Caldicot Castle
The past week had been rather a damp and gloomy one in South Wales, but the Monmouthshire Food Festival gallantly launches us into the summer Welsh food festival season with the promise of a sunnier weekend. Set in the historic grounds of Caldicot Castle, the festival brings together the best food and drink producers from across South Wales: and even a couple from across the border.
The producers’ stalls, organised in handy market-like rows, provide easy perusing for punters who may be overwhelmed by all of the appetizing sights and smells. Highlights include: Gillow Cider, particularly the blackcurrant cider which is fruity but devoid of the sickly-sweetness; the vast range of meat and vegetarian scotch eggs of the Handmade Scotch Egg company (I can highly recommend their ‘Hornbrieper’ which matches saliferous ham with honey, brie and pear flavoured sausage meat); and, then, the cornucopia of brownies on offer from Chock Shop ranging from Banoffee Crumble to Peanut Butter, waiting to be drizzled with warm chocolate sauce.
There’s no doubt, then, that the Monmouthshire Food Festival is a family-friendly event while retaining plenty of interest for adults. As the £5 entrance fee includes parking, informative (not to mention delicious) talks, and free reign of the beautiful castle grounds, it seems well worth the price: if not merely for all the free food samples. And, like any good food festival, it serves to remind us to slow down for a few hours and muse over one of the most significant questions one can ask oneself: what shall I eat next?
words FFIONA MILLS