THE HAIRY BIKERS ARE COMING TO STONE!

Last year it was Gino D'Acampo! And we were worried that we wouldn't be able to top that. But we think we've done it! Yes, we've managed to persuade the Hairy Bikers to come to Stone on Sunday 3rd October! They will be giving two demonstrations and will be on site all day. So get down early and, if you want to reserve a seat for the demonstrations, why not become a Friend of the Festival? 

WOW! OUR FAME HAS CROSSED THE ATLANTIC!

We work hard all year round to spread the news of our Food and Drink Festival. So imagine our delight when we were told of a posting on a New York website, The Strong Buzz, dedicated to the Stone Food and Drink Festival! Yes! An American website talking about us! The author obviously has received a lot of inside information and we thank whoever has helped to create this fantastic piece of journalism. Let's hope that the article will inspire some our American cousins to come to Stone on their next visit to these shores.   

TRADITIONAL STAFFORDSHIRE OATCAKES AT FESTIVAL!

We have tried for years to get a traditional Staffordshire oatcake stall at the Food and Drink Festival but never succeeded - until now! And this year we will have not just one, but two!

Inside the Gourmet Food Marquee, London Road Oatcakes from Stoke will be selling their famous oatcakes.  Anyone who has attended Stone monthly Farmers' Market will already be familiar with these flavoursome delights!

And outside, Rob and Kevin will be actually baking their oatcakes to order. You don't get them any fresher than that. Rob and Kevin will be well known to Stone residents. They normally have their trailer in town during the week.

And a tip to those of you who don't know your oatcakes. Each baker has his or her own secret recipe - handed down from one generation to the next.

This is your chance to put the oatcakes in a head to head competition!

MOTO GUZZI CAVALCADE

The Hairy Bikers are serious bikers and regularly drive Moto Guzzi machines on their TV programmes. So what could be more appropriate than for Dave and Si to arrive at Westbridge Park astride motor bikes and accompanied by members of the North Staffordshire branch of the Moto Guzzi Club of GB? 

The cavalcade will assemble on the car park of the Three Crowns on Lichfield Road at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 3rd October and then ride into town along Lichfield Road. A complete circuit of the one way system followed by a trip down the High Street and then onto Westbrige Park. It should be quiet a spectacle! 

 UNOFFICIAL WEB SITES

Please note that we are aware of two unofficial social networking sites providing news and information about the Food and Drink Festival. Any news, information or opinions expressed on those site are those of the appropriate author and do not have official Festival approval or endorsement. 

THE FESTIVAL TO HAVE ITS OWN RADIO STATION! 

Stone's Food and Drink Festival will have another unique feature this year! In association with Smart Radio, a new radio station, named Tasty Radio, will broadcast from the Festival site on Westbridge Park from 7.00 a.m to 7.00 p.m. throughout the Festival weekend!

Broadcasting on 87.7 Fm , the station will provide a run down of the days activities, news, information, special features, competitions and audience participation plus, of course, great music across the three days.

For further information, requests, programme content advertisingand sponsorship opportunitites please email info@smartradio.co.uk.  

PROGRAMME ERROR

Thanks and congratulations to 'eagle eyed' Pam Graham of Barlaston for pointing out an error in the official programme. On page 20, please note that the 'Mediterranean Delights' Manger a Trois meals will be taken in the following restaurants: La Dolce Vita, Pasta di Piazza and The Mill. The details on page 47 are correct.

Just when we thought we'd got it right for the first time!

TASTE OF STAFFORDSHIRE MARQUEE

The  Festival's major supporter, Taste of Staffordshire will be well represented by Staffordshire producers in their own marquee on Westbridge Park. A wide range of products will be available from meats to jams, from beers to pickles, from oils to oatcakes and from lagers to ladles.

"We are delighted to be able to help to promote the best of Staffordshire products", said Jill Hood, Festival Administrator. "The Festival and Taste of Staffordshire share the same objectives - to display the very best of food and drink in Staffordshire."

MIDLANDS CO-OPERATIVE SPONSORS HEADTEACHERS COOK OFF

The ever popular Headteachers' Cook Off is to be sponsored by the Milands Co-operative this year. Now in it's fifth year, the Friday evening event is guaranteed to pack the demonstration kitchen to the rafters to see Chris Waghorne of Christchurch Middle School challenge last year's winner Pat Adamson of St. Dominics Priory School.

"The sponsorship from Midlands Co-operative has raised this event to another level," explained Richard Stevens, Festival Chairman. "Everyone at the Co-op has been fantastic. They all recognise the importance of fresh natural ingredients and for school children to enjoy all the fun of cooking real food." What better platform for that than the Headteachers' Cook Off!

THE 'CHEEKY CHAP' IS BACK! 

