The Cambridge food and drink festival returns in May and we’ve got the low-down
Now entering its fourth year, Eat Cambridge has become the highlight of the foodie calendar in the city, offering a delicious two-week long celebration of our flourishing food and drink scene and a chance to enjoy some truly unique dining experiences.
Taking place from 7-22 May, this year’s event will showcase Cambridge’s increasingly impressive line-up of independent eateries, artisan producers, talented chefs and other food professionals, with a packed schedule of events which ranges from street food markets to wine fairs, debates and supper clubs.
As with previous years, the event will feature a main food and drink fair at the Corn Exchange, along with a busy line-up of fringe events at venues across the city. On the fringe, you’ll find everything from an experiential rooftop supper created using 3D food printers to an indulgent chocolate-themed afternoon tea. Grab your diary and get planning!
Food and Drink Fair
The hub of the whole festival, the main food and drink fair returns to Cambridge Corn Exchange on 7 May (10.30am-4.30pm) for a day filled with delicious foodie delights.
Be sure to arrive early so that you can make the most of this unique showcase of local artisan producers and traders, which features stalls, demos, talks and, of course, lots of tasty samples.
Why not begin your food safari with a tipple? Keep it uber local and hit up the Cambridge Cider Company, who make delicious, handcrafted ciders and perry, or get yourself revved up for a day of feasting with a cup of Hot Numbers’ famously potent coffee. Gin lover? Grab a quick swig of Pinkster Gin, pink in hue and adored by many in Cambridge, it’s sure to fill you with (g)inspiration for the day ahead.
Onto savouries and you’d be a fool not to stop by SmokeWorks’ stand for a taste of their flavour-packed smoked meat buns, ribs and signature spiced sausages, all packed up to eat on the go. If that gets you in the mood for another meaty pit stop, go and say hello to the team at Syms Pantry, who’ll be selling their irresistible bacon mayo, bacon ketchup and even bacon jam! While you’re in a condiment mood, swing by Scarlett and Mustard, who’ll lure you in with the promise of their lip-smackingly good Suffolk-made dressings, marinades, infused oils and fruit curds.
Time for another drink? Go and pick up a sample of something from the English Spirit Distillery, based down the road in Dullingham, who handmake beautiful small batch copper pot distilled English spirits and liqueurs.
Next up, venture to more exotic climes with a bite to eat from the Rice Boat stand. Their restaurant on Newnham Road is an in-the-know gem, serving up crazily good Keralan cuisine, a cut above your average curry house.
Then, hop across to Spain for a treat or two from Pata Negra, a regular on the local food circuit, which stocks fine Spanish foods including cured meats, cheeses and specialist ingredients – including all you need for a killer DIY paella.
Speaking of home cooking, you can’t go far wrong with the expertly created gourmet spice rubs, infused balsamic vinegars and flavoured salts on offer at the Gourmet Spice Co; on hand to elevate your recipes to cordon bleu standards.
A highlight each and every year is the Gog Magog Farm Shop stall, which groans under the weight of a glorious array of cheeses, home-made scotch eggs, sausage rolls and cured hams, not to mention the delicious cakes. Not to be missed. At 12pm and again at 2pm, you can join the Gogs team for a butchery demo too, as well as advice for preparing meat at home.
They’re not the only Cambridgeshire farm favourites making an appearance either: there’s all manner of local produce on offer from Radmore Farm Shop, plus quality gift hampers from Cambridge Artisan, as well as great selection from Mill Road’s Culinaris, which serves up a vast range of fine foods including chocolate, spices, condiments and more.
Independent eateries, artisan producers, enlightening foodie-based talks
There’s no slouching in the sweet-tooth department either. Biscotti di Debora will be serving up her home-made Italian pastries, celebration cakes and biscuits (great for gifts, if you can keep your mitts off them long enough), whilst Canesmith & Co will have you salivating over their gourmet sweets including caramels, saltwater taffy and sherbets. Get a double fudge hit by stopping by at Ely Fudge Company and Chocs-Away, both of whom specialise in this most decadent of sweet treats.
You’ll need a break every now and again, so we highly recommend venturing upstairs to the King’s Room, where there’s a busy schedule of enlightening foodie-based talks taking place.
At 11am, join the Pint Shop’s innovative in-house chef Rosie Sykes for a chat about seasonality, or join the Burwash Manor team at 12.30pm for a look at the challenges and rewards of rearing rare breed pork (they should know, they’ve been doing it for three generations, after all).
Local food writer and historian Bee Wilson will be sharing fascinating insights from her latest book on eating better at 2.30pm, whilst the last word (at 3.30pm) goes to co-owner of Fitzbillies’ Tim Hayward, who’ll discuss the ever-growing, ever-changing Cambridge food scene.
