Autumn Fruits is the theme of the first Cullompton Food and Drink Festival on Saturday 10th October. The Festival celebrates Cullompton’s traditional and current heritage as a centre for growing apples, pears, fruits and vegetables, and producing cider, fruit juices, foodstuffs and crafts.

Headlining the Festival are two cookery demonstrations with a connection to Cullompton-born Michael Caines

The well-known chef who has 2 Michelin Stars and 5 AA rosettes, began his career at Exeter College, where he now has his own Michael Caines Academy which trains and nurtures the region’s future generation of talented restauranteurs, chefs and front of house staff. Students from the Academy will prepare three meals from local produce each including an Autumn Fruit.

Josh McDonald-Johns of Pickleshack, who trained with Michael Caines, will demonstrate the use of local produce to create wholesome family meals.

Producers at the Walronds will include Ridge and Furrow Cider, a young company from Mutterton which won best Newcomer and best Exhibit at the Devon County Show 2015. Justin Bartley will serve this limited availability local cider straight from the barrel.

Gavin’s Apple Press and BloomBerry Apple Press are there to press your apples into juice.
Children are very welcome: in the afternoon there will be a children’s area at the Walronds with Smoothie bike and activities.

Location:

The Festival takes place at various venues across Cullompton, including the recently renovated and award-winning 1605 town house, the Walronds:

The Walronds: 9.00-4.00
The Bakehouse Cafe: 9.00-5.30
Cullompton Farmer’s Market: 9.30-2.00
Cullompton Community Centre: 10.00-3.00
The White Hart 12 noon -4pm

Highlights include:

9.00-1.00 Gavin’s Apple Press: bring your own apples to make apple juice (the Walronds)
9.00-11.30 Veyseys Breakfast with Autumn Fruits sausage (the Bakehouse)
9.30-1.00 Autumn Fruits breakfast baps, Smoothy Bike (the Farmer’s Market)
10.00 Winners of the Autumn Fruits art competition announced and prizes awarded (The Community Centre)
10.15 / 11.30 Josh McDonald Johns of Pickleshack demonstrates use of local, seasonal produce to create simple,
wholesome and tasty family meals (The Community Centre)
2.00-3.00 Michael Caines Academy students create a meat, vegetarian and pudding dish using ingredients
sourced at the Farmer’s Market (the Walronds)
2.00-4.00 BloomBerry Juices Apple Press: bring your own apples to make apple juice (the Walronds)
2.00-4.00 Smoothie bikes in children’s area at the Walronds

Full listing of events

The Walronds: Demonstration by Michael Caines students; Ridge and Furrow award-winning cider from the barrel; Café Walronds with light lunch; wide range of artisan food and craft stalls including cider tasting; smoothie bikes (PM).

Cullompton Farmers’ Market: apple press; smoothie bikes; apple peeling; apple products; award winning market and stall-holders.

The Bakehouse: Autumn Fruits breakfast and lunch.

The White Hart: Autumn Fruits lunch menu in dining room using local produce plus local drinks at bar including
cider from Cockeyed Cider in Butterleigh and local beers.

Cullompton Community Centre:

Cookery demonstration by Josh McDonald Johnson, Michelin-trained chef; Cullompton Arts House Autumn Fruits exhibition - including presentation to winning competition entries; Helen Kearney, medicinal herbalist, demonstrating how to make an elderberry syrup; Cullompton Community Association stall showing food and drink sourced from the fields; Cullompton Children’s Centre, with a healthy eating stall.

For more details see the food festival Facebook page or follow @cullyfoodfest on twitter from 1 August.