Eat Cambridge: what’s on

Cambridge’s huge culinary celebration returns for 2015! Here’s what to see when.

Food & Drink Fair

Enjoy a whistlestop tour of Cambridgeshire’s finest food and drink enterprises on 23 May (10.30am to 4pm), which will see the Corn Exchange packed to the rafters with delicious delicacies to try and buy.

Begin with savouries at Gog Magog cheese counter, which always impresses with its huge selection of top quality fromage. Pop over to the Burwash stall for a taste of everything they stock at The Larder, then, pick up cured meats and handmade salami from Sedgwick’s Charcuterie, or visit the Gogs butchery stand, where the award-winning team will give demos and offer samples of different meats.

You can enjoy a taste of Spain and pick up fine Spanish foods including meats, cheeses and everything you need to whip up a perfect paella from Pata Negra, then stop by at Azahar for Iberico hams, spices, pulses, honey and more, all imported directly from artisan producers. Continue on an international theme with a visit to Momo Deli, which will be stocking freshly made Indian savouries such as samosas, pakora and fish cakes, then travel to Latvia with Ali’s Baltic Bakes, where they’ll be serving up traditional piragi with sweet and savoury fillings.

Then, have your pick of sweet treats from local chocolatiers Chocolat Chocolat and be sure to sample the macarons, gourmet biscuits and exquisite handmade cakes from Fiona Pâtissière. Little Acre Kitchen will offer up their inviting handcrafted goodies, including ice cream sandwiches, cinnamon butter, salted caramel hot chocolate sticks and whiskey sauce, whilst Gourmandises will serve up locally produced French patisserie, tarts, gateaux and more.

When it’s time for a tipple, you can choose between intriguing local gins from Pinkster and The Ely Gin Company, real ales from the Moonshine and Red breweries, and world class spirits and liqueurs from the English Spirit Distillery – which supplies gin to the queen, no less! There’ll be plenty more on offer too, including drinks and nibbles from local faves, The Snug, as well as ciders, cordials and a host of enlightening talks on everything from sustainable food to food styling (with Stella, who produces Edition’s gorgeous recipe shoots each month).

Be sure to venture behind the scenes and discover one of the secret dining areas at the food fair too – we adore the sound of the ‘Chocolate Room’ (hosted by Chocolat Chocolat), and the Pop-up Korean fusion canteen, courtesy of Gogo Gogi Gui.

Fringe highlights

In addition to the main food and drink fair, Eat Cambridge has got busy line-up of tasty fringe events to tempt. Kick off your fortnight of feasting with a Nordic inspired pop-up restaurant at Cambridge Cookery School on 8 May. BYO wine and expect Scandi treats like lingonberries, herrings and rye bread, all expertly prepared by the School’s talented chefs.

The next day, pop over to Burwash Manor in Barton for a celebration of all thing asparagus. You can expect cookery demonstrations, tastings from Cozzi & Boffa Wine Merchants, and plenty of tasty asparagus-based treats. There’s even the opportunity to take a tractor ride out to the asparagus fields on Burwash’s farm, so you can see how this delicious spring vegetable is grown (10am to 4pm).

Also on Saturday 9th, take a trip down to Mill Road for a tasting tour of this vibrant corner of Cambridge’s foodie hotspots. Once you’ve had your fill, head over to St Paul’s Church at 3pm for an educational talk on eating well, hosted by local postgrad students. Over a cup of tea, find out what a good diet is – and why it can be so hard to stick to, as well as learning who in Cambridge isn’t getting a good diet and how we, as the local community, can help.

On Sunday 10 May, get a taste of Italy with a special afternoon tea at the lovely Hotel Felix. Indulge in Italian breads, pastries and desserts created by head chef Jose Grazios, as you sink down into a sofa in the hotel’s luxurious orangery – or you could even head outside on the picturesque garden terrace if the weather’s up to it (£17.50 per person).

Elsewhere on the same date, The Garden Kitchen – one of our favourite new foodie openings of recent times, will host a pop-up 1940s café to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. At ‘We’ll Eat Again’, you’ll be treated to hearty grub from yesteryear like spam fritters, doorstep sandwiches and cold meat pasties, as well as a good old dose of nostalgic community spirit.

Then, get the week off to a caffeine-fuelled, roaring start with a coffee tasting at Gwydir Street café Hot Numbers on 10 May, when the local Moonshine Brewery will be offering beer matches for this Gwydir Street favourite’s artisan coffees. Also at Hot Numbers, on 13 May, join the flamboyant chocolatiere, Mama BonBon, for an evening of coffee, unusual and delicious sweet treats and espresso martinis.

Also on 13 May, the Eat Cambridge Debate returns to the Chamber at the University Union Society for an evening of animated discussion on the Cambridge food scene with a panel of local experts. The event, which begins at 7.30pm, will be hosted by FT food writer and Fitzbillies saviour Tim Hayward, with Steak & Honour burgers served in the bar when the discussion is finished.