Q: I’m looking for some local farmers’ markets and food events this month. Can you help?
A: Certainly can! In fact, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The month of May has become an increasingly foodie time of year in the Cambridge calendar. There’s a delicious array of regular food events, annual celebrations of our food scene, and many opportunities to check out the abundant local produce on offer at the county’s markets.
The annual food and drink festival, Eat Cambridge, will be dominating my month (but, as one of the organisers, I guess it should!). Running from 9 to 24 May, the festival provides the opportunity to explore the city’s food and drink scene through a jam-packed programme of fringe events and a big food and drink fair at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 23 May (www.eat-cambridge.co.uk).
The fringe events taking place at Burwash Manor in Barton are perfect for a foodie day out. Check out the Asparagus Feast on 9 May – an annual celebration of the seasonal vegetable featuring cookery demonstrations, asparagus and Burwash Manor bacon sarnies, tractor rides to the asparagus fields, and some clever wine-matching tastings with on-site wine merchants Cozzi & Boffa. Put Sunday 17 May in the diary, too, for Burwash’s popular annual ‘Sizzling Sunday’ event, celebrating Burwash Manor farm’s own-reared rare breed pork. Start by learning from the masters at the Leech & Sons butchery demos, pig out on the tasty pulled pork brioche buns and sizzling chilli sauces on offer, and wash it all down with some fantastic local beers at the mini craft beer festival hosted by Cozzi & Boffa.
May is the month to fall in love with local markets. As part of the national celebration of UK market culture, the Love Your Local Market campaign hits market squares from 13 to 27 May. Cambridge Markets will get involved throughout the fortnight, with market traders holding tastings and live demos and taking part in a ‘Best Dressed Stall’ competition. Every Sunday, food takes pride of place at the city’s market square, hosting a weekly farmers’ market from 10.30am to 4.30pm. It’s worth a visit if you’re stocking up on ingredients for a Sunday roast.
Track down other farmers’ markets, on the first Saturday of the month at Linton Village College (9am to 12pm) and the third Saturday of each month at Impington Village College (9am to 12pm), where you can find fresh produce, meat from local farmers, fresh fish, and local artisan cooks and crafters.
Happy eating!
For more top tips on eating and drinking in Cambridge, visit Heidi’s blog www.movingfoodie.com
