In the first of our BRAND NEW weekly columns from Guernsey’s EDABL (“Eat, Drink and Be Local”) we find out more about this new initiative and the ethos behind it.
“Eat Drink & Be Local” is an apt title and description for this new Guernsey festival of food, drink and all things local that will be celebrated across three St Peter Port Seafront Sundays in each of July, August and September, culminating in a Festival Finale Weekend at the end of September.
Guernsey is home to a plethora of entrepreneurs who have crafted and created their own unique offerings of all products relating to food, drink or artisanal crafts. ‘Eat Drink & Be Local’ aims to showcase as many of these successful stories as possible thereby providing a real authentic taste of Guernsey.
The three Seafront Sundays remaining for 2019 will take place on Crown Pier and along the Seafront in St Peter Port on:
- Sunday 28 July
- Sunday 18 August
- Sunday 1 September
with the Festival Finale Weekend being staged on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September 2019.
“Whilst the producers of the myriad locally grown, reared, distilled or created food and drink products are well known to each other, Guernsey as a whole – and more importantly visitors to Guernsey – may not necessarily know what an economic enabler these success stories are.” said Charlotte Dickson, Chair of “Eat Drink & Be Local” (EDABL).
Pictured: Charlotte Dickson
“Starting with 2019, and continuing over the coming years, EDABL’s mission is to bring to the forefront these innovative and creative individuals who have crafted and honed their local products to a level that would be worthy of a position on a regional or international platform.” Each “Eat Drink & Be Local” Seafront Sunday will bring together a quality display of local producers, lectures and talks from food and drink authors, demonstrations by chefs (local and visiting) with atmospheric live music woven throughout each EDABL Seafront Sunday that will open at 10:00 and close at 17:00 on each of the above dates.
EDABL is supported by a grant from the Committee for Economic Development as part of Guernsey’s economic diversification strategy. The art of educating children about the origins, sources and benefits of locally created food and beverage products will be a regular feature of each EDABL Seafront Sunday with The Creation Station occupying the southern section of the Hammer End of Crown Pier. Children of all ages will be able to create their own Hedge Veg Stall, learn how to make a homemade Pizza, discover the wonders of underwater produce and make and decorate their own Chefs hats to wear at home in the kitchen
The main focus of attention for all EDABL Seafront Sundays will be on Crown Pier that will feature The Creation Station activity marquee, two demonstration and live music marquees and a landscaped garden called “The Watering Hole” where food and drink enthusiasts can sit at leisure sample the very best locally brewed, distilled and crafted beverages along with an array of food stalls featuring tastes from around the world but made in Guernsey.
The organisers of “Eat Drink & Be Local” welcome enquiries from any producer in Guernsey who would like to take part and requests for pitches can be emailed to alex@eventguernsey.comor by calling (01481) 728686.