First chefs announced for Truro Food Festival

A glimpse of the line-up for Truro Food Festival has been revealed this week – and local food lovers are salivating in anticipation.

The five-day event promises a packed programme of chef demos with plenty more to be revealed in due course; the organisers are curating a mix of established and emerging culinary talent, and a diverse repertoire of skills and influences will be on display.

From BBQ specialists to patisserie experts, each chef will have a unique take on food to impart; the audience in the Chef’s Theatre will witness the creation of everything from classic seafood dishes to food influenced by Thai, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine – all made using local ingredients.

One big name joining the line-up is Jude Kereama of acclaimed eateries Kota and Kota Kai in Porthleven.

Great British Menu chef Jude is known for his Asia-Pacific style and influences; he grew up in New Zealand and credits his Chinese-Malay mum for inspiring his love of fusion food.

Jude is joined in the line-up by fellow TV chef Charlie Walters, finalist of Masterchef: The Professionals.

Charlie was born and raised in Cornwall and his new restaurant near Polperro, Charlie Walters at The Gate, showcases the finest local ingredients in a delectably bitesize small plate format.

Also appearing will be Kate Attlee, who appeared on Masterchef in 2018 and has gone on to open a series of popular neighbourhood delis in Cornwall under the Sabzi (‘green herbs’ in Farzi) umbrella, the first of which was in Truro.

Kate commented: "I'm thrilled to be involved in this new incarnation of Truro Food Festival and I'm enjoying planning what to cook in front of the audience in the Chef's Theatre. Truro is where it all started for me with the opening of my very first Sabzi, so I'm looking forward to sharing a signature dish or two there."

Also included in the ‘first reveal’ are Ben Tunnicliffe of The Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn, Ben Martin and Jasmine Sharma of Daaku, Rupert Cooper of Philleigh Way, and Ben Quinn of Canteen Cornwall. 

The festival will be held on Lemon Quay from 25th September – 29th September and is set to draw thousands of visitors into the city on the cusp of autumn with the promise of a great day out, fuelled by famously good Cornish food and drink.

Hosted by Truro Farmers Market and Cornwall Event Cabins and organised by the team behind The BIG Christmas Market, Truro Food Festival is billed as an unmissable gathering of “Cornish culinary talent, fresh seasonal produce, and home-grown food and drink brands.”

It has also been revealed that Skinner’s Brewery will host ‘afterparty’ events every evening during the festival at The Tap Yard Bar, including a silent disco, beer tasting, and BBQ.

Organiser Stewart Girvan said: “The full festival line-up is almost in place now, with some amazing street food vendors and brilliant Cornish brands in the Producers Village, as well as the epic programme in the Chef’s Theatre. There’ll also be live music, entertainment, and family activities to complete the offering.”

He added: “We’re so excited and will be sharing more details in due course, but I highly recommend food lovers get the dates firmly in their diaries now. Hotels, restaurants, shops, bars, and cafés all around the city will be getting involved with fringe events and special offers around the festival, so the whole city will be buzzing.”

Truro Food Festival is being organized with the support of Visit Truro and Truro City Council, and sponsorship from GWR, Truro College, Cornish Sea Salt, and Skinner’s Brewery.

To stay updated with news of the festival, follow @truro_food_festival on Instagram, or visit the Facebook page. To apply to trade at the event, email stewart@cornwalleventcabins.co.uk