A celebration of local food and drink kicks off tomorrow.

We've already told you all about the delicious taste trail around town, now here's a full list of everything you need to know about Bridport Food Festival 2019.

The week-long celebration of all things tasty culminates with the main event on June 15 at Asker Meadows.

Here's what's happening:

Sunday, June 9

Open Farm Sunday at Washingpool Farm, 10am- 4pm, free event

This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, young and old, to discover at firsthand what it means to be a farmer and the work they do producing our food, enhancing the countryside and all the goods and services farmers provide. Walk around the farm, see the farm animals, tractor and trailer rides, view crops and polytunnels, see a small, mixed farm at work, meet the discover farming team from the Melplash Agricultural Society in the farm classroom.

washingpool.co.uk

Monday, June 10-Friday, June 14

Tours of Palmers Brewery, 11am, free event

You’ll go behind the scenes in the historic brewery building to watch every stage of the centuries- old brewing process. The tour ends with a beer tasting (or soft drink) in Palmers Wine Store. Bookings MUST be made in advance via the Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

palmersbrewery.com

Tuesday, June 11- Thursday, June 13

Tour of Leakers Bakery, East Street, 11am (limited to eight people), £5

Owner and baker, Caroline Parkins, will be giving a tour around the award-winning bakery – a premises that has been the home of a baker since the 1830s. The wide range of breads for sale in the shop are still handmade on the premises in the time-honoured way, taking time, using the simplest ingredients of flour, water, levain for sourdoughs and yeast for everyday loaves.

Cost includes refreshments and an award-winning scone (all proceeds will go to the food festival)

Bookings can be made in the shop or by email shop@leakersbakery.co.uk

leakerbakery.co.uk

Tuesday, June 11

  • Indian Cookery Masterclass with Helen Choudhury, Taj Mahal Restaurant, East Street

2pm – 4pm (limited to eight people) Cost £30 per person

A unique opportunity to learn the art of making authentic Indian dishes from well-known chef and co-owner of the Taj Mahal, Helen Choudhury. Helen will demonstrate and give you hands-on experience of how to prepare a three-course authentic Indian meal. As well as learning how to cook the meal you will sit down at the end with the rest of the group to enjoy the dishes prepared.

To book, contact Helen Choudhury on 01308 421000 or 07772 161340 or visit tajmahalbridport.com

  • Food Quiz and Tasting with John and Geraldine Baker at the Ropemakers, West Street, free event. Food tastings 6.30pm, food quiz 8pm

This is a very popular event during the week, so early arrival is recommended.

theropemakers.co.uk

Wednesday, June 12

  • Learn how to butcher a lamb with Phil Frampton of Frampton’s Butchers, East Street 10.30 am (limited to five people)

This is a session not to miss if you would like to learn where different lamb joints come from and how to get the best from each cut. Phil will show attendees using traditional butchery skills how to cut up the lamb and how to prepare each joint for the oven. He will also advise on the best way to cook the meat to get maximum flavour. At the end of the session, each attendee will be given 4 lamb chops to take home.

Cost £5. Bookings can be made in the shop or by ringing 01308 422995 or framptonsofbridport.co.uk

  • Cheese night

A comparison of Cheddars at the Ropemakers, West Street, free event

Two sittings 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm - booking essential.

Six superb and different variations of Cheddar Cheese for you to compare, all served with a selection of crackers and accompaniments... Each cheese will have a suggested wine/ale to drink with it.

Tickets £7 available from the bar

theropemakers.co.uk

  • The Art of Making Cocktails with Lloyd Brown and David Smith, Dark Bear, 31 East Street, 7pm

Guests will be treated to five taster cocktails from five key decades in drink history, with accompanying tales of the cocktails and how to make them. Guests will also be treated to Italian nibbles provided by Mercato Italiano as well as a recipe book to take home with them.

Tickets are £20 and are restricted to 50. To book, email lloyd-brown@hotmail.co.uk

Thursday, June 13

  • Tour and tasting at Baboo Gelato, Unit 12 Pineapple Business Park, Salway Ash, free event, 3.30pm, limited to eight people

Find out why Sam and Annie Hanbury started making Italian Gelato in Bridport, find out how it’s made during a tour of their lab and enjoy tastings of the delicious homemade varieties available.

