Blenheim Palace Food Festival by Grainne Ashton, Fantastic British Food Festivals

I’ve always been passionate about food. I’ll never forget the first time I tasted a prawn cocktail as a child and eating it now takes me straight back to 1976. So when I had the opportunity to work at Fantastic British Food Festivals, it was a dream come true: bringing fabulous food of all kinds to gorgeous venues around the south of England and getting to indulge my greedy side!

Food festivals are increasingly popular as British consumers increasingly turn away from mass-produced food and love to discover small, independent producers on their doorstep. More than just a great day out, visiting a local food festival can be a way to discover new family favourites. Eating local produce cuts down on environmentally damaging food miles as well as enabling food lovers to support local businesses and celebrate Oxfordshire’s rich food heritage.

This month we’re thrilled to be revisiting the stunning surroundings of Blenheim Palace for the second time, over the late May bank holiday (May 28-30 ) with a celebration of fine food and drink. Last year’s festival was enjoyed by 20,000 visitors and this year will see an even bigger event, with delicious offerings from 120 stallholders, including artisan bakes, craft brews, gourmet burgers, international cuisine, traditional ices and handmade sweets.

I’m especially excited to be welcoming chefs including Tamal Ray (GBBO finalist 2015), Tony Rodd (Masterchef finalist 2015), Food Teacher Katharine Tate and Nick Pullen, Owner Chef of Wild Thyme Restaurant, Oxfordshire to demonstrate their skills and entertain the hungry crowd, and will be watching keenly to pick up some tips. We’re also working with Waterstones for the first time this year to offer visitors the chance to meet foodie authors, buy exclusive signed books and take home enough recipe inspiration to last them throughout the year.

As a parent, I also know that a foodie day out can be a great way to get children engaging positively with food, and trying new things. My own experience shows that children who can be fussy at the dinner table will happily tuck into exotic delicacies while sitting on a hay bale in the open air. It’s one of the reasons that I’ve always been keen to make sure that there’s plenty for kids to do at the Blenheim Palace Food Festival, which this year will include readings from children’s author Caroline Baxter, garden games including Connect 4 and Jenga, face-painting, a storyteller and children’s craft activities. After all that, they’ll have worked up an appetite! I was delighted last year to hear from local parents that their usually picky eaters were happily wolfing down a Pulled Pork Brioche Bun from The Shredded Meat Company as part of the day’s adventures. (You might want to make sure they’ve had a delicious lunch before letting them loose in Chocolate Tree’s amazing chocolate workshop, though!)

It was with building food communities in mind that we launched our first festivals four years ago, and 2016 is no exception. We’re looking to uncover great new foodie talents through our Fantastic Food Stars competition – there’s still just enough time to enter before the June 1 deadline and we’d love more Oxfordshire producers, chefs, bakers, brewers and general food heroes to get in touch.

We want to hear from you about your favourite local food businesses: where do you find the best birthday cakes? Which Oxfordshire café serves a faultless breakfast? Is there a local brewer producing something absolutely unmissable? Have you discovered a local cheesemonger whose wares you can’t live without?

Prizes include marketing, PR and design support for a growing startup, along with the opportunity to exhibit for free at future festivals and meet a hungry public so please do help us to champion your favourite local food stars. All the information for entry can be found at http://fantasticbritishfoodfestivals.com/foodstars.html or you can find us on Twitter (@FantasticFdFest) or Facebook (Fantastic British Food Festivals) to tell us who you think should enter and why.

The Blenheim Palace Food Festival is 28-30th May: http://fantasticbritishfoodfestivals.com/blenheim.html