Celebrity chef launches crowd-pulling two-in-one festival
Tuesday 10 June 2008Celebrity chef launches crowd-pulling two-in-one festival
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson took to the catwalk at the first ever, two-in-one regional food and Welsh wool festival in Powys over the weekend (26th/27th April) to help promote some of the designer items which can be made with wool and natural fibres.
Away from his modeling assignment, he also headed up the list of chefs who demonstrated a range of mouth-watering recipes at the Mid Wales Mouthful food festival. His delectable demonstration dishes included toad in the hole, spicy pork ribs and peppered steak. He praised the wonderful diversity of quality food and drink produced in Powys and its neighbouring counties which was available to buy at the food festival and said he was going home with a boot full of produce.
Mid Wales Mouthful, a fantastic new foodie event, was being held for the first time alongside Wonderwool Wales, a popular event celebrating Welsh wool and natural fibres. More than 5000 people attended the shows at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys, and the range of workshops proved so popular they could have been filled several times over.
Organisers were delighted with the success of the event, which was officially opened by Antony Worrall Thompson, who is not only a well-loved TV chef and restaurateur, but also a prolific author and passionate campaigner on food issues.
Said
Wonderwool Wales organiser Lee Price of Glasu said: “Both events were a great success, with more than 200 stalls and lots to interest people of all ages. Make a dairy note - we will be holding the joint food and fibre event here again next year on 25th and 26th April 2009.”
The Sheepwalk - a woolly take on the cat walk was a popular crowd-pleaser, with models showing off some of the beautiful woolen and natural fibre items produced by exhibiting traders. Antony Worrall Thomson joined in the fun by modelling a sweater made from Black Welsh mountain wool and a grey poncho, both made by Myra Mortlock of the Wool and Willow Shop in Hay-on-Wye. He also carried some giant knitting needles used by textile artist Ingrid Wagner. He made a presentation to the winners of the Wonder of Wool competition. They were chosen from the ranks of designers, artists, knitters, spinners, makers and craftspeople from the
First prize in the wide ranging general category for creative items was awarded for a ‘Bubbles Felt Rug’ entered by Cittaslow Mold, and made by Further Education students from Ysgol Delyn in Mold. The students were inspired by blowing bubbles and watching them float in the air. The Welsh wool was supplied by Trefriw Mill, Llanrwst in
Cittaslow Mold is a rural town sustainability initiative funded by Cadwyn Clwyd from European Leader+ funding. "Bubbles Felt Rug" was initiated and supported by Cittaslow Mold as part of its encouragement of local produce.
Mid Wales Mouthful celebrated the wonderful diversity of food and drink produced throughout the region, with more than 50 stalls featuring farm fresh meats, yummy patisseries, puddings, desserts and chocolates, ice cream, pates, cheeses, breads, liqueurs, wines and beers. Children loved the chance to get artistic with the Fruit ‘n’ Vegetorium, making artwork with a wide variety of colourful fruit and vegetables.
Stallholders included producers Glasu have supported as part of their New Harvest project, such as Wales True
The weekend programme of cookery demonstrations also included several led by Peter James MBE, chef and owner of Drovers Rest Restaurant in Llanwrtyd Wells and Nick Davies, of Cambrian Training who is a senior member of the Welsh National Culinary team and food columnist for the
The 2008 Wonderwool Wales festival, in its first year as a stand-alone show, was bigger and better than ever. It featured a Woolschool with a packed programme of workshops, talks and lectures led by local, national and international experts. Stalls and exhibits, whilst maintaining a focus on Welsh wool and wool products, celebrated the great diversity of all natural fibres. Stallholders included Sasha Kagan from Powys with a beautiful range of hand knitted designer garments, Faith Roper of Moral Fibre from Ludlow , the only mill in the country dedicated to felt making, crochet designer and tutor Prudence Mapstone from and Raggedy and Wench from Aberystwyth with a range of ravishing recycled clothing.
More details about the Mid Wales Mouthful and Wonderwool Wales are available on the Wonderwool Wales website www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/mouthful or contact Lee Price or Sally Shiels, Glasu, tel: 01982 552224.