Thousands attend Caerphilly food festival as Monmouthshire gears up for May event

Thousands of visitors packed out Caerphilly’s Pentrebane Street at the weekend for the town’s annual food festival.

Around 100 traders – 70 of them food stalls – lined the street. A farmers’ market was held at the Twyn Community Centre, the “Great Caerphilly Cake Off” was held and demonstrations took place in a marquee near the town’s visitor centre.

Traders spotted at the event included Abergavenny’s Chantler Teas, ice cream from Powys’ Llanfaes Dairy, Taste of Thailand, Caerphilly Preserves, and Tudor Brewery.

Artisan baker Bill King, of Torfaen, was among those carrying out demonstrations at the festival.

Monmouthshire holds its festival at Caldicot Castle on May 30 and 31.

In the demonstration theatre will be master butcher from Golden Valley Meat and Game, Adrian Walker. The Grosmont man will be giving his butchery masterclass, and chefs from the St Pierre Marriott Golf and Country Club will be hosting a barbecue corner to help get the most out of al fresco cooking.

Simon King, chef/proprietor of Restaurant 1861, who trained with the Roux brothers, Chris Harrod, chef/owner at The Whitebrook, Adam Whittle, head chef at the Newbridge on Usk Hotel, Parkway Hotel and Spa head chef Clive Williams, Michael Hendry, head chef at the Llansantffraed Hotel, Matthew Lewis, head chef at the Plas Derwen in Abergavenny, and Kyle Wilson, head chef of Sawyer’s Bar and Grill in Magor, will also demonstrate their skills.

There will be a children’s quarter aiming to entertain and inform youngsters about food, a food producers’ market with stalls from across Wales, and visitors will be able to find out about the Incredible Edible project encouraging communities to use spare plots of land to grow food.

Tickets are £5, with under 12s going free. The event is staged  between 10am and 5pm both days.