Aylsham’s Food Festival celebrates “50 Years of Fabulous Food”
Coming at the end of British Food Fortnight (20 September – 5 October), the third annual Aylsham Food Festival will feature an exciting range of events over three days from 3rd to 5th October.

Friday 3 October will see students from Aylsham High School preparing and serving a 5-course dinner for 100 guests.

This ambitious project follows the enormous success of a similar event last year and for 2008 it goes further with live entertainment from former student Barry Lee, who in the 1960s and 70s made a number of records with his group The Planets. Barry will be joined by a modern group, Attention to Detail, also comprising former High School pupils. The dinner also celebrates the foundation of the school in 1958 and is dubbed “50 Years of Fabulous Food”. The menu, devised by students, will include a selection of dishes which, along with the music will reflect those 50 years.

For those who not only enjoy good food but want to know more about its preparation and cooking, Saturday’s free Cooking Theatre in Aylsham’s Town Hall is not to be missed. Five top local chefs will be demonstrating their skills while preparing some of their favourite dishes in an all-day event that starts at 10am. There is no charge for entry and you can drop in at any time up until 3pm.

There are three other events on Saturday 3rd, starting with the town’s award winning, FARMA-accredited Farmers’ Market in the Town Square. A wide range of local produce will be on sale, starting at 9am.

Children from 5 to 11 years old will be catered for in two Kids Cooking Workshops at John of Gaunt primary school in Hungate Street. Fun and learning is guaranteed as the children produce food with a Halloween theme. Booking, at a cost of just £2 per child to cover expenses, is essential – phone 01263 734108 for details.

Whether you like to ‘dosey doe’ or ‘strip your willow’ with a stranger, Saturday’s final event, a Barn Dance at Aylsham Fun Barns is the place for you. The band, Bric-a-Brac, are familiar favourites, playing live traditional folk music and calling the dance steps so that even children can enjoy the evening. Tickets cost £4 in advance (with discounts for families) and £5 on the night while food and a licensed bar will be available. The fun begins at 7.30 and tickets are available from Aylsham Fun Barns (01263 734108), Aylsham Market Place each Saturday morning in September or the Old Tea Rooms in Red Lion Street.

It’s back to the Town Hall on Sunday morning for the famous Slow Food Big Breakfast which brings the Festival to a close. A traditional English breakfast, using local produce will be served in two sittings at 9am and 11am, at the bargain price of £4 per person.

Aylsham’s Food Festival is organized each year by Slow Food Aylsham and is run entirely by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. It has become an important event in the Town’s events calendar, promoting the enjoyment of local produce.

www.slowfood.org.uk