NORTH EAST CHILLI FEST 2013 PREVIEW
Hi everyone and welcome to my second full post and may i just say a big thanks to the great many people who viewed the last post way beyond my expectations. so for this post i thought i would look ahead to the chilli festival on july 6th and 7th just over a week away now at the very scenic seaton delaval hall.
You can pick up tickets online here http://www.chillifest-ne.co.uk/ also for clarity geordie gourmet do not profit from this in anyway.
For those of you who are new to the north east chilli fest this is the second annual festival and having attended the first effort i must say they are a great day out full of entertainment and lovely food.
At the front of the hall was many exhibitors of chilli and other gourmet foods more a market feel whilst to the rear of the hall was loads of hot food vendors and bar with entertainment.
entrance to the actual hall is included with the ticket which is a nice touch also there was a mexican mariachi band and choir preforming at various points not to mention the insane chili eating competition.
so to this year and i have contacted and highlighted just a few of the interesting exhibitors at this years festival to give you a feel of what to expect.
A bit chilli - www.abitchilli.co.uk
A bit chilli based in buckinghamshire offers a range of chilli products including four delicious dipping chutneys using four different chillies and flavours i asked them a few questions to find out what to expect from them at chilli fest.
What led you to produce chilli products in the first place ?
I've always loved cooking and being vegetarian have used chillies in my cooking for years. I produced my first chilli chutney a few years ago and everyone loved it so it just started from there
There seems to be a growing market for chili products in the uk these days what would you put that down to?
I think peoples tastes have changed with the popularity of Indian and Mexican food. Through that, awareness and the love of chilli heat and flavour has grown the market
You have a interesting and unexpected range of products how did you come up with the idea for lemon drop chilli curd ?
I love the different flavours, as well as the heat that chillis offer. I have tried to put a range of products together which champion different types of chillis. When I first tasted the Lemon Drop chilli and its distinctive citrus flavour it just seemed a great thing to try it in a lemon curd. And it just works!
Why should people visit your stall at chilli fest ?
To taste our products and decide for themselves which is their favourite chilli and flavour!
The flamepit smokehouse bbq www.flamepit.com
Based in Newcastle the flame pit use a custom smoker to cook amazing bbq food with there own homemade rubs and sauces again i asked a few questions to give you a feel of their unique product
What led you to produce amazing bbq food ?
It was trips to america and eating great BBQ and meat, watching shows like Man vs Food and Diners, Drive-ins and dives. We tested for months and I attended a pitmaster course with Ray Lampe (AKA DR BBQ).
How easy was it to find a smoker like yours in the uk ?
No one really makes a serious smoker in the UK we had ours custom built buy a master welder. Shipping and VAT from the USA would have added thousands of pounds to the price. Ours is about a ton and a half
you produce all your own rubs and sauces what led you to make that decision ?
We made the study of BBQ our goal and bringing great food to people. We imported and tested many of the brands of rubs but tweaked it for the UK and we also tested rubs from over 50 BBQ recipe books. Our rub will be used at the Chilli fest and will be available to the public.
Why should people visit your stall at chilli fest ?
why should people visit your stall at chilli fest ?
It is the only TRUE BBQ at the event. We will be cooking the meat for over 12 hours for each day with charcoal and american hardwoods. Real pulled pork and Brisket, there is nothing like it.
El Kantina mexican street food
The third and final exhibitor i contacted was El kantina (however there are many more exciting food producers going to be present have a look at the chili fest website for full line up).specialising in fast fresh street food with a modern tex mex flavour.
What was the inspiration behind el kantina ?
The inspiration behind the concept is lots of travelling in The South of the US and Mexico and a general passion for the food from these two neighbouring countries. We wanted to fuse together the best of both cuisines with our modern ‘Twisted Tex-Mex’ menu
You are also looking at the ready meals market traditionally held by large companies what led you to take on the big boys ?
We took the decision to take the ready meals to market due to an obvious gap in the market and consistent demand for the products. We don’t think there are any other independent suppliers proving a retail ready pulled pork dish for independent retailers and wanted to be the first to do it. The popularity of the Pulled Pork at shows and events was a testament to its future success as a retail product and our ‘Chow Down at Home’ range of products. Having worked in the food industry for six years, helping other businesses in new product development, getting the product to market for ourselves was the obvious next step
Why should people visit your stall at chilli fest ?
At chilli festival we will have some of our regular menu favourites such as our Pulled Pork Ninja Nachos (with a good old chilli boost just for the occasion) as well as our Sombrero Basket and Cone of Love! Our Chorizo Chilli Sour Dough Bread Pot will also make an appearance. We will also have a supply of hot chilli condiments for customers to pimp up their chow as they please
Thank you for taking the time to read and i hope this has you fired up for the chilli festival
(sorry couldn't help it) and i hope to see some of you at Delaval hall
next blog will be on a new Newcastle gin bar in a week or so
yours Geordie gourmet
tickets cost £7 and are available online as well as grainger market - french oven , Gateshead - spice monkey , Whitley bay - park view kitchen , New Hartley - post office , Seaton delaval- 10th avenue cakes , Durham indoor market - the curry shop
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