I love going to the BBC Good Food Shows, and as a BBC Good Food Show Blogger, I get to participate in some parts of the show that members of the public aren’t able to. Normally I go and meet the rest of the Blogger Team on a Thursday, but this year for personal reasons, I was unable to attend that day. So on the Saturday, my 14 year old daughter and myself made the journey to Birmingham, picked up our press passes and entered the show. This is the first time that Freya has joined me at the shows, and despite not speaking to me in the car for the hour’s journey because I made her get up so early on a Saturday so she was tired, by the time we got to the hustle and bustle of the show she had woken up, was ready for a cup of tea and an early morning cake and in we went!
The show was sponsored again by Lexus this year and featured a whole host of chefs and experts to entertain the crowds, such as Tom Kerridge, James Martin, Mary Berry, Michel Roux Jr, Antonio Carluccio, Gennaro Contaldo, John Torode and Michael Caines. Along with this kitchen full of culinary geniuses, you can also find John Whaite and Jo Wheatley; both former winners of The Great British Bake Off series.
Along with the Supertheatre, you can also watch chefs create their culinary marvels on the Summer Kitchen and the Stoves Live Cook Stages. New to 2015 was the Interview Stage, where you could catch all your favourite chefs and experts face a Q&A session.
Also featured at the show are the Ludlow Producer Market, where you can find amazing produced from Shropshire, and the Producers Bursary Award Winners. The Bursary Award Winners this year were: Blackberry Cottage (producers of cakes with ‘secret’ ingredients), Chazwinkles (Chutneys) and Gregor’s Umami Dressings. Alongside you could find the BBC Good Food Champions who are selected bunch of approved producers who exhibit their outstanding food and drinks.
We chose to go and see Michel Roux Jr in the supertheatre after lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the insight into how he wooed his wife with food as well as watching him create two amazing dishes of lobster in garlic butter followed by Fraises Sarah Bernhardt. One of the perks of my ‘job’ as a blogger grants me the occasional privilege. The highlight of the day was taking Freya backstage to meet Michel Roux Jr himself and having our photograph taken with him.
Thanks to my lovely friend Tony ‘Mr Cameraman’ who arranged this for me; I don’t think I’ve seen my daughter so thrilled at meeting someone her whole life. Like me she’s an avid fan of talented chefs and has watched Michel on TV many, many times
From there we went to watch Cyrus Todiwala cook on the Stoves Live Cook Show, where he cooked up and incredible smelling Chicken tikka kala miri masala with a Burmese glass noodle salad & chazaan. Stoves make British products for British cooks, all of which are manufactured in the UK. Cyrus is a fan of British produce and is a firm advocate of cooking with local ingredients. Don’t you just love Cyrus’ expression here?
The other perk of my ‘job’ is being treated to samples and goodies from amazing manufacturers such as Farrington’s Mellow Yellow Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil (grown in Northamptonshire; my home county!), Blackberry Cottage cakes, the Black Liquorice Company, Joe Delucci gelato, Demijohn spirits and vinegars (Angus is a truly lovely gentleman who spoiled my daughter), Bluebird Tea Company, Spice n Tice, Cake Aspirations (fabulous fudge), Firefly BBQ (Americal style BBQ rubs and sauces), Koh-kae flavoured peanuts, Mrs Crumbles Gluten Free, Easiyo and Dhaniya (also locally produced in Milton Keynes). Thank you to all named above for the generous samples and your kindness; it is truly appreciated!
If you’ve never been to the BBC Good Food Show, then I would urge you to pay a visit. There is so much amazing produce, friendly advice and fun to be had. Not to mention the food and drink sampling as you walk round! I hope to see you there in Birmingham between 26th and 29th November.
