Thursday November 12th 2015
Great British Bake Off Star Flora Launches this Weekend’s Foodies Festival Christmas Edinburgh at the EICC 13-15th November
Edinburgh’s food-lovers can look forward to a festive feast this weekend as Foodies Festival launches their Christmas edition at the EICC 13-15th November.
Flora, who represented Scotland in GBBO this year, said… ‘I am so excited to be taking part in Foodies Festival Christmas on Friday. I will be baking one of my favourite bakes which visitors can recreate for the festive period. I am also looking forward to looking around the festival and getting into the Christmas spirit with street food and a trip around the Artisan Christmas Market.’
Festival Director Sue Hitchen commented… ‘We are massive Bake-Off fans, so it’s wonderful to have Flora join us for our Christmas festival. We can’t wait to watch her in action in the Cake & Bake Theatre and pick a winner for our Showstopper Competition, which invites Foodies visitors to bring along their home baked cakes to win the Foodies Festival Showstopper Crown.’
Flora will officially open Foodies Festival Christmas on Friday evening at 5pm when the festival opens for the first time until 9pm.
GBBO star Flora and top chefs, vegan treats in the Artisan Christmas Market, Champagne Ski Bar and a Scottish Gin Theatre are just some of the festive features food-lovers can look forward to as Foodies Festival launches its winter edition – Foodies Festival Christmas – at Edinburgh’s EICC 13-15th November.
Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre will be transformed into a spectacular culinary wonderland this weekend, 13-15th November, as Foodies Festival Christmas brings Scotland’s top chefs, award-winning artisan producers and international street food together under one roof for a fabulous festive feast.
Acclaimed chefs from across Scotland swap their aprons for Santa hats in the Chefs Theatre, sharing their favourite recipes and top tips to help visitors create the perfect Christmas banquet. Confirmed chefs include:
Flora Shedden – Great British Bake Off favourite
Jamie Scott – MasterChef The Professionals Winner 2014
Scott Davies – The Three Chimneys
Hardeep Singh Kohli – V Deep
Tony Rodd – MasterChef Finalist 2015
Brian Grigor – Number One at The Balmoral (Michelin starred)
Peter McKenna – The Gannet (2015 AA Scottish Restaurant of The Year)
Neil Forbes – Cafe St Honore
Mark Greenaway – Restaurant Mark Greenaway
Fraser Allen – The Pompadour
Gordon Craig – The Field
Romy Gill – Romy’s Kitchen
Rosario Sartore – Laconda de Gusti
Three Sisters Bake
Ian Pirrie – Edinburgh School of Food & Wine
An Artisan Christmas Market boasts over 150 of Scotland’s finest producers selling locally produced cheeses, chutneys, chocolates, sauces and jams, biscuits and crackers, cakes, puddings and more for visitors to sample and shop from; perfect for picking-up those little extras that make Christmas extra tasty and special.
A Vegan area in the Christmas Market offers a range of delicious and healthy vegan, veggie and gluten-free treats for visitors to indulge in including desserts, street food, bakes, condiments, beers, wines and more.
Scottish Gin Theatre – Gin lovers will rejoice as Edinburgh’s gin producers, Daffy’s, Pickering’s and Edinburgh Gin, host daily Christmas Gin Cocktail masterclasses. Wine experts Charles Metcalfe and Neil Philips are also on-hand helping visitors match wines with Christmas flavours in the Drinks Theatre and beer expert Melissa Cole champions craft beers as an alternative to wine and champagne this Christmas in masterclasses with local brewers.
Other features of the festival include a Street Food Village where visitors can feast of flavours from around the world, a Cake & Bake Theatre hosted by Scotland’s top bakers and chocolatiers, and an accompanying Pudding Hall – a haven of sweet treats selling festive favourites such as eggnog and mulled wine, mince pies, Christmas cakes, marzipan bonbons and macaroons.
A Baking Competition invites home bakers to bring their cakes along to the festival before 1pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November with the chance to be crowned ‘Edinburgh Showstopper Champion’.
While parents shop and enjoy a chilled glass of bubbly from the Champagne Ski Bar, children under 12 can enrol in the Elf Cookery School with Kiddy Cook, where they can bake and decorate snowballs, gingerbread men, cookies and cupcakes to leave out for Santa.
Just like Christmas day there is lots of post-feasting fun to be had with live music, local choirs singing carols and entertainment throughout the day. Visitors can enter the Chilly-Eating Competition (the winter version of the famous chilli contest), register their team to compete in the Christmas Bumper Quiz and have a group Christmas jumper picture taken in the photo booth.
Tickets:
Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111
Friday adult day ticket £13.00 (£11.00 concession)
Saturday or Sunday adult day ticket £15.00 (£13.00 concession)
3-day adult ticket £20.00 (£16.00 concession)
Friday VIP ticket £35.00
Saturday or Sunday VIP ticket £38.00
VIP tickets include a welcome glass of bubbly, access to the VIP lounge with private bar and refreshments throughout the day, priority entry to food and drink masterclasses, a festive goody bag and a showguide.
All children aged 12 and under go free to all Foodies Festivals when accompanied by an adult.
Open times:
Friday 13th November: 5pm – 9pm
Saturday 14th November: 10am – 6pm
Sunday 15th November: 10am – 5pm
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