Kingston Food Festival 2015 - what to do in the market

The Kingston Food Festival returns this year from August 1-9, and Morgan Blanks is watering at the mouth with his round up of the gamut of gourment events across town

I'm looking forward to this year's Kingston Food Festival with baited breath and an empty stomach. There's a number of food festivals popping up around Surrey this summer, but the wackiest and most imaginative fare must surely be found here, and the market place is set to swell with food stalls and other soupçon.

Most of the action is at the Market Place, in fact, with a number of completely free events that start with the Kingston Food Trail on August 7. This is a marvellous opportunity to sample delicious morsels of food and drink from more than a dozen participating venues across the town centre - all for free!

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This year's Big Kingston Market that promises to be bigger than ever! Running from August 8-9, it features local restaurateurs, exciting hot foods, great local drinks, gourmet and international cuisines as well as a host of growers and producers from across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.

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You'll find kids' activities in the same place and time with the Children's Food Festival. It's the perfect event for all your little foodies, who are encouraged to join in some of the hands-on and interactive food and craft activities. Face-painting, badge making, balloons and more are here to help your young ones build up an appetite.

For those looking for guidance and grandstanding, the Live Food Show was particularly popular last year, and runs throughout the Big Kingston Market. Top local chefs will show off their skills on-stage, with food writer Andrew Kay hosting and free samples after each show - a great way to try out a new dish and to pick up tips on how to improve your cooking at home.

The marketplace action comes to a climax on August 9 with the Extreme Food Challenge! Organisers have gathered the most curious cuisine and freakish fare from around the globe, to be 'enjoyed' by brave challengers. Could you be one of them? Prove your valour by emailing nat@sharpmediagroup.co.uk

Others events will be held across Kingston throughout the Food Festival - you can find them below! This spectacular social event was attended by 80,000 people last year, and even more are expected this time around. It's a great chance to discover - or rediscover - culinary venues throughout the town.

Kingston Food Festival runs from August 1-9

• 1
  

  The Gazebo - Pub & Riverside Dining

  3-5 Thames Street, Kingston, KT1 1PH

  020 8546 4495

  Website

  Bitter and Twisted is a new event for the food festival on August 3 at the Gazebo, where adults can enjoy a fun night of beer and cider tasting. Local brewers, publicans and cider makers present their chosen tipple to the audience, while they taste the drink and then score each presenter on their pitch and the quality of their drink.

  £22 per person
• 2
  

  Riverside Edge - Pocket Kitchens

  Riverside Walk, Kingston, KT1 1QN

  Website

  Also expected to be popular is the Live on the Terrace event located at the Riverside Edge on August 4. This special, free event will be packed with brilliant music from Roxanne de Bastion and Thom Worth from 6-8pm, allowing to enjoy some great pocket kitchens with a backing tune. The food on offer includes fresh seafood, specialist macarons, Sardinian pizzas, fresh pastas, salads, and fabulous Italian gelato.

  Free entry
• 3
  

  Browns

  3 Jerome Place, Kingston, KT1 1HT

  020 8974 5698

  Website

  Another popular event is the Blackdown Artisan Spirits Class on August 5. Distillers from the award-winning Blackdown Artisan Spirits in West Sussex will host a one-off cocktail master class, creating unique and exciting drinks from their own artisan gin, vodka and other liquors.

  £18 per person
• 4
  

  The Bishop

  2 Bishop’s Hall off Thames Street, Kingston, KT1 1PY

  0208 5464 965

  Website

  The organisers have recommended one particular event to me for August 6 - the Ridgeview English Sparkling Wine and Food Matching evening on the riverfront, where CEO Tamara Roberts of Ridgeview Wine Estate in Sussex showcases five of their internationally acclaimed award-winning English sparkling wines. It's likely to be a popular evening, so book ahead!

  £35 per person
• 5
  

  Wokingham Beer, Food and Live Music Festival

  Cantley Park, Wokingham, RG40 5QG

  Website

  On August 8 you can Make Your Case in a one off wine tasting event ‘punk’ style. Local vintners, sommeliers and wine experts present their favourite wines for the audience to judge - and they have only three minutes to do so, without giving away the grape, country of origin or price!

  £35 per person