Join The Journal's Taste food and drink festival

Oct 31 2009 by Katharine Capocci, The Journal

As well as local produce on sale there will also be cookery demonstrations from some of the region’s finest chefs who will show off their skills in a state-of-the-art mobile kitchen.

Turning up the heat will be The Journal’s foodie columnist Bill Oldfield, owner of Oldfields restaurants in Newcastle and Durham. Also appearing is food writer Maunika Gowardhan, of Starters and Spice, and comic cookery duo Two Ladies of a Certain Age.

Others wowing the crowds include Simon Devine from Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel, Mark Tamburrini from Malmaison, Newcastle, Bob Arora from Sachins, Newcastle, and Rhian Cradock from the Feathers Inn, Hedley on the Hill.

It’s The Journal’s fifth food and drink festival since launching its ‘buy, use, eat local’ campaign to encourage consumers, retailers, hoteliers and restaurateurs to favour quality foodstuffs grown, reared, sown and made between the Rivers Tweed and Tees.

Karen Carr, marketing manager at the Metrocentre, Gateshead, said: “The opportunity to promote local produce at events such as these has always been exceptionally popular.

“We know this will be a huge attraction offering lots of gift ideas for Christmas, and it’s a chance to see the region’s award-winning chefs in action. It’s the first time the Taste event has been held in a shopping centre – and we’re confident our shoppers will find it enjoyable.”

Some of the stallholders showing off the region’s fine fare include Kielder Organic Meats of Dunterley Farm; The Proof of the Pudding of Alnwick; chilli growers Trees Can’t Dance of Coanwood; Sunny Hill Eggs of Belford; Riverford organic veg box scheme; Northumberland Cheese Company of Blagdon and Yummylicious Cakes of Cramlington.

Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “Once again, it is fantastic that so many producers and chefs have come on board to help spread The Journal’s buy, use, eat local message. Now we hope the public will turn out in force at the Metrocentre to show their support for local food and drink producers.”

Taste at the Metrocentre will take place at the Qube today from 9am-7pm, and tomorrow, 11am-5pm. Cookery demonstration slots will be between 11am and 4.30pm today and noon-4pm Sunday.

:: For more build-up to the Taste festival, go to www.journallive.co.uk/taste

Page 3: Who is taking part?