To book, email info@baboogelato.com

  • English Artisan Cheeses with Furleigh Wines, Salway Ash, 6.45 for a 7pm start

Juliet Harbutt, author, educator and judge, will introduce English artisan cheeses with a selection of newly released 2018 Furleigh wines including the vibrant Bacchus 2018 and Bacchuss Fumé. Join us from 6.45pm for a glass of Furleigh Estate Classic Cuvée. Numbers are strictly limited so booking in advance is essential.

Tickets are £25 each. Book online at furleighestate.co.uk

  • From Plot to Plate, Ivy House Kitchen, Grove Nurseries Bridport, 6.30pm.

A celebration of growing (and eating) your own food. Join the team at Groves Nurseries at 6:30pm when they will be showing you how to get the most out of growing your own veggies.

Head chef of Ivy House Kitchen, Phil Scott, has put together a delicious two course vegetarian supper of seasonal veggies that you could grow in your own garden and cook in your own kitchen. At the same time experts’ growers from Groves Nurseries will be talking you through how to grow your own food whether you have a full-blown allotment or just a small but perfectly formed window box.

Tickets £15 pp and include a two-course meal available from the Ivy House Kitchen or online at grovesnurseries.co.uk/from-plot-to-plate

Saturday, June 15

Jay Rayner, journalist and food critic, delivers his 10 (food) Commandments at Bridport Arts Centre, 7.30pm

After a hugely-successful run of live dates in 2014-16 that featured Jay’s previous publication, My Dining Hell, and saw him examine our love affair with lousy reviews, Jay is embarking on a whole new tour. The 10 (Food) Commandments combines reportage and anecdotes with recipes worthy of adoration & in this audio-visual romp Jay Rayner attempts to lead us to the edible Promised Land.

Tickets £25 from Bridport Arts Centre or bridport-arts.com

ASKER MEADOWS

Friday, June 14

  • Seafood & Fizz Supper hosted by Sally of Sally’s Fish Camp, Asker Meadows, 7.30 pm

Arrive to a glass of Furleigh fizz and oysters served from the Fish Camp barrel. Expect a relaxed & fun dining experience with long bench seating and newspaper laid trestle tables. Enjoy your pre-ordered crate of lobster, crab and crevettes, prepared & presented on ice ready for you to ‘eat, straight from the crate!’ Served with side accompaniments of locally made sourdough & handpicked leaves & mayo. Optional extra’s and dessert are available to pre-order. Buy drinks on the night and choose from Palmers beers, Furleigh’s sparkling wine, plus a selection of other wines. Bottled still and sparkling water available also.

Cost £40 pp (or for the smaller appetite share for £45) Pre-order by ringing Sally on 07969 397512 Last orders Wednesday, June 12.

For more information, visit sallysfishcamp.co.uk

  • Bridport Roundtable Beer Festival, Friday 6.30pm-11pm/Saturday 11am – 11pm, entry (over 18s only)

More than 80 ales and cider to try and music. All money raised to go to local charities.

Throughout there will be a great selection of street food available.

THE MAIN EVENT

Saturday, June 15

Asker Meadows, 9.30am-5pm, adults on gate £3.50 or £3 in advance from the Bridport Tourist Information Centre. Free for those aged 16 years and under.

A day of delicious food, drink and family fun.

More than 50 local food and drink producers (from within 20-mile radius) will be tantalising shoppers’ taste buds in the producers marquee (sponsored by Nantes Solicitors).

As always there will be an amazing choice of street food to enjoy, as well as the Festival Tea Tent serving high teas, cream teas and sandwiches, all sourced locally.

COOKERY THEATRE (Sponsored by Martin’s Bar & Restaurant)

This year we are very pleased to welcome:

10.30: TBC

11 30: Christine McFadden, local cookbook author and cookery teacher will be demonstrating Feisty Food from Dorset with flavour-packed dishes based on local watercress, wasabi, black garlic and fish.

12.30 Simon Mazzei, proprietor and chef from the Olive Tree, Bridport, will be demonstrating a range of Mediterranean inspired dishes.

1.30: Shirley Booth, a well- known authority on Japanese food who has taught and produced films on their food, will be demonstrating the basic flavours and techniques of a typical Japanese meal.

