Isle of Man Food Festival - All in good taste
WRITE GOOD TIME: Ainsley Harriot signs a book for Sheila Gawne at the Farmer's Den at Pooil Vaaish. PHOTO: Mike Prouudfoot MP120922 (16).
WITH conditions staying firm underfoot at Knockaloe Farm in Patrick at the weekend, the decision to move the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival from the potentially boggy Nunnery grounds was vindicated as the crowds enjoyed a great event.
Producers including Staarvey Farm, the Apple Orphanage, Isle of Man Creamery and Jurby’s Doghouse Brewery had stalls at the two-day festival, while the crowds were entertained by demonstrations, lessons, competitions, Manx folk dancing and vintage farm machinery.
The I love Manx Chef of the Year competition was settled on Saturday, with finalists Richard Ashcroft of Port St Mary’s Patchwork Cafe and Robert Hooper of Douglas restaurant L’Experience competing in a 30-minute cook off, overseen by TV chef Ainsley Harriott.
It was close with just two points from the judges’ totals separating the dishes, but it was Hooper’s ‘mackerel three ways’ – served on a pieces of Manx slate and driftwood – that came out on top, winning the chef £500 and magazine advertising.
Runner-up Ashcroft’s ‘Manx rarebit’ effort was made up of leeks, pan fired callig and rarebit sauce topping, grilled and served on Manx soda bread. All ingredients used by both chefs, with the exception of the salt, was Manx-produced, and the mackerel had been caught in Douglas that morning by Hooper’s father. Harriott worked the crowd with jokes and dance moves. In his own demonstrations in the Manx Food Theatre tent, he prepared seared steak with Argentine sauce and a Jamaican-tinged callig in Creole curry.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
