ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL 2007

SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

Associate Event
12.00 noon to 7.00pm - Abergavenny Castle
Monmouthshire Seafood Fayre
(incorporating the Welsh Oyster Opening Championships)
Tickets: £30.00

Watch the professionals battle it out to be crowned Welsh Oyster Opening Champion 2007, and even have a go yourself. The day includes oyster-and-champagne reception, seafood lunch (inc. vegetarian choices), live entertainment and charity auction, plus free oyster bar throughout. This year also sees the launch of the ‘Oyster Pearl’ competition, so dress for the occasion.

Tickets from the Borough Theatre Box Office: 01873 850805.
(www.monmouthshireseafoodfayre.co.uk)

WEDNESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER

Associate Event
12.00 noon to 5.00pm - Mulberry House/Ty’r Morwydd Environmental
Study Centre, Pen-y-pound
Wild Food Foray & Picnic
Tickets: £6.00 (15 places only)

Exploring the hedgerows and ancient woodland of this Llangovan sheep farm you will have an opportunity to forage for your own selection of wild foods. Beautiful scenery, including hills, ponds and orchards. Children must be accompanied by parents. Bring wellies, containers & waterproofs. No dogs. Minibus from Pen-y-pound, Abergavenny.  To book call Mulberry House: 01873 855959. (www.mulberrycentre.com)

THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

7.00pm -  Market Hall, Abergavenny
Italian Fanfare Night   *** SOLD OUT ***

Kick off the Festival Italian style! This year’s Fanfare is being catered by Domenico Scarpetta, chef-proprietor of The Malthouse, Abergavenny’s popular Italian restaurant. There will also be live entertainment throughout the evening. As usual the Hall will be decked out in style with Bettina Reeves’ colourful decorations, adding to the wonderful atmosphere of the Victorian Market Hall.

To book call the Borough Theatre box office on: 01873 850805.

MENU:

Glass of wine on arrival

Bread, olives, salami and salad

Chicken Cacciatora and new potatoes
Or Pasta al Forno Calabrese (Vegetarian option)

Tiramisu

Associate Event
7.30pm - The Bell at Skenfrith
Wine Australia Evening
Tickets: £50.00 (to include dinner and signed book)
Sponsored by www.wineaustralia.com

The Bell at Skenfrith will be celebrating this year’s festival with its customary Wine Tasting Dinner with Wine Australia. William Hutchings and leading wine expert, author and Sunday Telegraph journalist Susy Atkins will be discussing the delights of the evening’s wines and introducing Susy’s new book 'The Really Useful Guide to Wine' (Quadrille: £12.99).

To book call: 01600 750235 (www.skenfrith.co.uk)

Associate Event
7.30pm - Saint Michael’s Centre
A Guided Tour of Burgandy
Wine tasting, canapés and views of the region
Tickets: £10.00

Join wine expert Tom Innes of Irma Fingal-Rock in Monmouth as he recounts his stock-buying journey through France, taking in the Loire, Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgandy and Champagne.  He’ll guide you through the region and its wines and reveal a number of exciting discoveries made on the way.

To book call Saint Michael's Centre on 01873 857750.

Associate Event
7.30pm for 8.00pm - The Horseshoe, Mamhilad
A Celebration Evening with Champagne Moet
Tickets: £50.00 (spaces strictly limited to 50 guests)

An informal celebration evening of the best local food, European wines and Moet Champagne brings together Artizan Leisure’s Executive Head Chef, Kurt Fleming and Falernian Wines’ Director, Chris Rogers for an informative and light-hearted dinner. Dress: smart casual.  Ticket price includes: Champagne Moet and canapés; five-course dinner and accompanying wines (www.artizanleisure.com).

Reserve your table on 01873 880542.

FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

10.00am – all day, The Hill Education & Conference Centre, Pen y Pound
The Big Food Debate

The festival continues to grow and diversify, this year serving up its first conference:  'The Big Food Debate' , chaired by The Food Programme’s Sheila Dillon and hosted by writer Joanna Blythman -  both tireless investigators of important food-related issues.  It will challenge those who run and promote Food Festivals and others concerned with the British food scene to consider whether these events are just fads for affluentfoodies, or whether they really impact on the nation’s attitude to food. Debate will cover food production, marketing and selling, and how what we eatinfluences the countryside, rural livelihoods and the health of the nation. Click here for full details

Sponsored by Miller Research (UK) Ltd  www.miller-research.co.uk
Supported by adventa, (Monmouthshire’s LEADER+ rural development programme)  www.adventa.org.uk

9.00am to 4.00pm - The Market Hall and rear car park
Food Festival Taster Market
FREE ENTRY

Once again the Festival has joined forces with Abergavenny Market Traders who will be holding their regular Friday market in this lovely Victorian venue. There will be free entry to an additional thirty Food Festival stalls in the rear car park behind the Market Hall.

Associate Event
7.00pm to 9.00pm - The Art Shop, Cross Street
Tea, Sympathy and Conversations
Tickets: £5.00

Kitchen Antics and Appliances invite you to a live installation. The Mad Hatter finally meets Mrs Haversham in this quirky gallery setting. The tea table set with delicate and discordant china, wends its way through the rooms of the gallery while the artists offer you tea and sympathy.  

This is the opening event of SPREAD: Kitchen Antics and Appliances invite you to participate as they dish up their own particular brand of house keeping and attempt to unpick the meaning of life. Over the weekend The Art Shop is hosting a Spread of events by the artists Barbara Dean, Hilary Kneale and Ann Rapstoff, who have been researching their own domestic lineage through the museum collection at The Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) London.

See Associate Event listings for Saturday and Sunday

Associate Event
7.30pm – The Hill Education & Conference Centre
Gala French Wine Evening   *** SOLD OUT ***
Due to popular demand The Hill are repeating this event on Saturday 15th at 7.30pm, for which places are still available - see foot of this page.

As part of this year’s Food Festival, The Hill will be holding a Gala Wine Evening with a selection of the best French wines, and a menu of Welsh Lamb (vegetarian option available).  The evening will be led by local wine consultant Peter Ayling.  The gala evening will offer: a four-course meal featuring the finest Welsh produce; sample of French wines served with each course; plus entertainment by local musical duo Seren.  Accommodation also available: double room: £60.00/single; £40.00 per person.

For more information please contact 01495 333777. (www.thehillabergavenny.co.uk)

Associate Event
7.30pm for 8.00pm – The Crown at Whitebrook
Gourmet Evening
Tickets: £80.00

The evening will begin with Champagne and canapés on arrival, followed by a specially created seven-course gourmet menu. For added intrigue and enjoyment no menus will be presented. Guests will be invited to guess the ingredients after each course and then a full description will be revealed. Wines selected and presented to match each course. Ambience: relaxed and informal.  Guests will be seated at one large table, along with the wine guest speaker. Diners will also receive a signed copy of the menu by Head Chef, James Sommerin. Dress: smart casual.

For more details of other Gourmet Evenings and accommodation visit (www.crownatwhitebrook.co.uk)

7.30pm – Borough Theatre
Floyd Uncorked
Tickets: £12.50

Sponsored by Gabb and Co  www.gabb.co.uk

The Somerset born, one-time Army Officer, barman, dishwasher, restaurateur, wine importer, antiques exporter, author of over 20 best-selling books, and presenter of 19 worldwide hit TV series 'on Food', with his unmissable one-man show.

Warning: This show contains NO GOOD ADVICE WHATSOEVER!

Associate Event
7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm), Melville Theatre, Pen-y-pound, Abergavenny
Black Gold -  presented by the Abergavenny Film Society
Tickets:  £5.00 (including 'Fair Trade' coffee or tea) 

An eye-opening documentary exploring the coffee trade from its birthplace in Ethiopia, where it generates 67 percent of the country’s export revenue.  Film-makers Nick and Mark Francis target the multinational giants as well as the World Trade Organisation by following Tadessa Meskela on his mission to secure a fair deal for Ethiopia’s 70,000 coffee farmers.  'Black Gold' tells a modern version of the 'David and Goliath' story. The screening will be followed by a discussion about the film.

Purchase tickets from the Borough Theatre: 01873 850805, or on the door.