Awaiting details of the 2015 Ottery Food Festival – facebook page

Please see below for 2014 Festival details

The small town of Ottery St Mary will be promoting some of the region’s best food and drink, this weekend, combined with lots of family fun. The Food and Families Festival is being held on Friday, June 13, to Friday, June 14, and it promises to be even bigger and better.

Among the highlights of this year’s not-for-profit community festival is a street market on the Saturday with 25 food and drink stands along Mill Street. There will also be a demonstration marque in Sainsbury’s car park headed up by the talented Robin Rea from the Rusty Pig. As well as food demonstrations, visitors can also enjoy watching cook-offs.

Throughout the festival many other events and entertainment will be taking place throughout the town centre, including buskers from Kings School, competitions and children’s entertainment.

There will also be two unique dining experiences during the weekend. are taking place during the weekend.

On Friday, the Rotary Club is hosting an Eat and Learn event in the main festival marquee. River Cottage-trained chefs, Robin Rea from the Rusty Pig and Tim Maddams from Green Sauce together with Ottery’s Samosa Lady Tina Chauhan are creating four large taster dishes to be accompanied with wine selected by Christopher Piper Wines.

As part of the fun event, the colourful chefs will talk about the ingredients and preparation of their dishes. Tickets cost £45 for a single diner, and £80 per couple. All profits will be donated to charity.

After the main festival on Saturday, the 2014 Ottery St Mary Food Safari takes place. Diners will eat in three different restaurants, enjoying a guided tour of the town as they move between venues. Starters are on the Tumbling Weir Terrace, the main course is at the Lamb & Flag and some unusual desserts are on offer as the result of a culinary partnership between Seasons Tea Rooms and Tina Chauhan. The safari and tour costs £30 per head.

The festival will also see a repeat of the world famous Ottery St Mary Fish Dance in Strictly Come Fish Dancing. Other unique fun includes mouse racing in the marque on Saturday evening.

When the festival was launched last year it attracted more than 3,000 visitors. It is run with the full support of local businesses, restaurants and cafes and is a great way to celebrate local producers, products and chefs.

“The festival is designed to help encourage tourism and put Ottery on the map,” said one of the organisers. “But it is also a great way to celebrate local food and drink – and have fun.” For more details visit www.facebook.com/ OtteryStMaryFoodFamiliesFestival

Tickets for the Rotary event are available from Rotary, the Rusty Pig, the Volunteer Inn and Christopher Piper Wines or by calling 01404 815580 (Rusty Pig).