IT’s the biggest event in Manchester’s foodie calendar and it’s bigger and brighter than ever, reflecting the remarkable renaissance in our eating and drinking scene.
The 18th Manchester Food and Drink Festival will take place from September 10-21, culminating as always in the glittering MFDF Awards Gala Dinner, which this year will take place in the iconic confines of Manchester Cathedral. The competition to scoop Manchester’s culinary ‘Oscars’ has never been hotter.
Festival organisers have announced the cornerstone activities and schedule that promises a fresh, revitalised programme, a bigger range of exciting partners and experts, and a return to years gone by with a full “Festival Fringe” taking place in the city’s most exciting establishments to complement activity at “The Hub” on Albert Square.
The first tasty programme announcements, made on April 29 at a special launch event for press and restaurateurs at the Northern Quarter’s stunning new Ply bar, were:
The MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards in Partnership with Harvey Nichols.
Manchester Cathedral
September 21 2015.
The MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards will take place at Manchester Cathedral. Also partnering the event for the very first time, Harvey Nichols will be providing dinner and are already busy curating a bespoke Manchester banquet for the occasion. Awards will be presented in 12 categories this year. Businesses are invited to nominate themselves as of the 29.04.15
Full details are available at foodanddrinkfestival.com
The New Improved Festival Hub
Albert Square
September 10-21
The heart of the action, the Festival Hub, will remain at its traditional home on Albert Square, and will continue to provide the specially built city centre food-village that Mancunians have come to know and love. This year’s Hub will be a bigger, better incarnation than ever before, featuring its own specially created festival event space where master-classes, mini fests, parties, demonstrations, banquets and more will be popping up throughout the Festival. Official Festival Brewers, Thwaites will be hosting the Pub at the Hub, and the 100 Greatest Beers Bar will be the best yet, sprawling out to host even more of the amazing local brewers Manchester is currently enjoying. The live music stage will be better than ever and, of course, there’ll be tonnes of street food, wine and cocktails, too.
MFDF Biospheric Foundation Partnership
Festival Hub and Manchester Museum
Throughout the Festival and September 12
MFDF has teamed up with the Biospheric Foundation for 2015 to create some exciting new food projects, commissioning a Mobile Urban Mushroom Farm, which will be built on the Hub, and will allow festival-goers a chance to explore the world of hyper-localised mushroom farming. Visitors will then be able to taste the farm’s bounty in the shape of a succulent ‘schroomy feast from the neighbouring Biospheric Streetfood Mushroom Pod.
MFDF, The Biospheric Foundation, Robert Owen Brown and The Manchester Museum will also be hosting the first ever MFDF Bio-Historic Banquet. Guests will dine under the shadow of a giant dinosaur skeleton, surrounded by some of the museum’s most extraordinary exhibits whilst enjoying a completely unique banquet designed by legendary chef Owen Brown, created using products grown by the Biospheric Foundation. The menu will be inspired by the history showcased in the museum as well as Manchester today, and diners will hear from the museum’s curators between courses. A night after hours to remember.
Tickets on sale soon.
The Great Manchester Bake Off
Across Manchester and Festival Hub
September 13
MFDF is proud to announce its first ever Great Manchester Bake Off Contest. The Bake Off invites the region’s hottest amateur bakers to enter the race to become Manchester’s MFDF Bake Off Champion. Entrants will need to register, then will be invited to bring their creations to the first heat to be judged by MFDF’s answer to Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. All will be revealed soon. Finalists will be chosen at the first heat when they’ll be challenged to bring another creation to the Festival Hub on September 13, where a huge Festival Bake Sale will be taking place.
More details to be announced.
The Three Wine WOMEN
Festival Hub
September 10
Wine is a drink promoted more widely towards the female market, yet like hairdressing and cooking, when one surveys the ‘top dogs’ of the trade, it tends to be the men doing the swilling. MFDF has invited three of the UK’s top wine experts to descend on the Festival and host a tasting of their very favourite wines… and they all happen to be women. The BBC’s Kate Goodman (pictured above, owner of Didsbury’s Reserve Wine Shop), The Guardian’s Fiona Beckett and Evuna Manchester’s Jane Dowler make up a trio of talent to host an extraordinary evening of fabulous wines.
