|
‘No Pies Please – We’re Wigan!’
That’s the caustic culinary message from Wigan’s Tourism Unit who are
organising the borough’s inaugural Food and Drink Festival (Friday 5th
to Monday 15th October) - and there’s not a single pie on the menu.
Ten days packed with tantalising tasty treats will see local restaurants
and pubs showing off their favourite fayre and best brews. There will be
tours, talks, demonstrations, taste sessions and even an opportunity for
local residents to have a family recipe published in a unique festival
cook book, the imaginatively titled – ‘Jackbit’.
Although the title is a tongue in cheek nod to Wigan slang for food,
Jackbit, is a special edition quality cook book that will celebrate
Wigan and Lancashire produce and recipes. The book will be launched at
the festival’s opening event at Haigh Hall on Friday 5th October.
The book contains contributions from Wigan Borough based chefs and local
celebrity sons, daughters and friends. Celebrity chefs signed up so far
include Hollywood legend Sir Ian McKellen, broadcaster Stuart Maconie,
jazz artist Georgie Fame, TV’s Fred Talbot, Meena Pathak, newsman Dave
Guest and Hollyoaks starlet Leah Hackett.
World renowned chef Paul Heathcote will be sharing his special recipe
for bread and butter pudding whilst Wigan’s own Kay Burley will step
from behind the Sky News desk and put down her ice skates to cook up a
special Burley Family Chocolate Cake. Local residents are also invited
to share their family recipes and see them printed alongside the
professionals and the famous. Menu suggestion forms can be downloaded
from
www.wlct.org/tourism
Festival organiser Keith Bergman, Tourism Development Manager for Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “Wigan has a great and proud food and
drink heritage. This is a great opportunity to celebrate local culinary
delights and get the message across that our borough has a lot more to
offer than just pies”.
The festival’s first year will adopt the theme of Taste and Tradition.
As part of the theme, a number of great eating places will come together
to form the Wigan Fine Food Trail. Across the ten days of the festival
each restaurant will serve up special Wigan and Lancashire based dishes
and unique menus.
The events programme will include cookery demonstrations by local chefs
and behind the scenes tours of restaurants and breweries. Visitors will
also have a unique chance to learn about and taste local delicacies,
ranging from Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls to Wigan Honey and Wigan Whiskey.
For those who love their real ale with a touch of real character the
festival is teaming up with CAMRA to produce The Road to Wigan Beer – an
exclusive guide to Wigan Borough’s favourite drinking holes.
Keith continued: “We are confident that this festival will have
something for everyone; from hot pots to hot pints. Such an interesting,
diverse and unusual programme will hopefully not only tempt locals to
join in the celebration but will also entice visitors to the borough and
help put the borough on the map as a place where you can get enjoy
quality, traditional food.”
Wigan Borough’s Food and Drink Festival runs from Friday 5th to Monday
15th October at venues across the borough. Festival programmes will be
available from the end of August 2007. For more information contact
Wigan Tourist Information Centre 01942 825677
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org
Photograph: The attached images are of Meena Pathak, Paul Heathcote and
a chef serving up some Jackbit.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
►
Print this page
►
Return to Trust News
|
Paul Heathcote
|