2.30: Mark Pile, Head Chef, Mapperton House, Gardens Cafe & Venue. Mapperton host a whole range of events from weddings and shoots to Yoga retreats, which means Mark has to cater for a variety of dietary requirements. He will be demonstrating a range of vegan cakes/desserts that are used in the cafe and for yoga retreats.

3.30: Andy Chu, is a creative chef born in Macau specialising in Far East Cuisine. He attended catering college in Dorset and works as a consultant and executive chef for some large Chinese food retailers and suppliers

NEW: BAKE IT COMPETITION

Find Bridport’s best amateur bakers (sponsored by Moores Biscuits)

The competition is free to enter and open to amateur cooks of all ages. There will be cash prizes and certificates awarded, plus a choice of cookery book from the festival’s cookery book swap stall. Entries for each bake will be split into 16 and under and over 16 age groups. There are six classes:

1. Freestanding Hommity Pie (18-20cm diameter)

2. 1 jar of home-made fruit jam

3. Dorset Apple Cake (18-20cm diameter)

4. Vegetable Cake - using one vegetable in ingredients (18-20cm diameter)

5. 3 medium “sausage” rolls – can be made of pastry of own choice and include any filling, eg vegetarian, fish, meat, etc

6. Zesty Lemon Cake – made to Bridport Food Festival recipe

Further details and entry form can be found on www.bridportfoodfestival.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from the Bridport TIC

CHILDREN’S MARQUEE (SPONSORED BY KAL MARQUEES)

There is a deliciously Italian flavour to the popular marquee this year. As usual on offer will be an activity-packed day of free hands-on cooking, creative, learning and play sessions. The hands-on cooking (and eating) sessions will include fresh gelato, pasta and pesto. There will be creative activities with local artist Michelle Hazell, including decorating cotton food shopping bags to take home, drawing and painting a classic Italian-style still life as well as making collages for a Sladers Yard Gallery art competition. There will also be an under-five play zone with a fruit and vegetables 'mini mercato' plus toy kitchen featuring a big washing-up area for lots of water fun.

TEEN ZONE (SPONSORED BY FORD FARM)

Opening at 11am, free

A totally unique and bespoke space where older children and teenagers can hang out and have fun, kindly organised and managed by Heather Marsden from Bridport Youth Centre.

Free activities will include:

  • Making Mocktails with Lloyd Brown from Dark Bear, learning about making chocolate and making flowers from fruit and chocolate with Gareth Morris from Aleksandra's Chocolate Cafe, Bridport, making fresh fruit and vegetable kebabs, making toasties, etc. There will also be quizzes and competitions as well as music by DJ James Baker.
  • The Dorset Forest School are holding forest skill sessions outside for children and young people over 10 years of age with trained adult supervision at all times: On Fire!
  • Can you light a fire without matches? Do you know your tinder from your kindling? Join Dorset Forest School for an hour and learn how to safely start a fire using fire steels and a range of tinder materials, a key forest school skill, as well as a basic outdoor survival skill too. Once the fire is lit it’s time to start cooking - making toast and butter and toasting marshmallows.

Sessions will be at 11am -12 noon, 12 noon – 1 pm then 2pm – 3pm, 3pm-4pm. Places will be limited so it is advisable to book in advance at the Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

Throughout the day, Bridport’s stand-up poet, Rob Casey, will be performing and entertaining around the Festival field.

COOK BOOK SWAP

If you love cook books but are finding that some of them are getting ignored.. you are going to love the Festival cook book swap and sale. Just bring along your redundant cook book to the Bake It! Tent at Asker Meadows and swap with a similar priced cook book. You will also be able to buy good quality cookbooks at very reasonable prices

FESTIVAL RAFFLE

Organised by the Festival Committee, tickets are on sale now and throughout the festival at a price of £1 each.

There are prizes on offer and a raffle is to be drawn at 4pm.

All proceeds are going towards the Bridport Local Food Group’s Community Cooking Kit, in place to help get the whole community cooking, which is available for local community groups to borrow for free. It will be in use and available to view in the Children’s marquee at the Festival.

Entrance to the Festival is £3.50 for adults (advance tickets £3 from the Bridport Tourist Information Centre) and free for youngsters 17 years and under.