Roz Ambler
Author of two successful cookery books [Caribbean Modern and The Ice Kitchen] and Saturday Kitchen regular, Shivi came from cooking up a storm on Weekend Best, ITV Saturday mornings with Martin and Roman Kemp to tempt the audience with pulled pork tacos. Xanthe Clay joined in to quiz Shivi on what she was up to in the kitchen
Corn ExchangeFood writer and columnist for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Great Taste Award judge and author of several cookery books, Xanthe demonstrated two delicious one pan dishes, plus a colourful salad with a mystery ingredient – Branston Pickle!
The winner received £100 to spend at Walter Rose & Son, the famous Devizes butchers.
Photos & recipes to come…
The teenager from Oxfordshire who’s setting the baking world alight, Kitty told Xanthe all about her love of Marmite and demonstrated some delicious savoury bakes involving her favourite ingredient, as well as cinnamon buns.
Belle Bathrooms, Sidmouth StreetSome guests took the dress code for our dinner in Belle Bathrooms’ showroom very seriously. The menu was Tap(a)s, (toilet) Duck Casserole, and Sponge Pudding. Many thanks to Karen and her team for letting us enjoy a dinner amongst the showers and bathtubs.
Craft cider maker Roger Blake showed guests the cider-making journey from apple blossom to bottle, seeing orchard, press and end product. Followed by a light lunch of home-made vegetable soup and a ploughman’s with, of course, a glass of cider or apple juice. You can purchase more cider from him in St Edith’s Marsh, or online.
Hillworth ParkJunior gourmets had a lovely picnic in the park, and thoroughly enjoyed the stories from the legendary Roger Day, meeting the giant Julia’s House Bear, and the games.
Salem Chapel, New Park StreetWe had a lovely lunch in the Salem Chapel, with a menu of Middle Eastern Baba Ganoush, Loaves and Fishes (fish pie with breadcrumb topping), and of course Eve’s Pudding. Local historian Dave Buxton supplied a continuous slide show – who knew that elephants once drank from the fountain in the Market Place? Thank you to Pastor Dave for letting us use his lovely Grade II premises.
The Quiz was, as ever, a sell out. Thank you to Philippa and Dec for setting and asking the questions, and totting up the scores. The worthy winners came from – wait for it – Calne. Come on Devizes! Win the title back next year.
ErlestokeStargazers partook of a planetary dinner, in a spherical glass pod. From rocket fuel cocktail, blue moon cheese soufflé, stargazey pie, spaceman ice cream, star studded cheese board and ‘Martian Surprise’ the menu was out of this world. Of course Starship Troopers were in attendance. This event broke all records for selling out within 20 minutes of the online box office opening.
Superior Plants, Market LavingtonPeople who lunch in glass houses are politely requested not to throw stones! A delicious lunch was served up, followed by a quick lesson in planting up hanging baskets.
An evening of sumptuous food accompanied by some superb wines at The Bear Hotel, in the heart of Devizes. A wonderful meal was accompanied by some splendid wines, with the added bonus of a choice of beers to accompany the amuse bouche. Wadworth’s Executive Development Chef, Andrew Scott created the 5 course menu and Bibendum expert Oliver talked guests through the wines.
They came, they tasted, and then they created their own gin. Local distillery Scout & Sage gave a masterclass all about gin, including tastes from their own range, Then guests were given the basic spirit and invived to blend their own unique gin, using the many interesting ingredients provided. Then, of course, they drank their creations.
Devizes Books Presented.. from a different location to the usual gallery, over dinner. The talented curry cooks of Devizes offered three delicious courses to guests, who were entained by Ann Sainsbury’s choice of readings from, amongst others, Saki, Madhur Jaffrey, Felicity Kendal and Thackeray. The Festival thanks Devizes Books for their support and for funding the delicious Gimlet cocktail that greeted guests.
Clare Ford Wille gave an enthralling illustrated artistic journey through the centuries of food portrayed in art and uncovered their secrets and meanings. From Roman villas where guest bedrooms were adorned with sumptuous paintings of food to demonstrate the wealth and generosity of the host right through the ages to modern times, even revealing some well-known paintings that included food that hitherto we may not have noticed. A fascinating talk by a fluent and compelling speaker, preceded by a wonderous selection of home-made cakes!
A dastardly deed took place in the Town Hall, interrupting guests’ delicious dinner and causing them to turn detective, with envelopes packed with clues to help their quest. These suspects (all of whom had a motive) from the All Cannings Players don’t seem to be taking the danger of being charged with murder too seriously. The truth will out, however, and one talented amateur sleuth won a prize for guessing the murderer and supplying the best motive.
Cotswold Forager Rob Gould led two small groups through the countryside, learning all about how the hedgerows can supply all sorts of useful, and edible, things. Did you know plantain leaves are better than dock for relieving nettle stings? Mugwort makes a tea that promotes sleep, but can give vivid dreams. And those lime trees that drip sticky stuff on our cars were planted because linden flower tea had a calming effect on those suffering from shellshock after World War I.
A Studio in a Devizes GardenIn artist Bee Thomas’s garden, in the heart of Devizes, we enjoyed a sumptuous Middle Eastern-themed lunch in her bespoke studio. Starters included classics such as Labneh with Za’atar, Hummus, Baba Ganoush and Manoush with Flatbreads, followed by Moroccan Lemon Chicken with herby couscous, then a sumptuous Almond and Lemon cake with Cinnamon oranges.
Surrounded by beautiful examples of her work, including her latest experiments in paint application, Bee explained how she approaches a new canvas and the inspiration she gets from the countryside and different areas of the UK. An inspiring talk and delicious lunch!
A select group learned all about lettering from Wadworth’s signwriter, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In just an hour they produced a perfect single letter on a tile to take home, and were sent on their way after a refreshing drink.
A special event for the festival was hosted by co-lead sponsor, Wadworth, in two of their Devizes pubs. Customers enjoyed a festival pub lunch comprising a Walter Rose succulent sausage, in a bun topped with a sauce/chutney of their choice from Wiltshire-based relishes company, Tracklements accompanied by a 3 x ⅓ pint Wadworth Beer flight.
What could be nicer on a wet Saturday afternoon than meeting a friendly goat, and then having a delicious tea? Horton House Farm is an organic, welfare certified farm raising cattle for beef and dairy, goats, pigs and sheep. Visitors watched milking, too. A zen-like experience, watching cows slowly queuing to get on to a very slow bovine merry go round, before a stately plod out and back to the field.
An amazing venue for a unique event, guests dined under the arches of the old Devizes Branch Line, and were kept in order by the Station Master (thank you, Lewis Cowen), kept entertained by musician Andrew Hurst, and were fed royally on smoked and steamed delights by Alison and her team.
