Lisa Higginson
Loyd Grossman rocked out with his guitar, Matthew Fort delivered sobering facts about the future of restaurants and Jean Christophe Novelli spilled the beans about the âgreedyâ lifestyle that almost cost him his career â yes, there was certainly plenty to digest at the regionâs first Food and Drink Summit. More than 150 foodies flocked to the Ramada Piccadilly to take part in the debut event on Monday, which aimed to tackle key issues affecting the North Westâs food and drink industry.
Organised by city centre based Edge Street Events â the team behind Manchester Food and Drink Festival â the summit saw everyone from producers to restaurant owners and food bloggers to beer brewers get involved in a series of discussions and debates on a range of topics. The Guardianâs Food and Drink editor and Great British Menu judge Matthew Fort kicked off proceedings by delivering an honest speech about the food and drink industryâs current climate.
The audience listened as Matthew revealed the uncomfortable truth that 80 per cent of food purchased across the country is bought from supermarkets and that as a nation we owned more microwaves than other country, except for Asia. He then pumped faith back into the veins of his disheartened onlookers by announcing a recent resurgence in artisan producers and farmers markets, of which there are now 600 held across the country â 10 years ago there were none. Referring to a âfood revolutionâ?, Matthew turned talk to the popularity of food in the media and declared that our nation was probably better informed and knowledgeable about food than any other previous generation.
Recognising that the food culture and quality of the countryâs chefs and restaurants has improved substantially over the last 10 years, Matthew said that Manchester âhad a strong and prudent restaurant cultureâ?, although there was room for improvement, and that the North West was fixing its feet firmly on the food tourism map. Closing his speech, he told of the sad reality that last year saw around 100 restaurants close their doors each month and how he hoped for 2010 to be a better year for independents. This led onto the first debate of the day, focusing on independent restaurants.
Throughout the day, breakout sessions were held on topics such as the benefits of online and social media to business, chef media training, the ins and outs of wine lists and squeezing every penny out of a budget. Following lunch and a trip to the producers market in Piccadilly Gardens, delegates then heard from a celebrity panel about the new buzz phrase â food tourism â and how the North West has the potential to deliver a pioneering approach to it. A thought-provoking debate later ensued about the future of the great British boozer and where it fitted into todayâs society, with input from some of Manchesterâs most successful brewers and bar owners.
Jean Christophe Novelli then took to the stage for an interview with Manchester Confidentialâs Jonathan Schofield, in which he spoke of his early days as a chef, the first time he met Marco Pierre White, his love of dogs and the reasons for the demise of one of his most successful restaurants. It was then the turn of Loyd Grossman to take the spotlight for a rock out with his band The New Forbidden, before the summit drew to a close.