Banbury Food Fair – Sunday, 9th August 2015 – for all the fun of Fair Food and Great Entertainment…

Sarah McMillan's decidedly scrumptious Gluten-free Blueberry Gateau

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 Banbury’s town centre from Cornhill to outside Marks and Spencer was bustling and busy with stalls, striped awnings and the hungry and curious.  Couples with small babes in arms, families with children, the young and the young at heart, all determined on looking, sampling, buying and eating.  By the time we arrived, proceedings were well underway with intoxicating food aromas wafting everywhere.

The dear SO was looking for large cauldrons of food to savour while I was aiming my lens into the milling crowd.  Two photos later my battery gave up on me and, reaching gladly for my iPhone, inwardly groaned when I noticed that this was also running out, having counted steps from early morning to now, walking with the family dog.  Well, that was that, so He had to take my photos for me!

Folk were queueing up for all types of hot food and very patiently too and, despite the seemingly high prices being charged, were obviously happy waiting to be fed with the weather so kind to everyone.

A cookery demonstration was entertaining an attentive audience, people were meeting and greeting friends and neighbours and Banbury’s Food Fair was giving everyone a great summer’s day outing.

We visited Linda Colclough’s Tiny Seeds stall and sampled her Blueberry Pickle – for contact: info@tinyseeds.co.uk - then met up with Jo Roberts at her Not Just Jams stall of chutney, jelly, onion marmalade and relish all of which looked really good. Jo introduced us to her very special item, her Military Pickle, made to an ancient family recipe; it was a stunning preserve…well done Jo. For email contact – notjustjams@talktalk.net  Next to Anila’s handmade Indian sauce and pickle stall and their delicious Mango Lassi drink which went down extremely well on this bright sunny day – contact via – www.anilassauces.com – Anila’s Authentic Sauces Ltd.

Then we met up with Deddington Farmers’ Market friends, Paddocks Product Farm Shop, and bought a game pie for supper which went down a treat with salad and homemade chutney – contact via -  www.paddocksproductsfarmshop.co.uk  

Next to Gourmet Vinegars to sample their aged Balsamic Vinegar - contact via – gourmetvinegars@yahoo.co.uk - to Maison Rustique to admire their range of very colourful bowls and dishes – contact at – www.maisonrustique.net -  and then we met up with a friend from last year, Cookie Crumbles – “Wholesome Baking Mixes” – beautifully boxed up in new wrappings now that they are doing so well in a variety of retail outlets.  I would have liked to buy their “Awesome Gluten-free Brownie Mix” but I was too late so instead chose their “Blueberry & Vanilla Muffin Mix”.  Email contact to: info@cookiecrumbles.co.uk 

Cookie Crumbles - Wholesome Baking Mixes at home with our Food Fair basket






We also simply had to buy a large slice of a scrumptious-looking gluten-free blueberry gateau from Sarah McMillan who makes and bakes for all those intolerant of gluten, soya, nut, dairy and lactose.  Her gateau was extremely good and the slice so large we both enjoyed a good feast.  Contact Sarah McMillan on 07951 546405 or via – info@whenitssconeitsgone.com   I also stopped to look at boxes of new season’s plums on the Styan Family Produce stall who kindly invited me to sample their wares, which I did and, they were very good indeed.   I often buy Styan Family Produce veggies from them at Deddington Farmers’ Market.  We also stopped to view the products – balsamic vinegar, cold pressed oil and sea salt – on Taste Gourmet Spice Company stall – for contact – www.tastespice.co.uk

 We visited the produce tent filled by local food and flower-growing gardeners and cake-baking enthusiasts and oohed and aahed our way around the tent, with everyone else, all determined to get as close to the exhibits as we possibly could.   The monster cabbage caught everyone’s attention for it was, truly, enormous and in very rude health.   There was also a great variety of vegetable items to inspect like potatoes, kohlrabi, carrots, courgettes and beans plus cakes and pies, preserves and flowers.

We had coffee and then departed for home.  Banbury’s Food Fair was still in full-swing, people were still happily milling about and buying and the weather continued to be kind to all in Banbury’s town centre.

Happy summer eventing folks..

Daisy xxx

PS blueberries feature largely in my 2015 summer and I’m hoping to grow them for myself next year – I just love them for my bowl of breakfast muesli!!!