Foodies Festival – Hampton Court Palace

On the long weekend I took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and headed to the Foodies Festival at Hampton Court Palace Green.

From workshops with Michelin starred chefs, to chocolate tastings and street food pop up tents there was something for even the fussiest of foodie.

Some of my favourite street food suppliers were there – Street Food Kitchen and Gaucho Grill.

There was even a cevapcici tent, a staple of my diet when I travelled through the Balkans in 2012.

Have I mentioned how much I love a good sausage sizzle? Of course I couldn’t say no to the friendly guys at the The Great British Sausage Company. After much deliberation, I settled on the ‘Churchill’ – a traditional British sausage which combines black and white pepper and fresh parsley. Served on a wholemeal bun with onions and a good lashing of ketchup and mustard, the sausage had a great texture and flavour and that healthy ‘pop’ when you bite into it.

Chorizo and mozzarella lollipops? Yes they do exist, thanks to the Bath Pig. The chorizo is made with 100% free range British pork and has a beautifully balanced flavour and spice and worked wondrously with the creamy mozzarella. Compared to the chorizo I sampled in my recent trip to Barcelona, it certainly challenges it.

This poor guy in the background must have thought they were a tad spicy, either that or he was so thirsty he had to down a pint of beer in one sitting.

The winner of the day was the famous Roast Hog roll. The free range spit roast pork was succulent and tender and even included the best bits – pork scratchings and crackling all served in a fresh ciabatta roll. Marinated in rosemary and fennel with a hint of garlic, the pork had a beautiful aroma. The home made British apple sauce added a touch of sweetness to the roll and lightened the heavy flavours.

The queues quickly formed for the Fresh Lemonade Company. Expect more than your average Sprite here. The lemonade is made from freshly hand squeezed lemons – very refreshing!

For those of you who don’t know much about Argentinian street food, you are missing out.  Chango produce empanadas (one of the most traditonal dishes in Argentina) – little oven baked meat filled pastries. You will be guaranteed to fall in love with these little beauties.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, try the alfajores – two sweet biscuits sandwiched together with the rather sinful dulche de leche and covered with dessicated coconut around the edges. The cornstarch used in this cookie gives it a tender, crumbly texture and a delicate flavour.

Later in the day, I tried to pick up some hints from Shelina Permaloo (2012 winner of Masterchef) to make a mauritian coconut curry.

 And did a bit of wine and chocolate tasting with Devine chocolates.

I think I walked away from the day, a few pounds heavier but for a full belly it was sure worth it.

http://foodiesfestival.com/event/hampton-court-palace/

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