Falmouth Oyster Festival has cookery at its heart. The festival which runs from 15th to 18th October at Events Square, celebrates the start of the native oyster dredging season and showcases leading local chefs in a cookery demonstration programme throughout the four days – and best of all - the cookery shows by local chefs are all free!
This popular festival will be opened on Thursday at 11.00am by celebrity chef Mat Follas, Winner of BBC Masterchef 2009. Mat is passionate about cooking with local, wild ingredients, as well as learning about the fantastic bounty of sea vegetables and hedgerow produce that can found all around us. His dishes use these naturally delicious ingredients to produce food that is full of flavour and a delight to eat. Mat has recently opened his own Restaurant, The Wild Garlic in Beaminster in Dorset, serving real food with something wild at it's heart. (The Opening Ceremony carries a small charge of £3, with tickets available from Falmouth Tourist Information Centre and the Maritime Museum).
Dez Turland, Group Development Chef for Brend Hotels which includes the Royal Duchy in Falmouth, will wow festival-goers on Thursday afternoon, with his imaginative style of cuisine, his expert use of local ingredients which has inspired young chefs from as far afield as New Zealand, as Dez is a mentor in the New Zealand – UK Link Foundation which is all about linking some of the best Kiwi and British people, through a series of Fellowships and exchanges between the two countries.
Chris Taylor from Two Ten in the centre of Falmouth is next up to the hot plate on Friday morning. Chris will create some great signatures from his restaurant where he uses seafood catch of the day with daily deliveries of local ingredients cooked in imaginative combinations.
Friday afternoon is when Dan Gvalda takes centre stage. Dan is senior sous chef from the Flying Fish Restaurant at the St Michael’s Hotel and Spa, the main sponsor for Falmouth Oyster festival this year. Dan and the Flying Fish team create fresh and exciting dishes based on what is landed on the door step that morning; fresh crab and mussels from the Cornish seas or wild garlic and lavender from the local forager. Dan will re-create some of the mouth-watering dishes which are a firm favourite with the hotels visitors. Dan has recently taken part in the current BBC MasterChef: The Professionals, watch out for him on your screens!
The Greenbank Hotel is next to showcase the talents of Head Chef Sanjay Kumar on Saturday morning. Sanjay first entertained and delighted the Oyster Festival audience last year with his original interpretations of seafood dishes. The hotel is located in a prime position overlooking Falmouth Harbour and the picturesque village of Flushing, with its Harbourside Restaurant offering an ideal setting to enjoy the bounty from the South West’s waters.
Sunday morning sees the return of the ever popular Arty Williams, from The Cove Restaurant with its enviable beach-side location at Maenporth Beach in Falmouth. By using ingredients fresh from Cornish coastline, fields and farms Arty Williams defines the essence of Cornish cuisine. Using his extensive knowledge of local produce and the sense of creativity, innovation and culinary ideas gained during a spell working in the kitchens of Australian and New Zealand seafood restaurants, Arty creates dishes which are both exciting and innovative whilst maintaining the ingredient’s integrity.
Sanjay (Vista) Daf, who has recently joined the Three Mackerel will work his magic on stage on Sunday afternoon to bring the cookery masterclasses to a close. Vista will re-create dishes offered at the superbly located restaurant, overlooking Swanpool Beach which combine cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean with Cornish ingredients in a unique and wide ranging menu.
Arty Williams from The Cove takes to the stage again against Nick Hodges from Lusty Glaze in Newquay in the Hot Chefs Challenge on Friday evening – a head to head cook-off using ingredients selected by two contestants from the stands in the Cornish produce marquee at the festival. The audience will vote for the red or the green team, with the score standing at one all from the 2007 and 2008 festivals, the title could go either way with a veritable show for the senses!! Live music from Viper’s Dream a lively jazz, blues and bossa nova band will serenade the audience into the night!
Seafood cookery and preparation techniques will be demonstrated by Annie Sibert on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Cornish Fish Monger - Annie will teach you all you need to know about fish from buying, preparing, filleting, skinning and de-boning fish with the aim of getting people to eat more fish and to treat fish as an occasion. So if you love fish and seafood, and want to find out more – visit the festival at Events Square and be inspired!
A programme of live music will be alternating with the cookery demonstrations, with Falmouth Soul Sensations appearing on Saturday evening. The festival truly has something for everyone - so why not come to be entertained, wined and dined on a platter of Falmouth oysters washed down with champagne or wine from Walter Hicks, or try seafood,crepes or paella and enjoy local ales from Skinners Brewery. Cornish arts and crafts and local food producers will all be showcasing their specialities at the festival.
September 2009