Get a taste for Birmingham

Take a large helping of restaurants, a generous serving of local producers and add a huge dollop of entertainment – you’ve got the perfect ingredients for Taste of Birmingham 2009! Tickets are on sale now for the four day outdoor food and drink festival in which July.

Marketing Birmingham is working with Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) to showcase the best of the Midland’s culinary offering. You’ll find over 15 restaurants offering worldwide cuisine from around the region – la crème de la crème of fine dining at la Beccase and Purnells, a taste of Asia at The Oriental and Italian dining at Filini. Local producers include Flights Orchard Organic in Herefordshire, Freedom Beer in Staffordshire and Fudge Heaven in Worcestershire.

With four Michelin starred restaurants, a host of great local producers and live music, Taste of Birmingham will be an event Birmingham and the wider area can really be proud of. Children can also join in the food fun with under 16 year olds going free.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive at Marketing Birmingham, says:

“Following Birmingham’s recent success in the Michelin guide, we feel it is important to build on what the city’s good at. We are working closely with restaurants and chefs in the city and throughout the Midlands to ensure Taste of Birmingham showcases the region’s growing culinary offer.”

Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell, star of BBC’s Great British Menu and owner of Purnells restaurant says:

“As a proud Brummie, I think it’s vital that a food festival in Birmingham properly reflects the cuisine of the city and wider region. Marketing Birmingham has listened to what people want and will deliver.

“The city and Midlands as a whole is now a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cooking. You don’t have to look far to find great food and drink locally, and there is a real demand for it.”

Louise Pickford from Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) says:

“As the regional food group, Heart of England Fine Foods is delighted to be involved with Taste of Birmingham to give visitors a real flavour of the excellent produce from Birmingham and the surrounding Shire counties. We will showcase quality local food cooked by some of the region’s best chefs.”

Taste of Birmingham takes place 9 – 12 July 2009 in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham.

Tickets can be purchased online at visitbirmingham.com and in Birmingham’s Tourism Centres at the Rotunda and New Street.

Standard tickets are £10 in advance, £12 on the day. All children under 16 years have free entry.