On the fringe
Diaries at the ready, this year’s Fringe line-up looks set to be the busiest, and best, yet. Kick things off in style at Hot Numbers on 7 May, when the exuberant Mama Bombon will pair delicious and exotic chocolates with coffee from around the globe, roasted by Hot Numbers.
The next morning, get up and about for a walking tour around the city – filled with interesting facts and delicious bites. Aesthetes will adore the How to plate food like a pro masterclass the same morning, which offers an insight into food presentation and styling, be it for entertaining or blogging (Instagram at the ready!). Also on Sunday 8 May, you can take it back to basics with the talented team over at Cambridge Cookery School, who’ll be hosting an introduction to sourdough session: learn to knock out loaves like a seasoned baker as they take you from starter dough right through to perfect finished product.
Taking place on both 8 and 22 May, and rather tickling our fancy, is the Rooftop Supper Club on Hills Road. This fascinating event will allow guests to design and print their own food – as well as enjoying a five-course menu created using the amazing nufood 3D printer (mind-bending or what!).
If you work in the food industry locally, you’ll not want to miss the festival edition of Grub Club on the 10th: a chance to network with nearby foodies, and enjoy a great meal at The Rupert Brooke.
On 10 and 11 May, pay a visit to the lovely Michaelhouse Café on Trinity Street for a feast with a Cambridge spin which will showcase produce from the region including local asparagus, Wobbly Bottom goat’s cheese, Chapel and Swan smoked salmon, wild rabbit and more.
Over at Gog Magog Farm Shop on 11 May, get hands on in a session with the Gogs award-winning butchers, when you’ll learn how to ‘break down’ a side of pork, from start to finish, and end with a tasty pork supper served with local beer and wine (also takes place on 18 May).
On 12 May, meanwhile, experience an evening of dining inspired by foodie hotspot San Sebastian at Shelford Deli, where they’ll be putting on a menu of pintxos with Txakoli wine or local cider. On the same day, get stuck into an evening of artisan chocolates and cheeses at Mill Road’s Culinaris, or pop along to the Blue Moon pub for some vibrant veggie street food courtesy of the Wandering Yak.
Guests can design and print their own food
On Saturday 14th, pop along and meet Cambridge Eat Up!, a group of friendly foodies, who range from photographers to bloggers and appreciators, and bring something along for their Pot Luck Lunch – be it savoury, sweet or liquid.
Perhaps you’d like to discover how Mill Road earned its title as the ‘food basket of Cambridge’? Join in with a tour of the area with plenty of whistle-stops of the best places for a bite to eat. Also on the 14th, discover the art of sushi at Bridges Café with a workshop geared towards giving you the know-how to create great-looking, healthy sushi at home.
Like a little entertainment with your indulgence? On 19 May, in the beautiful setting of Childerley Long Barn, The Misfits will perform a live studio broadcast of their comedy radio show, The Gin Chronicles, whilst you slurp down top quality gins.
Promising to transport guests to a terrace in Barcelona on the 21st, chef Monica Oblanca Das will host an evening of authentic tapas at the University Botanic Garden – itself none too shabby a location for an evening of dining.
On Sunday 22 May, join the creative bunch that is The Banqueteers for a sumptuous, family-friendly feast as they present The Ultimate Sunday: roast dinner, Bloody Mary bar, newspapers and board games all included.
Sizzling Sunday
Eat Cambridge headline sponsors Burwash Manor will close this year’s festival with a foodie extravaganza of rare breed pork and craft beer on the 22nd. Enjoy a lazy Sunday down on their beautiful farm which features a mini beer festival, butchery demos with Burwash’s Leech & Sons’ and plenty of irresistible pulled pork from the Big Green Egg.
Burwash Manor
01223 264600
foodPark Night Market
foodPark, Cambridge’s collective of fantastic street food traders, returns for its festival edition of the hugely popular Night Market at Gravel Hill Farm. Taking place 5-10pm on 21 May, the event features the likes of gourmet burger outfit Steak & Honour, purveyors of south-east Asian dishes Jalan Jalan, sweet treats from Churros Bar and much more. There’s also live music, a pop-up bar serving craft beers and Prosecco and plenty of undercover areas to cosy up in while you feast. Tickets sell out fast so be sure to get booked up in advance – it’s always a top night.
foodPark
Wine Festival
A local institution, Cambridge Wine Merchants (CWM) have been merrily serving the residents of the city fine wines, beers and spirits for some 23 years. Join them on 21-22 May for a special weekend wine festival at Cambridge Arts Theatre when they’ll be showcasing unique tipples from around the globe, alongside plenty of tasty food from local suppliers. Book for your chosen session (or sessions!): Saturday 5.30-7.30pm, Sunday 3-5pm and 6-8pm, and receive a CWM tasting glass to take home with you.
Cambridge Wine Merchants
01223 309309
