Overcast skies didn’t stop the crowds descending on Preston Park for the second day of Foodies, Festival, Brighton on Sunday.
We decided to arrive first thing to ensure an optimum amount of grazing time on the free samples we anticipated would be on offer. As the sun tried to poke out of the clouds, foodies, families and dogs were greeted on arrival by the Rock Choir’s joyful singing – the first of several musical acts across various areas to accompany the culinary delights.
Foodies Festival in Brighton: all about good food & drinks
The festival site was packed with colourful and inviting food stalls and it became apparent it was time to decide how to tactically navigate the variety of sweet and savoury tasters and not get too full to try everything.
As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I didn’t have to factor in when it would be too early to start trying all the different beer, wine and spirit samples but for drinkers, there was a great range of tasters and products available.
We decided it was never too early for dessert and lapped up a Pots and Co free sample moments after entering the gate. Before jumping at the opportunity to try a Cricket burger from Wriggle Foods, we decided to make our way around and see what was on offer – a hard task with such a feast available.
to start…
First purchase: spinach arancini from Don Arancini, which delivers authentic Sicilian cooking from a London-based kitchen to all around the UK. Tactical tip: buy one big ball and cut it in half between two to save stomach space for more treats.
Verdict: delicious, rice not overcooked and spinach and cheese filling lip smackable. My friend said he’d been desperately seeking good arancini since moving away from near a little Italian deli in London and this dish got a double thumbs up from him.
Tasting Highlights and Local Gems at the foodies festival
Tasting highlights included The Great British Cheese Company with around 20 cheeses to try – from chilli and lime to Sticky Toffee Tastic. I probably wouldn’t put the Sticky Toffee on my cheeseboard but my friend couldn’t resist purchasing a waxed cheese truckle of The Flagship mature cheddar, which was also my favourite of the bunch.
I also loved Booyah Kombucha, particularly the Cucumber, Mint and Lime, which I was pleased to hear was made in Sussex – just down the road in Hastings. I was also drawn to the Isle of Bute Smokehouse’s offering of smoked trout and salmon, with a standout product being the Lagg Whiskey Cured Salmon as it was something I’d never tasted before.
What’s great about this festival is talking to the stallholders about the stories behind their businesses. It’s great to hear about people following their passions.
For example, Brighton-based Emma, of Emaya Pure Life told me about how her own debilitating injury in 2014 led her to make a delicious range of healing teas and how her Brazilian grandmother influenced the recipe. The second purchase in the bag for me (glad I brought a big hessian tote!) three of her teas, which I tried both on their own and with almond milk: Tumerichai, Orange Spice and Moringachai.
who doesn’t love chocolate?
I was also impressed with Chocoholics Anonymous’s range of dairy-free chocolates and enjoyed talking to Chris about his business came about due to his dairy intolerance and in his opinion lack of tasty vegan chocolate. Third purchase into my bag for me: Honeycomb, Fruit and Nut and Salted Caramel. Being able to try the product is a great seller at events like this.
Another taste sensation in the chocolate realm were the deep-filled massive brownies by another local home-grown business: Brownie Points from Shoreham by Sea. Again, it was great to chat with James about his story and how he started this project during lockdown.
My friend, who can be hard to please, said the taster was “the best brownie I’ve ever tasted” and we promptly bought three to take home. Brownie Points’s flavours include Biscoff, Daim, Mars Bar, Oreo and Malteaser, Crunchie Blondie and Yorkie. I couldn’t choose mine for myself and James recommended the Marshmallow, which I devoured later on in the day at home.
a foodies paradise perfect for music lovers
One more particular joy for me at the festival was the chance to spin and win on the Boundless “Activated Snacking” stall. I spun and won a sample of all four flavours, which meant I was well prepared for a bring and share buffet at a Bank Holiday house party later. These crispy snacks are “gut-friendly” and gluten-free, which proved a hit with my pals.
Sadly, evening commitments meant we didn’t stay to see Sister Sledge but the singers in the lead up while we were there were brilliant and provided entertainment for all the people braving the rain, which had now descended.
There was also a fab offering of cooking demos that we dipped into but after lounging on a deckchair and eating a gorgeous Pastel de nata each, we decided to seek the warmth of a nearby cafe before onward plans.
If you want to spend the whole day there and eat all of your meals for the day there, I’d imagine it’s a great day out to try everything. For us, we tried a few things and mainly stocked up on the freebies. We’ll try the cricket burger next time… and the duck fat chips… and the donuts… and I would have loved a Slushie had it been warmer!
I hope the other Foodie Festivals in the UK have sunny days as it definitely would have allowed us to stay longer. For those going this Summer, I’d suggest you bring a picnic blanket, a bag for all your goodies, waterproofs, layers and an empty stomach.
Planning to go next year? Find out more here: https://foodiesfestival.com/
