A taste of Bakewell Food Festival

Bakewell food festival. Kathy and Linda Hazelwood from Hazelwood deserts.

Revellers could have a taste of squirrel stew, learn how to milk a cow and watch a cooking demonstration by a Masterchef at the third Bakewell Food Festival at the weekend.

The town’s historic streets were jam-packed with 80 food stalls celebrating the wealth of excellent produce that Bakewell and the Peak District has to offer.

On Saturday, James Summers, of Peak FM, and Mirella Kovacs, head chef of the Rutland Arms, on The Square, had a Ready Steady Cook style cook off.

While on Sunday, Bargain Hunt’s Tim Wonnacott and his BBC team also made an appearance as part of his nationwide journey to discover the people, places and antiquities that tell the story of Great Britain.

There was also food and drink tasting around the town, such as squirrel stew braised in plum and damson porter at the Farmers Market Shop, on Market Street, Bakewell tarts at the Bakewell Tart Shop, on Matlock Street, and pork pies at Critchlows, on Bridge Street.

While the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop, on The Square, staged pudding making demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Former Masterchef finalist Janine Lishman-Peat returned to Hartingtons School of Food, on Coombs Road, to carry out a series of free baking demonstrations, wowing crowds with her feta and olive scones.

Meanwhile farmer Johnny Ball taught festival goers how to milk a cow using his cow Annabelle at the National Farmers’ Union’s Let’s Talk Farming roadshow.

There was also discounts in cafes and restaurants across Bakewell, a farmers market at the Agricultural Business Centre on Saturday, a car boot sale at the showground on Sunday, children’s fair rides, owl displays, barrel orgain music and donkey and pony rides.