Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival organisers reveal packed programme
THE much-anticipated Highcliffe Food & Arts Festival will see the addition of a third music stage in the high street this year, as the event marks its 10th anniversary.
Sponsored by the Colin Nash Restaurant in Christchurch, the festival will run from 14th to 15th June, promising around 160 food, drink and craft stalls, cookery demonstrations, free kids’ entertainment and live music.
The cookery theatre, which has been named after founder Mary Reader who has retired as a director, will host top international and local chefs.
Appearing for the first time at the festival will be award-winning TV chef Ching He Huang, an international Emmy-nominated food writer who has become an ambassador of Chinese cooking around the world. Ching was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2020 for services to the culinary arts.
With 11 TV shows and 11 cook books under her belt, Ching has been at the cutting edge of Chinese food for over two decades.
Her online cookery school breaks down the fundamentals of Chinese cookery, teaching the skills to create well-loved takeaway dishes, including sweet and sour, spring rolls, fried rice, chow mein and won ton soup.
Also making a debut appearance is Christchurch resident Nelly Ghaffar, who catapulted into the public eye after competing on the most recent series of the Great British Bake Off. She emerged as one of the favourites, her infectious personality capturing the hearts of viewers.
Returning once again to showcase their culinary skills will be popular duo James and Erica Golding, who run the Nomadic Sporadic Supper Clubs, both in the UK and in Tuscany. James is a regular on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch.
Also coming back to the stage after a few years’ break is private Dorset chef Sarah Ali Choudhury, a well-known award-winning Indian food writer and influencer.
Local chef Alex Aitken, of The Jetty, and the team from The Oaks pub in Highcliffe, will be divulging the secrets behind their latest menus.
They will be joined by Patricia Nunes from Nature Synergies in Boscombe and Andrew Gault, former head chef at the Captain’s Club and Balmar Lawn restaurants, who is opening a new restaurant called the Atlantic Gate in Southampton.
A wide range of children’s activities will also be on offer, including a circus school, treasure hunt, and grow-your-own workshops run by Highcliffe in Bloom. Chefs on Stilts will be back by popular demand, entertaining the crowds. There will also be biscuit-icing by Sarah.
Performing across the three musical stages will be various groups, including saxophonist Sarah Bolter and her band Not Just Sax, Swing Unlimited Big Band, The Fifinellas vocal group, and singer-songwriters Susie Kimber and Tom Clements, together with Barton Court Studios.
Tickets will be available at highcliffefoodandartsfestival.co.uk
