A Taste of What's to Come
| Published: 11th September 2007 11:30 |
"The fast-growing umbrella organisation for all aspects of food is British Food Fortnight."
WHAT IS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT?
Running from 22nd September to 7th October and now in its sixth year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces.
WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR?
The event's initiative inviting cooks and chefs to work with schools to teach children how to cook is being expanded three-fold. This year, organisations representing over 9,000 chefs have volunteered to take part signifying the stirrings of a major mass movement. This means that British Food Fortnight has already over-taken France's long-running Semaine du Gout which sends chefs into French schools every October to teach children about the delights of their national cuisine. Retailers, farmers and producers are also signing up to participate.
To complement the initiative, all schools are being invited to bring chefs into the classroom to teach children how to prepare simple meals using the best of Britain's in-season produce and to enter the British Food Fortnight ‘Cook for Life' Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood, to find the school that incorporates cookery in the national curriculum in the most imaginative and innovative way.
For the first time, all the major supermarkets and all medium-sized retailers are being invited to run British food promotions during the event. The gauntlet is again being laid down by Budgens and the independent sector with a mass of in-store promotions already planned. However, with three of the major supermarkets participating last year and with the attraction of 30% plus sales increases that the event generates, expect to see more shop shelves than ever bursting with British produce this autumn.
Restaurants, pubs, tourism attractions, hospitals and staff canteens will again be putting the best of British on their menus. Four major pub groups, all the chef associations and four of the largest food service groups, led by ARAMARK, are all taking part so there will be an abundance of British food on menus.
WHO IS BEHIND IT?
British Food Fortnight is sponsored by Nationwide, Budgens and ARAMARK and features the British Food Fortnight ‘Cook for Life' Challenge sponsored by Kenwood. It is supported by over 45 organisations led by Brakes, Compass Group, Country Markets, Guild of Q Butchers, Mitchells & Butlers, National Farmers' Union, Punch Taverns, Sodexho, Tenant Farmers Association and VisitBritain.
WHY IS THE EVENT SO POPULAR?
Commenting on the depth of activity planned for this year's event, organiser Alexia Robinson says: "Last year a leading representative of the food industry commented "British Food Fortnight works and it should be named British Food Forever!" and this really says it all. Whether you are a shop owner, a teacher, a chef or a member of the public, British Food Fortnight is inspiring people to re-discover the diverse and delicious food our country produces. The event is now much more than a fun focal point for our national produce; it has become a major mass movement that is changing the way we choose, cook and enjoy our food."
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE PART?
For the public: details of activities around the country, recipes and advice on eating British on www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
For schools: All the event's school resources have been updated for 2007. Download from the event's website new editions of:
‘Putting the Ooo back into food: A Resource Pack for Schools'- ideas for food-related activities for all curriculum subjects.
&lsquoPutting the Ooo back into food: A Guide to including Cookery within the National Curriculum'- cookery lessons and activities for early years, primary and secondary children.
NEW: Examples of how schools participated last year and details of how to take part in the British Food Fortnight ‘Cook for Life' Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood, are being sent to all schools and are also downloadable from www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
For cooks and chefs: NEW: advice and ideas on working with schools to teach children how to cook, downloadable from www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
For shops, pubs and restaurants: NEW: ‘Britain's Regional Food & Drink: The Basics'- advice on sourcing British meat, fruit, vegetables and dairy products and using them to maximise sales.
WHERE CAN WE FIND OUT MORE? For information on British Food Fortnight and to order resources, contact Alexia Robinson or Jennifer Meakin.
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