Jack Taylor made such an impact on last years festival audience with his cheeky banter and cooking skills, the organisers decided they must invite him back again this year.

Jack is twelve years old and a pupil of Walton Priory Middle School. Already he is an accomplished and talented cook. His mum tells us he's been practicising on his family with the dish he's chosen to cook this year. She says "We don't complain. In fact we love his food"

Jack is always entering competitions and recently won afternoon tea with the Stafford Borough Mayor when he won a gardening competition. Shortly afterwards he and two friends organised a car wash and raised one hundred pounds putting it towards the appeal to keep THe Hoard here in Staffordshire.

Jack will be demonstrating one of his original recipes and will impress the audience with his organisational skills and presentation. Don't miss him. He'll be on stage 10 am Sunday October 3rd just before the Hairy Bikers who he tells is are his idols. 

COLIN TO COMPERE AGAIN

Colin Taylor, last year's demonstration kitchen compere, has agreed to pick up the microphone again this year! Colin has become firmly established on the Stone circuit and is a devout supporter of the Food and Drink Festival.

Impeccably dressed, well informed and with a non stop line of banter, Colin was able to make the most nervous chef feel at ease last year. And as you can see from the photo, he's always ready with a fork to taste the chefs' handywork!

TOUCHSTONE WINES FIRST IN THE PROGRAMME

James Gillespie of Touchstone Wines in Lichfield Road has done it again! He's first off the blocks to let us have details of his special Festival events for the Programme. Take a look at the Programme pages to see full details of four very special nights. On Monday 27th September you can learn all about Chilean wine in the shop; on Thursday 30th September indulge yourselves with a Food and Wine Gourmet Dinner at the Railway Station; on Friday 1st October it's a Bourbon Whiskey Tasting in the shop and on Saturday 2nd October, again in the shop, James will be explaining "The glory of Pinot Noir". All events are ticketed obtainable from the shop. 

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE FOR 'ENJOY STAFFORDSHIRE' CARDHOLDERS !

If you are an 'Enjoy Staffordshire' cardholder, you will be able to take advantage of a great Food and Drink Festival offer!

"Just produce your card and you'll get admission for two for the price of one on the gate," explained Administrator, Jill Hood. "The Food and Drink Festival has worked very closely with the Enjoy Staffordshire team this year and we believe that that the Festival now plays a significant role in the tourism offer here in Staffordshire. We are delighted to offer this discount to existing cardholders and would recomend everyone to apply for a card. The benefits are fantastic!"

Enjoy Staffordshire cardholders enjoy some amazing benefits throughout the year at Museums, Theme Parks, Pubs and Restaurants. Benefits include free tickets; Kids go Free, big discounts and 2 for 1 offers. You can enrol for your free card at the Enjoy Staffordshire website.

SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS!

Don't worry about bringing the youngsters with you to the Festival this year!

"Of course, children are admitted free of charge," says Jill Hood, Festival Administrator, "And this year we have booked Fred Warwick's kiddies rides again. We pride ourselves on offering something for everyone and last year the rides were very popular."

The rides will be suitable for children under eight years of age and will be subject to a small charge.

PROGRAMME PUBLISHER AWARDED CONTRACT AGAIN

Stone Food and Drink Festival's official programme will again be produced this year by a Times, Echo and Life Publications of Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent.

"Last year's programme was a completely new format and was a great success," said Chairman Richard Stevens. "This year it will again be A5 pocket size and will contain over 40 pages. In addition to containing details of all the Festival events, it will also contain a lot of interesting articles and stories. With a distribution to over 30,000 homes in the region we feel we really do get fantastic service from Paul and his team."

Potential advertisers in the programme should contact Jane Walters, Advertising Manager of Times, Echo and Life on 01538 752214

TASTE OF STAFFORDSHIRE BACKS FOOD FESTIVAL AGAIN

Stone's Food and Drink Festival is again being supported by The Taste of Staffordshire organisation.

"We are delighted to have been offered financial support again by Taste of Staffordshire," said Richard Stevens, Festival Chairman. "The Festival and Taste of Stafforshire obviously have a common ethos. We both promote Staffordshire's great wealth of food and drink from local sources. It is very reassuring that Taste of Staffordshire sees the Stone Festival as a major event in the County's calendar. We look forward to working together to spread the word about the wonderful variety of food and drink opportunities here in Staffordshire."

Taste of Staffordshire promotes the annual Master Chef and Young Chef competitions and also publishes the annual Local Food Directory.

Taste of Staffordshire's funding has been secured through the West Midlands Rural Development Programme. The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a funding scheme for land based businesses (farmers, growers, foresters, and primary processors), rural tourism organisations and other small rural businesses.  The scheme is funded jointly by the EU through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the UK Government.

 DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 FESTIVAL

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