Good stuff from the best of the fests!
Judith Schrut’s been tasting, munching, sipping and slurping her way through plenty of yumworthy food and drink on offer at this summer’s festivals, and has lots to share with you. Enjoy.
Morning with Mama Muesli
Their banner proudly proclaims “Mama Muesli looks after you, especially after a night in a tent.“ And so, from early morning til late at night, the cheerful husband and wife team at Mama Muesli offer festival-goers wholesome homemade honey granola, nutty muesli and creamy porridge topped with organic milk, yogurt, fruit and more. They also make lovely cups of tea, hot cinnamon chocolate, fresh roasted coffees and comforting cakes. Mama’s killer flapjacks and insane chocolate nut brownies are festival favourites. We had 3– of each. Comfy haystacks provided so you can hang around and even take a post-muesli nap. Look for them at Port Eliot Festival, Festival No 6 and Wilderness.
Say Cheese
On our first day at Port Eliot Festival we were invited for an amazing sail on Cornwall’s River Tiddy aboard Bounty’s End. It’s an exact replica of the original Bounty, the boat in which Captain William Bligh and 18 others were set adrift in the South Pacific following the infamous mutiny of 1789 and was recently featured in the hit C4 TV series, Mutiny. Charismatic skipper Conrad Humphreys runs the crowd-funded Bounty Project in conjunction with the Island Trust, providing local young people a chance to experience the thrill of sailing, re-live history and learn new skills.
On board we were treated to luxurious gin and fruit cocktails courtesy of Sipsmith’s Gin Palace. By the time we were back on shore we were mighty hungry. Luckily, there at water’s edge was Fleetwood Mac & Cheese, serving up luscious hot pots of cheesy pasta made with lipsmacking Devon Taw Valley Mature Cheddar and Leicestershire Stilton topped with rosemary breadcrumbs.
Cheese has become ‘big cheese’ at summer festivals across the UK. If you’re a fromage fanatic look out for festival favourites like Chip off the Old Block’s magnificently triple cooked cheesy chips and Cheese Truck’s grilled cheese sandwiches, Mozzarella sticks and fondue fries. Frequently found at Big Feastival, Love Supreme and Glastonbury.
Pop Goes the Hot Dog
I find I’m eating less and less meat nowadays but when I do my tastebuds crave only the best….or want the finest non-meat alternative.
That’s where Popdogs come in. They certainly were top dog at this summer’s Port Eliot Festival. Popdogs build their beefy buns with free range meat from Cherry Orchard Farms in Leicestershire and source their veggie dogs from a prime farmer’s market in Oxfordshire. Varieties include Hairy Angel, Dirty Dog, Meagan the Vegan and Jamaican Me Horny. Feeling a touch nostalgic for the homeland, I couldn’t resist Clinton’s Love Child, an all-American classic dog heaped with caramelised onions, pickles, sauerkraut, ketchup and mustard. Hot diggety dog!
Be warned, Popdogs are a major mouth experience so you’ll need to open wide for the full bark and bite. Also appearing at Latitude, Lambeth Country Show and Big Feastival – Look out for the American Dodge van with an enormous pink neon on top.
Alive, Olive-o
Olive in a Bus offers a lipsmacking, tongue-tingling, more-ish selection of olives, antipasto platters and alfresco charcuterie boards featuring local cheeses, crackers, homemade chutney and of course plenty of olives. All served up by the really nice folks in charge of a 1964 VW vintage campervan named Olive. You’ll find them at Big Feastival, Womad, Wilderness, Port Eliot and Wychwood.
A Piece of Cake
Jess and Jen have been buddies and best friends since childhood. Nowadays you’re likely to find them serving generous slices of homemade cake from beneath the cosy canopy of Off Road Café’s Land Rover 110. Their extremely tasty cakes include a tangy courgette and lime and a coffee walnut to die for. You’ll also find a robust assortment of refreshing teas, locally roasted coffee and friendly staff with time to talk.
Cuppas with Character
Ethel, Vera, Mildred, Flo and their tea trolley, aka Tea Ladies on Tour, celebrate the great British 1950s institution known as the Tea Lady. These gals offer a good and proper cup of tea as well as a flagrant display of vintage headscarfs, handbags and hospitality. Last seen at Port Eliot and Glastonbury.
Bitesize Bhangra
During a hugely enjoyable food and conversation event at Port Eliot featuring food writer Grace Dent, chef Rowley Leigh and restaurateur Russell Norman, Ms Dent let slip that Bhangra Bus Café was one of her favourite festival eateries. Of course we went straight to check this out for ourselves and can personally vouch for the Cafe’s fragrant deliciousness. For the full Bhangra, cosy up in its recycled American school bus with a Veg Thali– hearty helpings of paneer curry laced with crunchy coconut and buttery cashews, steamy tarka daal, rice, chapati, salad, mint raita and chutneys. Do leave room for some Mango Lassi, the perfect drink for a hot summer’s day. Look for Bhangra’s big yellow bus at Boomtown, Glastonbury, Wilderness and Pig & Applestock.
Stay tuned for more Best of the Fests posts as long as UK’s festival season remains in full swing!
