Masterchef winner to launch 2011 Falmouth Oyster Festival

From 13 to 16 October, the picturesque seaside town of Falmouth will celebrate the annual Falmouth Oyster Festival, sponsored by local standard-bearer, St Michael’s Hotel & Spa.  The festival marks the start of the traditional oyster dredging season in Falmouth, and will be opened this year by special guest Tim Anderson, winner of MasterChef 2011.

The festival celebrates the start of the season in Falmouth, which is home to the third deepest natural port in the world.  From October until March, local boats will trawl the natural oyster beds of the surrounding area using traditional methods, in search of the prized local native oysters renowned for their sweet, delicate flavour.

To mark the launch of the festival, Anderson will co-host a gourmet oyster evening on Wednesday 12 October with Executive Chef Nick Hodges, at St Michael’s Hotel & Spa’s acclaimed Flying Fish Restaurant, offering a unique opportunity for diners to meet and talk food with one of the country’s up and coming food enthusiasts.  Anderson will then open the festival at 11.00 on the morning of 13 October with a ‘ribbon cutting’ followed by cookery demonstration.   

Throughout the three-day event, Events Square in the heart of Falmouth is transformed into a Cornish Cornucopia of stalls brimming with oysters, seafood, wine and other delicacies, celebrating the venerable mollusc whilst showcasing the variety and diversity of local produce.  The programme also includes a host of cookery demonstrations by local chefs, as well as children’s activities, sea shanties, a town parade, oyster shucking competitions, live music, and a race of the Falmouth Working Boats.  Oysters are a firm favourite with Anderson and during his stay in Falmouth, he will be visiting the oyster fishery and local oystermen and preparing his own oyster recipes for visitors.

Located close to the beautiful Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth, St Michael’s has a long association with the Falmouth Oyster Festival, having supported it since its inception. 

The St Michael’s Hotel & Spa offers exclusive packages for visitors during the Oyster Festival weekend, including the gourmet night with Tim Anderson. Prices start from £625 per couple for a four-night stay from 12 October, based on two sharing on a bed and breakfast basis.  For more information and to book visit stmichaelshotel.co.uk/oyster.