Kids Get Cooking At Glynde Food & Drink Festival

Children will find plenty of fun on the menu at the Glynde Food & Drink Festival. Following the success of the Kids’ Kitchen at last year’s festival, author and television presenter Amanda Grant will be staging even more foodie events for budding young chefs.

This year’s festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 22nd and 23rd, will be a real family affair with entertainment throughout the weekend for children of all ages. Both days will begin with an exciting treasure hunt, where children will be able to search for tokens that they can swap for items in the festival.

There will be a milking cow and maid plus hands-on hamburger, smoothie and pastry making workshops with Amanda, who is a broadcaster, food writer and mother of three young children. She has written several books, most recently specialising in children’s food and nutrition. She also writes for a variety of newspapers and magazines including a bi-weekly column in the Guardian.

Previously, she was Food Editor for several publications including Woman’s Journal and Prima Baby. She is heavily involved in the first ever dedicated Children’s Food Festival in July this year and travels the country teaching children about food and nutrition. Her television credits include her own series Power Food and appearances on BBC2’s Food and Drink and GMTV’s ‘Back to School Campaign’.

Amanda said: “As parents it is our responsibility to help teach children about good food and where it comes from. This festival is a great place to do that. Last year was just a taster, this year I have a whole area totally dedicated to children having fun with food. Come along and get your children excited about the food they eat.”

Other festival highlights include talks by Peter Bayless, winner of BBC MasterChef 2006 and a packed programme of talks, demonstrations and tastings.

This year’s festival will also incorporate the 33rd English Wine Festival. The move will ensure the future of the popular festival and complement the gastronomic showcase, which attracted 1,200 visitors at last year’s inaugural event.

Set in the magnificent grounds of the Elizabethan manor house against the backdrop of the South Downs, food and drink lovers will be able to sample a wide range of fine produce from selected producers, including an oyster bar, farmhouse meats, ethnic cuisine, dairy, bakery, organic foods, spices and accompaniments.

The festival will be open from 10.30am to 5pm on both days and tickets cost £6, or £8 including a complimentary festival glass, if bought in advance, and £4 for concessions. On the day they will cost £8, £10 and £5 respectively. There is free entry for children aged 12 or under.

Further information and tickets are available from Glynde Place and the festival website at Glynde.co.uk.