TRADERS and punters from around the country gathered to enjoy Dorset’s biggest food festival, tasting cuisine from around the world.
On May 25, food lovers and food seller get together to celebrate 25th anniversary of Christchurch Food Festival.
Described as the south coast’s ‘biggest and best’ food festival, it is managed and operated by two separate independent business – Real Food Festivals and World of Events.
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff) The festival offered some amazing food and great open-air showcase of Christchurch, attracting vital tourism to the town and helping support the local economy.
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff) Trader Veronica brought Italian delicacies pizza and wine to the festival. She works for Baccello Wine & Cicchetti, Christchurch and selling authentic Italian wine to the people.
Baccello was established in October 2022 as an Italian wine and cicchetti bar and they inspire people to enjoy quality Italian wines and to support small, family-owned wineries.
(Image: Veronica, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Veronica, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff) Veronica said: “Baccello is one of the best wines bar here in the south of England, especially in Dorset. I mean this is all Italian produced. I love people our enjoying our produce here and appreciating our history.”
Another trader, Stacie O’Neil, who owns Minerals Rock Studio and sells handmade jewellery, said the festival has been busy and she is “excited” to showcase her business to the public.
(Image: Stacie, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff) Stacie started her business eight years ago, initially operating online. However, she is now enjoying the festival atmosphere and the opportunity to meet new people in person.
She said: “I do a lot of custom jewellery with mainly turquoise, and opals. So, it’s all like natural turquoise stones and sterling silver. This summer, I’m just out meeting more people because I usually sell online. I am really enjoying it here.”
(Image: NQ staff) Nicholas Scorer, originally from Surrey, owns The Chilli Potter, a business selling handmade, delicious chilli jam. She has been running the business for four years, and this marks her second time at the Christchurch Food Festival.
(Image: Nicholas,, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
(Image: Nicholas,, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff) She said: “I run the chili potter. I grow my chilies. I make the jam. I couldn’t find a decent chili jam to have with cheese. and then we I can make my own.”
Trader Matt Mallard from Essex, owner of Field of Cheese, was selling waxed cheese truckles and said he enjoys chatting with customers and explaining more about his products.
(Image: Matt, Christchurch Food Festival, NQ Staff)
He said: “It’s all about interaction. So, it’s obviously sort of like when people are here, I need to talk to those. I sell waxed cheese chuckles which are 200 grams worth of cheese wrapped in wax, various different flavours.
“I have 12 different flavors but sold out two of them already. Food festival is basically, my life now, my living and stuff like that. So, it’s very good I travel all around the country.”