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Food & Drink Events
West Dorset is renowned for its local produce, and there is no better way to discover it than at an event dedicated to the delectable delights of the region.
Get your taste buds ready - the popular Bridport Food Festival takes place again this summer on the 26th & 27th June. Now in its 6th year the event sees local producers from across the region joining forces to create a host of deliciously fun events for the whole family to enjoy. Taking place at the picturesque Asker Meadows the event will be filled with the delicious offerings of local producers. What's more, festival-goers can take their pick from over 20 local beers and 10 ciders from the Beer & Cider Festival which is running alongside the Food Festival. Mark Hix will be launching his new beer - Hix Oyster Ale on the Friday evening, and on Saturday Masterchef winner Mat Follas will 
be offering food tips. Food for Life is the theme of this year's festival - incorporating special activities to inspire children and grown-ups alike including hands-on cooking in the Feast festival kitchen and Stretch and Grow Yoga with a professional instructor for the under 12s. Plus, everyone can enjoy the best of British at the Great Big Tea Party, which launches the Festival and takes place at the Bull Hotel on Thursday 25th June. Tickets are available directly from the Hotel on 01308 422 878.
Fish Soup Competition at the Melplash Show
This is a new competition at the Melplash Show for 2009 which has been generously sponsored by The Riverside Restaurant, West Bay, Bridport, taking place in the Show's new 'By-the-Sea' marquee. First Prize is a £100 voucher for The Riverside Restaurant. The winning soup will also go onto The Riverside menu and the possibility of all entries going into a recipe leaflet.
Rules:
1.Soup needs to be bought to the Show cold in a 500-600gram tub; it will be heated before judging (a fridge and heating equipment will be provided)
2.The recipe for the soup must be written down.
All Rules and Regulations of the Handicraft and Horticulture Catalogue 2009 apply
Closing date for entries: 21/8/09
Entry Fee: 50p
Visit the Melplash Show website for an application form or call the Show Office 01308 423337
Join Mark Hix in the kitchen at Hix Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis. Every month Mark will host an open cooking class where he will demonstrate his wonderful skills in the kitchen and cook four dishes as part of a four course lunch with wines to match each course. Classes accommodate up to 8 people, so take some friends and family along and enjoy a great day out. Bookings must be made in advance. The next demonstration is on the 14th September and will be held at Mark's home in Charmouth (max 6 people).
Apple Day
October sees a variety of events and activities celebrating the most quintessential of English fruits - the apple. The day includes a variety of unique activites, and seeks to encourage a greater support of local produce.
Dorset Food Week
This county-wide event is a celebration of all things mouth 
wateringly, sensually, irresistibly Dorset! The week that gives us all a great excuse to focus on the fabulous food and drink that is produced within and from the landscape of our wonderful county.
This year every day will have a "hotspot" the place where the days activit
es will be focused, and so each day will have its own individual character reflecting the food, farming, landscape and rural culture from that particular Hotspot area. Join in on Dorset Food Week 2009, which is running from the 24th October - 1st November.
The festival is a celebration of eating and drinking and those who produce our food and drink and boasts over 50 events taking place throughout the week.For further take a look at our event listing.
Food tasting at the TICs
In celebration of Dorset Food Week Lyme Regis, Sherborne and Dorchester's Tourist Information Centres host some local food tasting events. What a great way to sample some local produce! Bridport TIC usually hold a Dorset Apple Cake competition which is free to enter. Have a look at the events listings for further info.
The World Stinging Nettle Eating Competition
This unusual competition is held at the Bottle Inn, Marshwood, and in 2008 was visited by comedian Rory McGrath filming for his new television show Rory & Paddy's Road of Sports. The 2009 competition took place on the 13th June and for the first time ever the competition had joint winners - Mel Lang from West Bay and Mike Hobbs from West Knighton. Both chomped their way through 48ft of stinging nettles!
Workshops & Demonstrations
TV chef Lesley Waters runs very popular masterclasses and demonstrations at her Cookery School in Evershot. At the end of each course, all are invited to sit down to a meal together and discover that the proof of the pudding truly is in the eating.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage HQ offers a series of courses, ranging from catching and cooking your meal, to tips on using home-grown fruit and vegetables in delicious seasonal recipes.
For more information please visit one of our Tourist Information Centres.
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