September will see Alnwick-based business, Turnbull’s Northumbrian Food Hall, launch their inaugural Northumbrian Food Festival.
The week-long event will feature a host of food demonstrations and tastings from Northumbrian food producers, along with a small weekend market at Turnbull’s Food Hall in Alnwick and an exciting foodie collaboration. The Northumberland-based business is also including a charity element in its festival recipe, as it looks to raise a significant donation for several local youth sports clubs.
The event will begin on Monday 18th September, with the ‘Show-stopper event’ taking place that evening in the form of an exciting ‘Northumbrian Evening’ collaboration between Turnbull’s sixth generation business, and members of the team from Michelin-starred and Green-starred restaurant, Pine, based at Vallum Farm, East Wall Houses, in the county.
Restaurant Pine is the debut restaurant of Northumberland-born chef patron Cal Byerley, and co-owner and front of house manager Sian Byerley, with head chef Ian Waller and head sommelier Vanessa Stolz.
Left to Right Ian Waller & Cal Byerley from Pine
Cal is well known for his TV appearances on the Great British Menu, and more recently his guest appearance as a judge and task master in Gordon Ramsay’s TV show Future Food Stars. Meanwhile, Sian was included in CODE Hospitality’s 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality and shortlisted as a finalist in the Institute of Hospitality Restaurant Manager of the Year awards.
The ‘Northumbrian Evening’ will feature two of the country’s top butchers, Dan Turnbull and Alex Daley, as they demonstrate a range of butchery skills and present the preparation and provenance of local venison. Meanwhile, the Pine team, headed up by Cal and Ian will create a show stopping menu including locally reared venison, and Cal’s highly acclaimed ’10 out of 10’ dessert from the Great British Menu.
Meanwhile, Sommelier Vanessa will curate and serve a flight of entirely UK grown and produced wines to complement each course, while Sian deftly ensures service runs smoothly. During the course of the evening Cal and Sian will take time to share a little of their restaurant story and ethos with guests and answer any questions they may have in a Q & A session hosted by Mark Turnbull.
Other events during the festival will include: a chocolate tasting with local chocolatier Jane Davenport, a wine and cheese evening featuring a curated selection of Northumberland cheeses, and a Northumbrian Beer Festival with beers from a total of seven local breweries.
Dan Turnbull (left). Pine Team (Right).
A full list of events and details on how to book can be found on Turnbull’s website.
The event is aimed at being a ‘Festival of Northumbrian Food’ as well as an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for several local youth sporting clubs.
‘’Northumberland really does have so much to celebrate. The county is home to some of the country’s finest Artisan food producers and has an amazing mix of restaurants and eateries, and Restaurant Pine is really helping to lead that charge,’’ said Mark Turnbull.
Pine’s Co-owner and Front of House Manager, Sian Byerley commented: ‘’We’re really pleased to be collaborating with a long standing artisan family business like Turnbull’s, and to have a further opportunity of showcasing some of the wonderful quality produce to be found in the county through the dishes we serve on the evening. As well as also being able to help the Turnbull’s team raise funds for a number of local youth sports clubs, during what promises to be a really entertaining culinary evening.’’
Tickets for the event can be purchased from www.turnbullsfood.co.uk
Images supplied by Paul Stephenson Photography and Joe Taylor Photography
