THE very best of local food and drink was enjoyed at the Crediton Food and Drink Festival, held in Crediton’s Town Square on Saturday, June 10.

Crowds of people attended and before them found an array of stalls of delicious food and fantastic drinks.

After a break of five years, it was the welcome return of the eagerly awaited event.

There were stalls on the Town Square and in Market Street and those attending could enjoy food to eat “on-the-go” or food and drink to take home.

The festival was opened by the Town Crier and it then included a Punch and Judy Show and music by Sandford Sings.

Amusing shoppers were “The Grannies” and “The Cleaners”, with their unique brand of street comedy.

Strawberries galore from Thorne’s Farm Shop. AQ 0588 The Ship Hotel stall was very busy. AQ 0571 The Sandford Gate Milk Company was recently announced as a Taste of the West Gold Award Medal winner. A J Cox and Co butchers sold out before the end of the Festival. AQ 0670 The Baobab stall was incredibly busy. AQ 0583 A view of a part of the Festival. AQ 0673 Amy from The Living Slow Cooking School had a stall at the Food and Drink Festival. AQ 0595 A long queue on the Baobab stall. AQ 0720 The ‘Courier’ editor was cleaned by ‘The Cleaners’! The Kitchen @ 25 sold out during the afternoon of the Festival. AQ 0597 Kate Povey sold some of her delicious apple juice and cider from apples from local trees. AQ 0642 Icicle Tricycle was a favourite to visit during the Festival. AQ 0645 Hat-a-Cakes was the first to sell out completely during the Festival. AQ 0636 Busy between the marquees. AQ 0706 Making a purchase on one of the stalls. AQ 0574 Crediton Food and Drink Festival mugs were for sale. AQ 0685 Umbrellas of different varieties were needed a couple of times during the Festival. AQ 0609 During one of the demonstrations in the Ashgrove Kitchens Central Marquee. AQ 0614 The noodle bar was one of the most popular. AQ 0680 Kimchi and Kraut was the title of this talk in the Central Marquee. AQ 0617 Delicious cheeses with local names on sale. AQ 0631 Norsworthy Dairy Cheese was a busy stall. AQ 0632 Pork products were available on this stall. AQ 0628 Scotch eggs of every flavour were available. AQ 0606 Cottage Beer was appreciated during the warm weather. AQ 0603 Curry and other dishes were available on this stall. AQ 0654 ‘The Cleaners’ provided some amusing street entertainment. AQ 0660 Fermented Foods of Crediton stall. AQ 0710 Taw Valley Cheese was popular. AQ 0670 During one of the talks in the Central Marquee. AQ 0690 When it was getting busy. AQ 0694 Market Street was busy with stalls and people. AQ 0700 We loved this notice on one of the bales used to sit on. AQ 0715 Sandford Sings during a performance in the Central Marquee. AQ 0727

Strawberries galore from Thorne’s Farm Shop. AQ 0588

The Ship Hotel stall was very busy. AQ 0571

The Sandford Gate Milk Company was recently announced as a Taste of the West Gold Award Medal winner.

A J Cox and Co butchers sold out before the end of the Festival. AQ 0670

The Baobab stall was incredibly busy. AQ 0583

A view of a part of the Festival. AQ 0673

Amy from The Living Slow Cooking School had a stall at the Food and Drink Festival. AQ 0595

A long queue on the Baobab stall. AQ 0720

The ‘Courier’ editor was cleaned by ‘The Cleaners’!

The Kitchen @ 25 sold out during the afternoon of the Festival. AQ 0597

Kate Povey sold some of her delicious apple juice and cider from apples from local trees. AQ 0642

Icicle Tricycle was a favourite to visit during the Festival. AQ 0645

Hat-a-Cakes was the first to sell out completely during the Festival. AQ 0636

Busy between the marquees. AQ 0706

Making a purchase on one of the stalls. AQ 0574

Crediton Food and Drink Festival mugs were for sale. AQ 0685

Umbrellas of different varieties were needed a couple of times during the Festival. AQ 0609

During one of the demonstrations in the Ashgrove Kitchens Central Marquee. AQ 0614

The noodle bar was one of the most popular. AQ 0680

Kimchi and Kraut was the title of this talk in the Central Marquee. AQ 0617

Delicious cheeses with local names on sale. AQ 0631

Norsworthy Dairy Cheese was a busy stall. AQ 0632

Pork products were available on this stall. AQ 0628

Scotch eggs of every flavour were available. AQ 0606

Cottage Beer was appreciated during the warm weather. AQ 0603

Curry and other dishes were available on this stall. AQ 0654

‘The Cleaners’ provided some amusing street entertainment. AQ 0660

Fermented Foods of Crediton stall. AQ 0710

Taw Valley Cheese was popular. AQ 0670

During one of the talks in the Central Marquee. AQ 0690

When it was getting busy. AQ 0694

Market Street was busy with stalls and people. AQ 0700

We loved this notice on one of the bales used to sit on. AQ 0715

Sandford Sings during a performance in the Central Marquee. AQ 0727

The stalls sold locally roasted coffee and hot drinks, “dirty” burgers, locally made cheese, Nachos/burgers, cooked food, locally made deluxe marshmallows, cakes, brownies and cupcakes and even ice-cream sold from a traditional trike.

There were rare breed pork sausages, sausage rolls and Scotch eggs, locally produced meat and pasties, award winning vodka and liquers, bottle conditioned ales, small batch craft real ale and multi award winning gin.

Other stalls were selling fresh pasteurised whole milk and flavoured milkshakes, gin by the glass (and bottle!), organic breads, Ukrainian cakes/biscuits, fermented food products, kimchi cheese toasties and cheese, quiche, sausage rolls and deli items.

There were delicious strawberries, noodles, curry dishes, goats cheese and roast pork rolls, cider and soft drinks.

DEMONSTRATIONS

In the Central Marquee there were some interesting demonstrations and talks.

These included Chef James from The Duck at Yeoford cooking a dish showcasing locally sourced duck, Rose from Red Earth Ferments demonstrating how to make Kimchi, Amy Oboussier from Living Slow Cookery School talking about cooking healthy, seasonal meals in your own kitchen.

Amy Oboussier from Hodmedods gave an informative talk on the benefits of farming sustainably, cooking with and eating pulses and grains in Britain.

There was also a cookery demonstration about batch cooking with Grechen Oldland.

SOLD OUT

Many of the stalls saw long queues of people and early during the afternoon a number of stalls had completely sold out of their wares.

The Festival was supported by several local organisations, including Crediton Town Council, Ashgrove Kitchens, Peck and Strong and Crediton Chamber of Commerce.

The event was a credit to the organisers and all the stallholders who obviously take pride in making the best products possible.