Following the resounding success of last year’s inaugural Marlow Food Festival, the 2010 Festival has been extended to two days and takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September at Crowne Plaza Marlow as before.
With an impressive array of chefs – including the winners of BBC’s Great British Menu, (together for the first time since the series ended), the organisers have promised more of the same with celebrity chef master classes, food and wine tastings and plenty of activity to guarantee a fabulous family weekend.
Last year key celebrity chefs and local restaurateurs such as Heston Blumenthal, Giancarlo Caldesi, Michael MacDonald, Jo Pratt, Michele and Russell, the winners of Raymond Blanc’s “Restaurant of the Year” and chocolatier Damian Allsop, participated.
This year’s confirmed master classes include : Claude Bosi (Hibiscus in Mayfair), Tom Kerridge (The Hand & Flowers, Marlow), Lisa Allen (Northcote Manor), Kenny Atkinson (The Orangery, Rockliffe Hall), Daniel Clifford (Midsummer House), Simon Rogan (L’enclume), Alan Murchison (Paris House/L’ortolan/La Becasse), Chris Horridge (Fine Dining Academy) and Giancarlo Caldesi (Caldesi in Campagna of Bray and London). Adiana Rabinovich, who is a gluten free expert and has worked with Pru Leith, will be enticing children to join her specialist cookery classes.
Bill Turnbull, journalist and BBC Breakfast presenter, will be in attendance on both days to talk about his new book “The Bad Beekeeper”, gourmet barbecue specialists Man, Meat Fire and Chris Day of Jimmy’s Farm are also confirmed. Helen Rathbone, organiser of the event, says “This year’s festival promises to be even more fun than last year and we hope to encourage as many people as possible to support the event and help us raise more money for the nominated charity”.
Current sponsors are Waitrose, Lakes TV, thebestofmarlow and Hamptons International, with others to be announced.