BOLTON CELEBRATES MOUTH-WATERING MENU OF EVENTS AT SECOND FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

Bolton celebrated its second successful Food and Drink Festival between 5 – 15 October 2007, with a mouth-watering menu of events held at locations around the town, including a Festival Marquee in Victoria Square, historic halls, bars and restaurants.

For gourmet food-lovers, the attractions included two international markets, the Polish and International Melting Pot Markets held on Victoria Square; as well as the Bolton Festival Marquee, which had a variety of local food and drink exhibitors every day, including Bolton Primary Care Trust, who advised people on healthy portion sizes and hidden fats and sugars in food.

Bolton Council and local chef Mike Harrison also produced ‘What’s Cooking?’; a CD of favourite recipes, from local dishes such as steak and ale pie and black pudding pancakes to well-known favourites such as fish pie and summer pudding. Celebrity chefs including Paul Rankin, Simon Rimmer and Andrew Nutter all contributed recipes to the CD, which contains over 100 recipes and was given away free to visitors to the Marquee.

By heck! Lovers of traditional Northern food enjoyed the launch of two popular new products: Greenhalghs Bakery produced the ‘Bolton Barnstormer Pasty’: a new take on the traditional favourite of the roast dinner, whilst Fraser’s Butchers launched the ‘Bolton Festival Steak and Ale Pie’, made from local steak and ale from the local Bank Top Brewery. Both of these products sold out on every day of the Festival.

Chocoholics and grown-up kids loved a virtual tour of Thorntons, with a chance to get their hands dirty and ice their own chocolate plaque, whilst younger children enjoyed the ‘Fantastic Food Fables’ storytelling event at Hall i’th Wood Museum.

Local history fans were spoilt for choice with a tour of Ye Olde Man & Scythe, Bolton’s oldest pub, a street play of the Execution of the Earl of Derby, an afternoon of Lancashire Poems and Food at Smithills Hall, as well as several Ale Trails which look at the history of the drinking spots in Bolton.

Finally, cups were overflowing for beer and wine lovers, with a torrent of activities, including a wine tasting evening at Mere Hall; tours of Bank Top Brewery and Wrights Wine Merchants; Oktoberfest, a celebration of German food and beer organised by Bolton Twinning Society and the Bolton Beer Festival with over 200 beers from around the world.

The Festival closed with a five course Northern dinner cooked by Gordon Ramsay’s Lancashire Lasses, the winners of the ‘F Word Challenge’, which was attended by almost 100 people.

Councillor Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council Executive Member for Development commented: “This year’s Food and Drink Festival was even bigger and better than last year’s, with a smorgasbord of events, product launches, tastings, tours and food and drink markets.

“Over 50 partners including restaurants, pubs, shops and suppliers helped celebrate the history of Bolton and its diverse food and drink, as well as promoting key themes such as skills and training and local produce. We plan to expand the Festival in the future and hope to attract even more partners and visitors to take part in next year’s Festival.”

Copies of the ‘What’s Cooking?’ CDs are available by contacting Bolton Tourism Unit on 01204 334058 or emailing tourism@bolton.gov.uk