THERE are so many festivals around these days it’s hard to find a spark of enthusiasm for yet another. A Good Feed, though, is something different. At first sighting this four day celebration (May 25-28) of the North’s finest independent food and drink producers sounded more of a serious seminar than a pig-out in the sun.
We should have known better. Alongside the networking and debates there are daily Feeds centred around a fire pit constructed in the NOMA hub, Sadler’s Yard. Each day different chefs will demonstrate the elemental joys of cooking over an open fire. The line-up is lip-smacking… featuring the likes of Sam Buckley (Where The Light Gets In), Matthew Nutter (Allotment Vegan Kitchen) and Mary-Ellen McTague (The Creameries).
Friday May 28 (evening) – Lord Logs Mark Parr/ A Meat Feed. The founder of The London Log Company, which supplies some of the best restaurants with logs, charcoal and woodchip, is a passionate cook too. One for the true carnivore.
Saturday May 26 (afternoon) – Honest Crust x Veg People/ A Flatbread Feed. Crust creator Richard Carver of Honest Crust will combine hogget with borlotti beans and salad from their friends at Veg People to make a toothsome flatbread filling.
Saturday May 26 (evening) – Where The Light Gets In/A Fish Feed. Sam Buckley, will be creating a fish focused feed true to the sustainable principle that have brought huge acclaim for his Stockport restaurant, WTLGI
Sunday May 27 (evening) – Allotment/A Vegan Feed. Also Stockport-based, plant-based Matthew Nutter is the current Manchester Food and Drink Awards Chef of the Year. Expect dishes such as confit aubergine steak and salt-baked pineapple.
Monday May 28 – The Creameries/A Vegetarian Feed. The ex-Aumbry and Fat Duck chef takes time out from her exciting new project in Chorlton. For her Bank Holiday feast we hear whispers of home-made cheese and onion flatbread with root vegetables and a whey drink.
These Feeds are advance ticketed events with limited places available for each sitting (five time slots). Your £10 ticket price gets you a portion of each dish the chef is serving up at your chosen Feed. Book here.
A Good Feed is a not-for-profit collaborative event from the makers of Where The Light Gets In, Common, the creative craft folk at Plant NOMA and friends. Entry is free and there’s an extensive programme of workshops and talks designed to stimulate interest in our burgeoning regional food culture.
Away from the fire pit check out the street food and the debut of Umezushi’s Kitchen In An Arch project. The Japanese restaurant is currently converting an arch opposite its Mirabel Street base into a deli, sushi-level fish store and cookery school. To promote it they are bringing tempura and kushiyaki to A Good Feed. Their stand will also feature a range of sake and sake cocktails.
Alternatively in the adjacent Pilcrow Pub keep a look out for Cloudwater Brew Co’s festival special, A Good Feed Pale, just 2% alcohol, a perfect refresher after fire pit duty.
A Good Feed, Sadler’s Yard, Hanover Street, Manchester, M60 0AB. May 25-28.
