PICTURES: Thousands flock to Ottery food fest
Visitors got the chances to try the dishes at the Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival on Saturday. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref sho 5661-25-14SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on Photo Orders - Credit: Archant
Thousands of foodies from across East Devon flocked to Ottery St Mary to enjoy the town’s second Food and Families Festival.
The town centre was packed with people determined to make the most of the festival and they were rewarded with unending blue skies and culinary delights.
“We were blessed with an exceptionally sunny June day,” said Ruud Jansen Venneboer, one of the festival organisers. “People came in their droves to celebrate all that is good about the region, and we were delighted to welcome so many first-time visitors to the town.”
The Mill Street market was abuzz with stalls offering a wide variety of local produce, from wine and cider to chutneys, chilli sauce and cooking oils. For the sweet-toothed, tempting treats included locally made fudge and macarons.
Festival-goers were serenaded by choirs, the town band and teams of talented buskers from The Kings School.
Over in the cookery theatre, practical demonstrations by local chefs gave the audience food for thought, and an epic cook-off between MasterChef semi-finalist Saira Hamilton and Ottery’s ‘Samosa Lady’ Tina Chahaun ended with local lass Tina taking the honours.
Families enjoyed activities at the Institute and everyone tucked into the food on offer in the town with something for everyone, with Devon pasties, paella, hog roast, burgers and Tina’s samosas. As the day hotted up, the ice cream stall was a very popular choice. The fun went on into the evening and a great time was had by all.
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Festival organisers thanked everyone who supported the festival and look forward to the next one in 2015.
