Pictured above: Chefs Table Restaurant, Ludlow Food
Festival '09
Foodies were this week treated to the ultimate Gourmet Lifestyle
experience whilst visiting the Ludlow food Festival.
With record breaking visitors estimated to be in excess of
20,000 over the 3 day event, now in its 15th year, it was hard to
see any signs of recession in the Midlands - Many of the revellers
travelled from all over the Country to enjoy this gastro
extravaganza, but the majority were from the Midlands conurbation.
With over 140 independent producers, displaying and sampling their
wares inside the historic Ludlow castle, visitors were spoilt for
choice. The 'Indian Summer' also offered visitors the opportunity
to sit out and enjoy one of the hottest weekends of the year - the
lucky ones were able to sit in the stylish and convivial
surroundings of the 'Chefs Table Restaurant' created by Gourmet Life Midlands Dining Club, and
operated by the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.
The concept was the brainchild of Midlands Premier Dining Club
Gourmet Life Director James Day, who has been visiting the Ludlow
Food Festival for many years. Following requests by visitors and
VIP's over recent years who wanted to enjoy quality local cuisine
but with the trappings of full hospitality in a relaxing setting,
away from the hustle of the buys food tents and marquees.
James, with his growing reputation for his focus on premium
dining venues across the Midlands, and support of local producers,
and his relationships with many of the regions' top chefs, was
approached by organisers to create such an area. With very short
notice he created the Chefs Table Brand, through his Leisure
Marketing Ltd design agency, and invited local suppliers,
producers, and restaurateurs to contribute ingredients for dishes,
accompaniments, and even top AA Rosette chefs for complete dishes
and even demos over the weekend.
Midlands and the Marches - Through James' commitment to the
regions producers, providers, and diners he set himself the task of
ensuring all dishes served were sourced from within a 50 mile
radius. "It was a real task to contact all our gourmet-life
members, and co-ordinate the ingredients, and create the dishes for
the three days. I am pleased to say the response was overwhelming
from all concerned. With a choice of 6 starters from our 'Midlands
Taster Platter' and 14 mains, our guests really were spoilt for
choice - Even the salt and pepper was from our friends at Halon Mon
Salt in Anglesey, who recently featured in the Hairy Bikers BBC TV
series." Other contributors included Bings Heath Smokery Nr
Shrewsbury, Just Oils in Staffordshire, Mr Moyden's Cheeses,
Fareground Marinades, Greenfields Farm Shop, Telford, Keith
Aldersons Meat, Bridgnorth, De Greys of Ludlow, Prices's Bakers,
Ludlow, Brock Hall Farm Goats Cheese of Bridgnorth, The Newly
formed Charcuterie Company of Much Wenlock, headed by Marcus
Theamans (previously Wenlock Meats) Kits Kitchen pickles, marinades
and chutneys of Worcester, and Award Winning Tanners of Shrewsbury,
and Ludlow, and Wenlock Water of Church Stretton.
Top chefs and contributors
James added "Many of our dishes were also created by our
chefs many AA Rosette level including Stuart Phillips of the
Hundred House Hotel Nr Bridgnorth, Dave Jaram from Fishmore Hall
Ludlow, Tim Wesley from Hadley Park Hotel Telford, Daren Bale from
the Elms Hotel Worcestershire and Stuart Leggett from the Stewing
Pot Hereford, also Alfonso Ruiz from Casa Ruiz Bridgnorth, and
Suree Coates from the King and Thai Broseley. All the dishes were
co-ordinated, with many additions by accomplished Moroccan chef
Mbark Jbara from the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury - Owner of the Lion
Hotel, and Operations Manager of the Chefs Table Restaurant Howard
Astbury added "When James approached me to operate his restaurant I
jumped at the chance. The Ludlow Food Festival really is a special
event, and we were keen to enhance the experience for the thousands
of visitors, and hopefully judging by the positive feedback from
400 plus customers over the 3 days, we exceeded their
expectations."
Philippe Boucheron, Taking in the rays, before taking in
some wine!
British Wine tastings were offered by Eat The Midlands very own wine writer and
broadcaster Philippe Boucheron, who regularly entertained the
diners with his tales of worked travel, tastings, and experiences,
oh, and some considered reviews on some of the UK's finest wines,
including Wroxeter Shrewsbury Vineyard.
Presentations and Demos - The Chefs Table also hosted
presentations and demos from top chefs, including 'Wonder Kid'
Choclatier Louis Barnett of Shropshire based Chokolit. For
more details on the Midlands Dining club visit
www.gourmet-life.co.uk or to enquire about similar events, and
potential bookings for festivals email James
Info@leisuremarketingltd.co.uk
Chefs Table Restaurant, Ludlow, operated by the Lion Hotel,
Shrewsbury