insideKENT Magazine Issue 43 - October 2015 | Page 55

FOOD+DRINK

broadstairs food festival
Broadstairs Food Festival is a glorious annual event of Kentish produce: wine, cider,
cheese and chocolate; pastries, pasties, cakes, cookies – and loads more.

Now in its seventh year, the festival has developed
into a major foodie's delight, with something for
everyone, be they of the veggie, vegan,
pescetarian or if-it's-in-front-of-me-I'll-eat-it
persuasion.
The three-day food fair, held from Friday
2nd to Sunday 4th October, includes a licensed
refreshment marquee and anot-to-be-missed
vintage-styled tea room, provided by Bessie's
Tea Parlour, Broadstairs.
"What gives us the extra edge," says event
organiser, Jo Scott, "is that not only are we still
a free-entry festival but 95 per cent of our traders
are Kent producers. We want our visitors to not
only enjoy the produce on the day, but be able
to source it all year round from local shops and
markets."
Held at East Kent College, a major sponsor
to the event, the Gala Dinner sets the tone for
the festival – locally sourced products, skilfully

prepared and beautifully presented. (The evening
is sponsored by Turners Fine Foods, of
Goudhurst, with produce supplied by WA Hazells
and Fruits de Mer, Broadstairs.)
“This year, we are delighted to have Chetna
Makan with us,” Jo Scott says, “hosting a morning
of ‘Food with Chetna’; Chetna was a semi-finalist
in the 2014 Great British Bake Off and is busy
preparing her debut cook book, so we are thrilled
she has found time to be with us.”
Those who have enjoyed watching Andy
McLeish of Chapter O