Lyme Regis: Culinary festival aids RNLI (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Lyme Regis: Culinary festival aids RNLI
10:00am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Lyme Regis By Rene Gerryts
COOKING UP A STORM: Mark Hix cooking demo on the slipway during Lyme Regis LIfeboat Week
TOP restaurateur Mark Hix and his team are raising money for the RNLI with a foodie event at the end of Lifeboat Week in Lyme.
Food Rocks will be about raising money and celebrating great food – and is a precursor to a packed two-day culinary festival next year.
Jo Harris, Hix Restaurants group operations manager, said after Mr Hix hosted a one-day event during Lyme’s Fossil Festival he has been planning to get involved on a grander scale.
She said: “We plan to have an Eat Dorset-style event up and running for 2013 but in the meantime thought we could do a ‘taster’ of what’s to come when we were offered the use of a demo stage.
“So I rallied round all the chefs and suppliers that we know and have had amazing support and generosity from them.
“Mark and I both support the RNLI for personal reasons and so wherever we can help raise money for the lifeboat we’re there.
“There were many big named chefs that wanted to be involved but sadly couldn’t commit due to the Olympics and it being a very busy weekend for them in the restaurants.
“So we will save them for 2013.”
The team has put together two days worth of demonstrations either on the slipway or by the harbourmaster’s office next to the Cobb.
There will be a marquee and full demo stage.
Each dish that is made will be auctioned off for a donation to the RNLI, but nothing else will be sold so as to interfere with local traders.
The events on the weekend of July 28 and 29 include Mr Hix cooking a brunch, an oyster talk and demonstration, Jack Stein cooking fish, Leakers’ bakery’s Caroline Parkins on how to cook the perfect scone, cooking with steam, a Lee Streeton , executive chef, Brown ’s Hotel, cooks offs between lifeboat crews, butchery and cooking with Bridport butcher Phil Frampton and Mr Hix.
There will also be a grand raffle with prizes ranging from meals out at top restaurants, to signed cookbooks, hampers and theatre tickets.
For a full programme visit www.restaurantsetcltd.co.uk/foodrocks
