With the Stone Food & Drink Festival set to mark its 10th anniversary on the 3rd, 4th and 5th October this year, the 2014 festival programme is already hitting local doormats; packed with a whole week’s worth of food & drink events in and around town.
One of the most exciting additions for 2014 is a new ‘Cookery Classroom’ at Westbridge Park, where visitors can book slots to get hands-on with food. Classes will be delivered by local Indian cookery school iCookIndian and renowned Staffordshire chef, Paul Gilmore, offering something for everyone. Paul’s classes will focus on getting ‘students’ to whip up a classic menu of Pan Fried Wild Sea Trout, The Perfect Garden & Herb Risotto and Pickled Cucumber Salad.
iCookIndian, meanwhile, is offering a range of different courses over the weekend – on Friday the Vegetarian class will cover Saffron Pilaff Rice, Tarka Daal, Paneer Jalfrezie and Chapatti, whilst on Saturday and Sunday ‘Complete Classic Taster for 2’ (Saffron Pilaff Rice, Aloo Gobhi, Chicken Rogan Josh and Tawa Naan) and Street Food Special (Stuffed Paratha, Channa Chaat, Chicken Sheek Kebab, Carrot & Tamarind Relish and Coriander, Mint & Yoghurt Dip) will show how to prepare authentic, healthy Indian food from scratch. All ‘students’ will have the chance to sit down and savour the meal they have just prepared in the Cookery Classroom’s own dining area.
Festival Chairman, Richard Stevens, says:
“Every year, we try to bring something new to the festival to keep our visitors entertained and ensure they want to come back for more. Cookery classes have always been on our ‘wish list’ of attractions and it’s great to be working with two such brilliant chefs – Amarpal from iCookIndian is a great tutor and really shares his passion for authentic Indian food, while Paul is a hugely talented local chef and any foodie would be delighted to learn some of the secrets that have seen him win a coveted Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. I’m certain that all of the classes will be very popular and are set to be great fun as well as being educational.”
All adult cookery classes will be priced at £25 for a couple and those booking a class will benefit from two for one entry to Westbridge Park on the day of their course. While these new classes are aimed at adults, youngsters won’t miss out – free children’s cookery classes will once again run on festival Saturday and Sunday in Westbridge Park’s ‘Little Foodies’ marquee; courtesy of Kiddy Cook North Staffs.
For the full schedule of cookery classes and to book spaces, visit www.stonefooddrink.org.uk or pop into the Festival Office, The Market House, Mill Street, Stone ST15 8BA (courtesy of Tinsley Garner, Estate Agents); open daily from 25th Aug between 10.00am & 1.00pm
