Flavours of Autumn
Get out and enjoy British Food Fortnight
(18 September to 3 October) in the East of England.
The region is home to some of the country's finest producers - delicious hams, fine ales and wine,
prize-winning jams, seafood treats and fresh
fruit and vegetables.
---------------------------------------------------
Five Things to Do
1. Follow one of our Food and Drink Trails
around the region. Get Shell-Shocked, discover
Western Style Specialities and have a Tea Time.
2. Leave the supermarket behind... and discover a Farm Shop or Food Shop selling fresh local produce.
3. Cook yourself, family and friends a meal using items sourced from the region.
4. Check out our range of Regional Recipes for some great ideas.
5. Visit one of our excellent Farmers' Markets - and pick up products and goods which have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholder.
---------------------------------------------------
Special Events
The National Trust has some tasty treats.
Ickworth House at Horringer (nr. Bury St. Edmunds) has Food Glorious Food on Sunday 19 September (1100-1600) - discover the origins of your grub, share recipes and take a tour of the vineyard. Sample local cheeses and chutneys in the tearoom at Oxburgh Hall in Oxborough (nr. Swaffham), from Saturday 25 to Wednesday 29 September; Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 October (1430-1600). Anglesey Abbey in Lode (nr. Cambridge) is celebrating the arrival of autumnal flavour - with A Foodie Affair on Saturday 25 September (1030-1600) - taste wholesome local produce.
Warm yourself up with the Pie and Pud (Wednesday 29 September); and Souper Day (Thursday 30 September) at Dunwich Heath (nr. Saxmundham) - both running from 1200-1400. Cheers! Coggeshall Grange Barn are holding their Beer Festival, from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 September (1200-2300). Taste local beers, wines and ciders, plus crafts and a BBQ.
More foodie events...
The La Hogue Farm Shop at Chippenham (nr. Newmarket) are holding their annual Grand Local Producer Fayre on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September
(1000-1600). Meet and talk to around 50 local producers. Also on the same weekend (1000-1600), the Grange Farm Shop at Hasketon (nr. Woodbridge) has a Food Tasting Event - featuring local treats to sample.
--------------------------------------------------
Join in this annual celebration of apples, orchards
and local distinctiveness. Taste regional varieties,
get your own apples identified by experts and take
part in fun games (such as the longest peel).
Saturday 18 September - Willock's Farm Orchards,
Wisbech St. Mary (nr. Wisbech)
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September - Audley
End House (nr. Saffron Walden)
Saturday 2 October - Wandlebury Country Park,
Babraham (nr. Cambridge)
Sunday 3 October - Highfield Park, St. Albans
Saturday 9 October - Burwash Manor,
Barton (nr. Cambridge)
Sunday 10 October - Copped Hall, Epping
Sunday 10 October - Redgrave and Lopham
Fen (nr. Diss)
Friday 15 and Saturday 16 October - Wisbech
Saturday 16 October - Ely
Saturday 16 October - Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Saturday 16 October - High Woods Country Park, Colchester
Sunday 17 October - Bromham Mill (nr. Bedford)
Sunday 17 October - Shenley Park (nr. Radlett)
Sunday 17 October - Blickling Hall (nr. Aylsham)
Saturday 23 October - Lathcoats Farm, Galleywood (nr. Chelmsford)
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October - Park Fruit Farm, Great
Holland, nr. Frinton-on-Sea
Saturday 23 to Friday 29 October - Cambridge Museums. Apple-related events
and activities at a different venue on each day.
Sunday 24 October - Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse (nr. Dereham)
Wednesday 27 October - Needham Lake, Needham Market
Norfolk Food Festival
Running from Wednesday 1 September to Sunday 3 October - the Norfolk Food Festival will reflect the best of Norfolk produce from the land and sea. Highlights include - 'A Moveable Feast', with a three course dinner at three different restaurants across the city of Norwich; the tallest jelly competition; a food fair; and the annual Battle of the Bangers.
Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival
Running from Friday 24 September to Saturday
9 October - the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival is predominately based at Snape Maltings
(nr. Aldeburgh). The main weekend (25 and
26 September) will see over 70 exhibitors, talks and cookery demonstrations. Around this 'fringe events' will be held at farm shops, delis and pubs.
Taste of Luton: Cultural Food Festival
Held on Saturday 25 September - the Taste of Luton: Cultural Food Festival is set in St. George's
Square. It aims to promote the cultural diversity of the town through its restaurants, pubs and shops. Cooking demonstrations, free tastings and competitions.
The Cambridge Food, Garden and Produce Festival
Held on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September - The Cambridge Food, Garden and Produce Festival on Parker's Piece features hands-on cookery demonstrations and a produce show.
Aylsham Food Festival
Running from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 October - the Aylsham Food Festival
includes cooking workshops, farmers' market and the 'BIG slow breakfast'.
St. Albans Food and Drink Festival
Held from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 October - the St. Albans Food and Drink Festival features the annual beer and cider festival, wine tastings, museum displays and an Italian street market.
---------------------------------------------------
The annual Soham Pumpkin Fair on Saturday 25 September (1330-1700) sees the local gardeners proudly displaying their pumpkins, towering sunflowers and giant vegetables.
Get A Taste of Autumn at RHS Hyde Hall Garden in Rettendon (nr. Chelmsford) on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October (1000-1600) - including fruit and vegetable displays, food stalls and music.
It's Harvest at Denny on Sunday 26 September (1030-1700) - a day of food, drink and merriment at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey in Waterbeach (nr. Cambridge).
Finally at Felbrigg Hall (nr. Cromer) see the historic hall decorated with fruit and vegetables from the garden - Hall at Harvest runs from Saturday 2 to Wednesday 6 October (1100-1630).
---------------------------------------------------
Taste and try our 'truffles of the sea'. Colchester oysters have been cultivated in the tidal estuaries around the town since before Roman times - and this is celebrated with a private feast in the town hall, attended by the Mayor and specially invited guests on the last Friday in October. Enjoy them as part of a seafood platter at The Company Shed on Mersea Island. Alternatively, head north to the The Butley Orford Oysterage, where oysters are grown in the nearby creeks by the Pinney family.
