Now in its fifth year and firmly established as a firm favourite in Bath’s festival calendar, The Great Bath Feast is once again set to delight revelers with a tantalising array of foodie events.
From tastings to talks to walking tours, there is nourishment on offer for anyone with an inquisitive palate. After much deliberating and several slices of cake, we have picked five events which make our taste buds tingle.
1. Bath Bites Food & Drink Fair
Abbey Churchyard, 1st – 9th October
www.greatbathfeast.co.uk/bath-bites-food-drink-fair/
New to this year’s succulent schedule is a daily food fair in the shadows of Bath’s iconic abbey. Local vendors will be serving a variety of hot and cold delicacies including Persian kebabs, gourmet hot dogs and smoked ribs. Sweet treats are of course an essential requirement at any such occasion, and The Donut Man will ensure that your doughnut, waffle and chocolate kebab cravings are sated.
2. Brindisa’s Monika Linton
Topping & Co. Booksellers, 1st October
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/bath/bath-feast-talk-tastings-celebrate-the-true-food-of-spain/
The chances are that you’ve tasted a Brindisa product, even if you’re unaware of Monika Linton and her incredible journey from starting Brindisa on a shoestring right through to it becoming a sought-after outlet at the world-renowned Borough Food Market, a wholesale business providing hundreds of ingredients to the country’s finest delis and restaurants, and a chain of tapas restaurants extending across London and into the heart of Barcelona.
At this event, Monika will speak about the transformation undertaken by Brindisa in the last 28 years and offer insights and tastings of her favourite Spanish cuisine.
3. Chris Staines Supper Club with Pong Cheese
Igloo, Abbey Hotel, 4th October
www.abbeyhotelbath.eventcube.io/events/4532/chris-staines-supper-club-with-pong-cheese
Chris Staines, Executive Chef at the Abbey Hotel, is a veteran of the Great Bath Feast scene having previously hosted sold out supper clubs in collaboration with Ping Combes. This year he’s teamed up with Bath-based Pong Cheese to offer a dinner menu oozing with cheesy goodness, with a fully stacked cheese board to follow. The meal will be held in the Abbey Hotel’s stylish subterranean bar, Igloo.
4. Whisky & Indian Tapas Evening
Demuth’s Cookery School, 6th October
www.demuths.co.uk/cookery-courses/special-event/whisky-and-indian-tapas-tasting
Rachel Demuth ran the award-winning Demuths Restaurant for 26 years before setting up her acclaimed vegetarian cookery school which champions local produce. Independent Spirit is a haven of fine whiskies, beers, wines and spirits in central Bath, whose knowledge of all things booze is even greater than the myriad of bottles lining their shelves. This tasting evening pairs Demuth’s freshly prepared Indian snacks with Independent Spirit’s whisky of choice – Paul John whisky, made in Goa.
5. Lunch with Raymond Blanc
Brasserie Blanc, 5th October
www.greatbathfeast.co.uk/whats-on/#event|lunch-with-raymond-blanc|999
Raymond Blanc OBE, one of Britain’s most famous and respected chefs is synonymous with classic French cuisine. Despite being entirely self-taught, he has a well known chain of restaurants throughout the UK and a two Michelin star restaurant in Oxfordshire.
Raymond Blanc’s influence spreads far and wide, having trained and employed chefs such as Heston Blumenthal, Michael Caines and Marco Pierre White, among many others. In Brasserie Blanc’s 20th year, Raymond Blanc will be joining diners to speak about his commitment to local, sustainable food.
If you’ve indulged in the Great Bath Feast, please share your experiences with us on Twitter or Facebook.
