A Michelin-starred chef, seafood caught off the Cumbrian coast, and some seriously spicy cuisine - they’re all on the menu at Taste Cumbria Cockermouth.
The festival takes place in the heart of the town on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, with additional hot food and entertainment on Market Place on the Friday evening from 7pm to 9pm.
The Demo Stage is always one of the biggest attractions of the weekend, thanks to the wealth of local culinary experts cooking up some amazing dishes and handing out the tasty results.
This year, Michelin-starred chef Kevin Scanlan from SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House at Windermere and his colleague Ralph Rojas from Gilpin Spice will appear on the Saturday. They’re joined that day by two Cockermouth favourites - Manon Plouffe of Wild Zucchinis and Shuba Sachin of Dosa Chaska.
On the Sunday, private chef Jon Fell will be followed by the duo of Buster Grant from Jennings Brewery and Richard Harrison from Harrison’s Butchers who will be combining beer and meat for some classic dishes. They’re followed by the hugely enthusiastic Ashleigh Hall, owner of Main Street’s Deli Station and Street Food, who is appearing on The Demo Stage for the first time.
Ahead of his appearance, Kevin Scanlan said:
"Taste Cumbria is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the exceptional quality of the county's produce and the people behind it. We're fortunate to work with so many outstanding local suppliers throughout the year, so it's a pleasure to be part of a festival that shines a spotlight on Cumbria's food scene.
Jon Fell will be celebrating seafood caught by the Chelaris boat in Maryport. He said:
"I plan to take the audience on a journey from the Cumbrian coast to the plate. I’ll share the story behind the catch, highlight the people and places that make Cumbrian seafood special, and offer practical tips on choosing, preparing and cooking fresh fish at home."
Meanwhile Ralph Rojas will give a nod to the county’s famous spice trade. He added:
"The county is packed with incredible ingredients, but it's also home to some iconic dishes where spices are the hero. This is a fantastic celebration of Cumbrian food, and I'm delighted to be part of it."
The rest of the festival will include producers’ stalls on Main Street, the Market Place Street Party with hot food and the Festival Stage, plus an additional music stage at Jennings Brewery. There will be lots of family activities too.
The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and the sponsors and supporters for this event are Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Jennings Brewery, Milburns Solicitors, Rock With and Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.
This event will be followed by Taste Christmas, back in Cockermouth, on 5 and 6 December.
Photo Credit: Tom Kay