stage – be inspired by the region’s finest – included in the price of a stroller ticket.

 

 

Kate Taylor, 4 December, 2012

 

PS

Here are two all-year campsites that I’ve tried and liked, within reach of Abergavenny:  

 

Poston Mill Holidays Touring Park, Peterchurch, Herefordshire HR2 0SF. Tel 01981 550 225. Visit their website for details. 

 

Glen Trothy

Caravan and Camping, Mitchel Troy, Monmouth, Wales NP25 4BD.

Tel 01600 712295 Visit their website here.

 

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