IT seems like a dream team-up – Not Quite Light with Into The Gathering Dusk. Simon Buckley’s festival extension of his photo project hosts a contender for most illuminating cocktail offering around.
The Salford-based Not Quite Light Festival (March 28-31) encompasses 30 diverse events, championing Salford’s rich heritage and in homage to the attractions of urban daybreak, captured unsparingly by the lens of photographer Simon, psychogeographer with a penchant for Gary Numan eyeliner (pictured below).
ToM’s niche interest is, of course, the food and drink element, highlight of which promises to be the combination of Into The Gathering Dusk’s Emma Roberts’ masterclass in how to make your own vermouth with a three course artisan Italian dinner prepared by Nico and Ornella at their Lupo Caffè Italiano in Salford Quays.
Emma, creator of ‘Hipsterol’, will teach you how to mix herbs and tinctures to produce a unique bottle of yermouth to take home with you. By then you will have had a complete rundown on the history, ingredients, methods and techniques. You'll then be ready to make your perfect unique dry vermouth using flowers, herbs, barks, spices, fruits and bitter roots.
Tickets at £45 a head are limited to just 12 spaces, so book swiftly for the event, which takes place on Thursday, March 28, 6.30pm-9.30pm at Lupo Caffè Italiano, Boat Shed, 16 Exchange Quay, Salford M5 3EQ (a short walk from Exchange Quay Metrolink).
Street food operators GRUB are straying across the ‘border’ beyond their Mayfield and Fairfield Street bases on Sunday, March 31, 1pm-5pm to help host Not Quite Light’s We Eat, We Live at under the radar masonic hall Helmsley House, 41-42 The Crescent, Salford. M5 4PE.
They will be bringing a pop up craft beer bar stocked with some fantastic beers from Salford, Manchester and the North West to wash down street food from Purely Pizza and Fat Annie's hot dogs. Plus there will be award-winning ice cream from Ginger’s Comfort Emporium.
The focus of the event is the importance of food’s role in the evolution of our communities and wellbeing. It can also be the catalyst for regeneration in certain areas, with the opening of cafes, bars and restaurants.
There will be a range of speakers (many still tbc) including Jim Cullen founder of Salford Independent Beer Festival (about the importance of community and volunteers in food and drink) and Steve Dunkley (below) of Beer Nouveau brewery (on the role of beer in the building of local communities.
Ecospheric owner Kit Knowles will explain why environmental sustainability is at the top of the agenda in the transformation of Levenshulme Sorting Office, a food hall/grocery/restaurant/bar and Jonathan Schofield will be discussing the history of the local area in relation to food & drink.
The talks will be followed by a round table discussion about the future of food and drink in the North West. Entrance fee is a donation to charity.
Other festival events are individually ticketed at £6, but savings can be made by booking day or weekend tickets. Book here. Epicentre of the festival is Five Four Studios on Oldfield Road, which will offer lunch and refreshments throughout the festival. Expect live music there each afternoon.
On the foodie front, awaiting confirmation for Thursday, March 28 is an evening event at Salford newcomer, Porta on Bexley Square.