Tickets available via www.foodanddrinkfestival.com
Big Indie Wine Fest
Manchester Town Hall
September 11-12
The celebrated Seventh Big Indie Wine Fest returns to it’s spiritual home in 2015, Manchester Town Hall, taking over the stunning Great Hall. The event is a celebration of exciting, exclusive and boutique wines from the best independent merchants including Pacta Connect, T-Wright Wines, Alpine Wines, Italy Abroad, Tour de Belfort, Commanderie de Bordeaux, Epicerie Ludo, Veeno and Carrington Wines. There'll be suitable refuelling opportunities provided by fine food producers, ranging from local cheese producers, Cheshire Cheese to delicious deli items from Epicerie Ludo and Veeno.
Tickets on sale now at www.foodandrinkfestival.com
The Liquor Market with The Drinks Enthusiast
Elixir
September 12
The Liquor Market, hosted by the Drinks Enthusiast, pops up again in the decadent surrounds of Deansgate's Elixir bar. A chance to dive into the world of boutique spirits, the event offers intoxicating samples from the UK's best brand ambassadors with everything from single malts to rare rums on show.
Tickets on sale now at www.foodandrinkfestival.com
Simon Rogan’s “Week Gastronomique’’
The French at The MIdland
September 15-19
For one magnificent week only, Simon Rogan will be bringing his entire range of chefs and their extraordinary food (Michelin stars and all) to Manchester as he hosts a culinary week to remember at The French. Each night during this festival extravaganza, a different chef from Simon’s acclaimed portfolio of restaurant will take the reigns in the kitchen. Manchester should look forward to welcoming exec chefs from L’Enclume in Cartmel and Fera in London, alongside our own Adam Reid from The French, all presenting their very own, specially created festival menu.
Tickets on sale soon.
Community Partnerships
Across Manchester
September 10-21
This year MFDF will be collaborating with a range of community-focused organisations to bring together events that celebrate what we can grow, make and share here in Manchester. From ‘pass it on’ cookery skills workshops, and a Manchester-wide schools competition, to our very own MFDF Apple Press by Moss Cider Project, this strand of the Festival is simply about learning, sharing and promoting ‘truly good food’ among as many Manchester residents as possible.
Chilli and Tequila Festival
Festival Hub
September 11
Mistress of the chilli and queen of all things hot and spicy Thomasina Miers, founder of lauded Mexican restaurant group Wahaca and author of Chilli Notes, is coming to MFDF to head up a celebration of heat and hard liquor. Chilli growers from around the UK will be showcasing their products, with Tequila brands doing the same in one big tribute to gasp-tronomy! Participants will be taking to the stage for chilli inspired demonstrations including Thomasina herself.
Free.
Experimental Ice Cream Banquet with Ginger’s Comfort Emporium
Festival Hub
September 18
Ice cream luminary Claire Kelsey, of Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, is creating a very special six course banquet for the Festival… consisting entirely of ice cream. The menu is top secret and not for those without a leaning towards a sweet tooth, but Claire’s acclaimed, experimental (and highly addictive) approach to artisan ice cream craft, promises a stunning and fantastical feast and a fully rounded palate!
These are just the first elements of the Festival programme, and organisers promise a lot more to come. They are also calling for restaurants, bars and foodies to get involved in this year’s Festival (contact details below).
Phil Jones, Festival Founder said: “I’m proud to announce this exciting line up of events, which we hope the city will get as excited about as we are already. We’ve worked hard to make sure that this year’s Festival is a true reflection of this astounding time for Manchester’s food scene. This is only the first programme announcement, so keep watching this space as there’s lots more in the pipeline. We officially invite every restaurateur, bar owner, grower, baker, maker and anyone who is passionate about food here in this city to get involved, and help us create a world class food festival here in Manchester. Roll on September and book some time off now!”
To participate in this year’s MFDF, interested parties should email
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]