Chilli and Tequila Festival – Friday, September 11
Guardian food writer, Wahaca founder and author of Chilli Notes, Thomasina Miers (pictured), is appearing live at this free event (6.30pm) as chilli growers from around the UK showcase their wares alongside leading tequila brands. Stalls of note include Bongo’s Rock & Roll Chilli Pickles, Wiga Wagaa Chillis, Dormouse Chocolates chilli chocolates among others. Back in the live demo theatre, guests include include The Spice Club supper club founder, Monica Sawhney (1pm) and Masterchef 2011 winner and Hungry Gecko founder, Jackie Kearney, who will be talking about her new book, Vegan Street Food, at 2.30pm. Festival Hub, Albert Square, M2 5DB, noon-8.30pm, Free.
Big Indie Wine Fest – Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12
Your chance to sample more than 100 wines from across the globe from the pick of the region’s indie wine suppliers (full list herehttp://tasteofmanchester.com/news/cheers-to-the-big-indie-wine-fest-and-the-mfdf-wine-passport/) plus food from the Cheshire Cheese Company, Veeno and Epicerie Ludo. There are three sessions – the first on the Friday runs from 6pm-9pm, while Saturday has two sessions (2pm-5pm and 6pm-9pm), all in the spectacular Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall. Tickets, for each session, a tasting glass included, cost £12.50 and are available via this link. Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, M2 5DB.
Cloudwater Brewery Tap Festival Special – Saturday, September 12
The autumn range from this exciting new brewery shifts focus from US hop harvests producing lighter, thirst quenching beers to hop harvests from New Zealand, Australia, and then Europe, where rich and dark malts, wood and fruit are to the fore. These new ales feature in the first Festival Special tasting with a further one to come on Saturday, September 19, introducing seasonality in beer and new harvest southern hemisphere hops (above co-owner Paul Jones with their new IPA). Tickets for each event are £10. Buy via this link. Cloudwater Brewery, Units 7&8, Piccadilly Trading Estate, M1 2NP. 11am.
Top chefs at The Live Cookery Theatre – Saturday, September 12
This year’s chef demos offers a a stellar line-up of exciting chefs on both Saturdays of the Festival. The first batch features at 1pm Olia Hercules, author of Mamuschka: Recipes from Ukraine and Beyond; at 3pm, stellar chef Simon Rogan of The French and L’Enclume; at 5pm, Aiden Byrne (pictured) of Manchester House. Festival Hub, Albert Square, M2 5DB. noon-6pm. Free.
The Great Manchester Bake-off/MFDF Charity Bake Sale – Sunday, September 13
The region’s hottest amateur bakers contest the grand final to become the MFDF Bake Off Champion. Judges include Richard Burr of Great British Bake Off and local baking celebrity Charlotte O’Toole. The Charity Bake Sale, to raise money for Forever Manchester, will also feature cookery demos from Richard and others, Guess The Weight of the Cake, raffles, plus stalls where home bakers sell their own produce. Festival Hub, Albert Square, M2 5DB. From noon. Free
Of course there’s much, much more going on in the opening days of the 2015 Festival, which starts on September 10 and climaxes on Monday, September 21 with the Gala Dinner at Manchester Cathedral when the Manchester Food and Drink Awards are handed out. Until then, The Hub in Albert Square is definitely the place to be. Eat street food, drink beer, listen to music. Chill. To discover the entire MFDF line-up download the brochure.
