Back in 2011 @babettesffest wrote about the 1st Newport Food Festival as “The New Kid on the Block“. At the time we both really liked it as it really felt like it was trying to be inclusive both to the social and food cultures of Newport.

Now on Saturday 6th October 2012, Newport Food Festival returns for a second year.  This time free of the shackles of having to compete with the much more mature Cowbridge Food & Drink Festival, will Newport flourish.

The Riverside Theatre

Well early signs are looking good.  Sticking to the previous three venue model that spans The Market, City Centre Streets and The Riverfront Theatre, the festival returns with more producers (nearly twice that of last year), an outside but covered demonstration area and a packed program of events.

Shoppers Enjoy The Street Stalls

The Market will be hosting chef demonstrations on its upper floor and also at the stalls of Elston Butchers and Needhams Fishmongers. Commercials Street and Griffin Street in the City Centre will be packed with over 70 producers and will be host to the outdoor chef demonstration area (covered). The Riverfront Theatre will host more Chef Demonstrations, Chef Masterclasses and the Teenchef cook off as well as some Young People’s Cookery Workshops.

Chef Demonstrations in the Market Hall

Last years Teenchef competition was a huge success, thanks in no small part to the generosity of Chef Hywel Jones of the award-winning Lucknam Park. This year the final three teams will go head to head to win a day at Lucknam Park’s kitchen with Hywel and his team.

2011 Teen Chef Winners

There will be a host of other top chef’s at Newport this year passing on their knowledge and experience.

North Wales very own, Bryn Williams owner of Odette’s in Primrose Hill will be in the Market Hall on Saturday Afternoon.

Bryn Williams

Michelin Starred James Sommerin, chef at the The Crown at Whitebrook will be demonstrating at the Riverfront, along with Adam Whittle of the White Hart Village Inn in Llangybi (see my review here.). Also at the Theatre will be award-winning Anand George from the Purple Poppadom in Cardiff (review here and here), Hywel Jones of Lucknam Park, Tim McDougall of Terry M at the Celtic Manor and Norman Musa of Ning, Manchester.

(Clockwise from Top Right) Anand George, Kate Jenkins, James Sommerin, Adam Whittle.

Other chef’s include Matt Dawkins of the Star Inn, Llansoy; Kate Jenkins of Gower Cottage Brownies and Country Kitchen; Liz Night from Forage Fine Foods; Rob Sands from the Bell Inn; Antonio Smith from the Backyard Company and The Ethical Chef himself, Deri Reed.

Deri Reed, Matt Dawkins, Antonio Smith, Rob Sands, Liz Knight, Hywel Jones

As well as producers stalls the city centre street will be full of entertainers for all ages.

So if you’re in travelling distance of Newport and are looking for a great day to suit all the family get yourself down to the Newport Food Festival 2012 and support them.

See you there!