| Food & Drink Festival | - From 1 to 14 October
- Various venues across Manchester
- Many free events
- Tastings
- Celebrity chefs
- Fringe festivals in Chorlton, Didsbury & Tameside
- Full listings: foodanddrinkfestival.com
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Running from the 1 to 14 October, the 7th annual Manchester Food & Drink Festival this year is promoting healthy eating and healthy living; local produce; and skills and training in the food industry. On offer is a smorgasbord of tastings, events, celebrity chefs and other fringe nibbles. Let us whet your appetite… Markets: Local producers will be taking over St Ann’s Sqare for the duration of the Festival – feast on local produce at a special café hosted by celeb chef Robert Owen Brown. Look out for a market at the Printworks and a Farmers’ Market on Tib St. Food Photos: Drool over an exhibition of foody photos by local photographer Rowena Fan, on the themes Food & People and Food & Buildings. (like The Toast Rack perhaps…?). – From 29 Sept, Cornerhouse, Oxford St.
 | | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall |
Fungus Foray: learn to identify edible mushrooms in Dunham Park under the expert eye of vegetarian author Dr Patrick Harding – and then eat ‘em. (Hmm… could be ‘out of this world’ if you find the right ‘shrooms!) – Fri 01 Oct, Cordon Vert School, The Vegetarian Society, Altrincham. Best Banger: Join in the judging to find Greater Manchester’s favourite sausage. Fri 01 Oct, St Ann’s Square, 1 – 3pm. All the Tea in China: Find out more about the health benefits and history of tea. Ah – a nice cuppa. Sat 02 Oct, Chinese Arts Centre 3 – 5pm Champagne Tasting: No, it’s not free. (Are you mad?) But for 25 quid, you get to try a selection of different vintages and styles, including the revered ‘Sir Winston Churchill. Sat 02 Oct, Establishment, 11.30-1pm. Elizabeth Raffald Dinner: A three course dinner using recipes from Manchester’s 18th Century Mrs Beaton cooked as in 1789 using local produce. Just like your great-great-great-great-grandma used to make. £25 per head. Sun 04 Oct, Isinglass, Urmston. 7.30pm. Tales from River Cottage: Earthy, back-to-basics chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall prepares a selection of recipes from his latest book, Meat, in a live cookery demonstration. No placenta this time, Hugh, please! – Mon 04 Oct, Bridgewater Hall Who Ate All The Pies? The official launch of the pub’s evening Pie menu. Free samples available to all drinkers. Unconfirmed VIPs - Desperate Dan and Johnny Vegas. - Mon 04 Oct, Tom’s Chop House, Cross St. Gala Awards: Ceremony with celebrity presenters and guests to reward Manchester’s finest. Categories: Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, Pub of the Year, Coffee Bar of the Year, Best Newcomer, Best Retail Outlet, Chef of the Year, Best for Vegetarians, Best Wine List, etc.. To vote for your favourites - or find out more about these and other events - go to the festival website foodanddrinkfestival.com ('See Also' at the top of the page) | 
