Press Releases

September 22 2009

Food lovers flock to east Manchester this October

Food lovers and cooking enthusiasts are being treated to dozens of events this October as part of East Manchester’s Food and Drink Fringe Festival.

The annual event organised and funded by New East Manchester, Manchester City Council and Zest healthy living project has been running alongside the Manchester Food and Drink Festival since 2002, and provides a feast of activities for residents to take part in whilst raising awareness of healthy eating, local sourcing, catering careers and fair-trade.

This year a range of events and activities are being offered, from cookery displays at east Manchester libraries and food poetry workshops to a cake competition run by Manchester City Football Club and ‘Cooking TV’, a video blog project being run by Peoples Voice Media.

Other events include a Community Food Day on Monday 5th October in St Annes Square from 1pm with workshops and cooking demonstration and then Savoury Saturday, a family day fun day being held at Gorton Market on Saturday 10th October from 11am – 3pm with food tasting, live music, art activities and family entertainment all on offer.

Next on the menu is the return of the F word event on Tuesday 6th October, from 1pm at Manchester College with students from Cedar Mount school battling against Manchester College pupils in the kitchen. To book a table contact Jo or Lela on 0161 223 1155 or email l.cribbin@manchester.gov.uk

This year New East Manchester and Zest have also awarded 14 grants to local groups for the first time - in order for them to host their own events across the area.

These include a community open day at Abbey Hey Allotment Society on Sunday 4th October, from 12pm – 3pm, giving visitors the chance to explore the allotments and find out about growing vegetables with free recipe cards.

A few days later residents can learn the ins and outs of keeping poultry for fresh eggs and growing fruits and vegetables in small places from 2pm – 5pm at Gorton’s Faith in the Community Allotment on the 8^th October.

Also on the 8^th from 1pm - 4pm festival-goers are being invited to take part in a Tasty Tea Dance at the City of Manchester Stadium with a live singer, DJ and quiz. For booking telephone 0161 438 7834 or email deborah.glynn@mcfc.co.uk

Festival organisers are also offering 25 Fairtrade goody bags containing leaflets, posters, tea, coffee, chocolate and sugar to give away for free to community groups, local services and schools across the east Manchester area who are willing to sign up to be a Fairtrade Friendly Organisation. For more information please contact Lela or Jo on 0161 223 1155

Ends

For further information or photographs contact Jeni Quirke at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155, ext 2153.

Notes to editors

New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, the national regeneration agency English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's role to turn the Regeneration Framework into action, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects and co-ordinate regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.