Chorlton Fringe Food and Drink Festival                                                               home
Tuck into this festive feast – South Manchester Reporter 23^rd September 2004
EXOTIC foods, fine wines and Cupid’s arrow will provide a romantic twist to the gastronomic delights at this year’s Chorlton Fringe Food Festival.

From Korma Sutras to Hidden Peaches, Passion Fruit Cheesecake to exotic fruitcakes, this carnival for the senses — part of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival — has a whole variety of tasty treats in store to stoke the flames of passion.

‘Forty Ways to Feed Your Lover’ is the motif for the entire festival, which runs for 10 days from Friday, October 1 to Sunday, October 10.

Dozens of bars, restaurants, cafes and delicatessens in the famous ‘Golden Triangle’ of Wibraham Road, Beech Road and Manchester Road, are holding food- sampling sessions, live entertain ment and wine-tasting evenings with a romantic slant.

Victor Hyman, owner of the Barbakan delicatessen on Manchester Road, is one of a small number of bar and restaurant owners who set up a committee to give Chorlton its own independent festival.His specialist store sells over 35 different kinds of bread from Polish Rye to tomato, cheese and bacon bread, as well as delicious continental cakes.

The Barbakan. which was named after a walled area outside Krakow in Poland. will provide a taste of the exotic between 11am and 230pm on the first Saturday, from chutneys and sauces to African foods.

Victor said: This is the festivals fifth year and it should be the best — especially for lovers! ‘It gives us a minimum of 10 pc extra trade and it puts the fun back into shopping for customers. “We had 60 people in every morning for our continental break fasts last year — its all about accessibility. “We have always had that kind of scene around here and this year we have no less than 18 independent outlets taking part in the festival. “We want people to eat global, and walk local, with a romantic element.

Diamond Dogs, a family-run organic vegetarian/vegan cafe on Beech Road. will put a 10 pc dis count on all its foods and add a romantic flavour to its menu. Customers are invited to choose from a whole range of delectable treats including Korma Sutra, Red Pepper Soup, Tart of the Day, and white chocolate mousse cake.

Meanwhile, Belgian Belly on Wilbraham Road will host lectures on Belgian beers and the Marble Beer House on Manchester Road will display work by pupils from St John’s Primary School and hold a special love competition’.

Shoppers will be given recycled bags with a heart logo and the message: ‘Food-lovers Love Chorlton’ printed on the side. “The message we are trying to get over is that there are a number of outlets in the area that are not only providing quality food but are also working towards the same thing — which is providing a good service for our customers,” added Victor.

The first Saturday, October 2, there will be a talk by Craig Sams. chairman of the Soil Association and founder of Green & Blacks chocolate, on the organic food revolution. The talk will be held at Unicorn Grocery on Albany Road and starts at 8pm. Tickets are £3 each.

On Sunday 10th, comedian Martin Bigpig will host an alternative awards ceremony at the Iguana Bar on Manchester Road. The Golden Trolley Award will go to the best customer in Chorlton, but, true to the character of the area, the winner will make his or her way to the rostrum on red astroturf rather than a red carpet. Home-made Greek food will be on offer throughout the evening. Tickets cost £8 each and are available from the Iguana bar.
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