Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival 2013

Back in the grounds of the Villa Marina in Douglas after a brief sojourn at Knockaloe on the west coast, this year’s Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival attracted many people wanting to learn more about Manx produce and meet The Fabulous Baker Brothers.

Aka Tom and Henry Herbert, their expertise as a butcher and a baker was discovered by top food programme maker, Liz Warner, and although now enjoying celebrity status, hope that putting craft bakery and butchery in the spotlight will encourage more people to appreciate the quality of locally produced food.

It was a relaxed, family-friendly event where consumers had the opportunity to speak with producers on a one-to-one basis and discover what really goes on behind the scenes of the local industry.

Debate about self-sufficiency has been inflamed recently by local concern regarding the importation of bread, but it may be a surprise to some how many food items can be sourced locally.

There’s clearly a growing market for niche companies on the Isle of Man, providing basic commodities such as Manx apple juice, or artisan bread to the luxury of well-crafted chocolates or award-winning festive puddings. An appetite to know more about what was available in the Manx produce marquee was self-evident, with a tangible buzz of excitement and an almost aromatic display of conviviality.

The Manx Gas Cookery Theatre provided a generous area for live displays from Island based chefs, local celebrities and The Fabulous Baker Brothers who also delighted the crowds with book-signing sessions at the Manx LitFest (literature festival) stand.

Entertainment was provided by a plentiful mixture of Manx traditional music, song and dance groups from across the Island and the local farmers’ market, which is based at the Villa Marina on the first Saturday of each month, gave an additional incentive to buy local.

There was also plenty to keep the children entertained, from churning butter the old fashioned way to hands-on scone making courtesy of the Living Hope Community Church, with cows and calves gently chewing the cud, a small selection of Boer and Angora goats, and a couple of rescued lambs from last spring’s disastrous snowfall enjoying the limelight from their pens.

Valerie Caine © September 2013