Food Festival & Chilli Event Photos

Grillstock 2010

Grillstock Festival 2010 was held in Bristol and drew the crowds in the 1000s.

Fire Dragon Chillies

New Zealand gourmet hot chilli sauce manufacturer in Hokianga Harbour.

Levens Chilli Festival 2010

The Cumbrian Chilli Fest, just outside of Kendal was a huge success this year.

West Dean Chilli Festival 2010

The 2010 Chilli Fiesta at West Dean Gardens was the hottest yet and with over 19,000 visitors the fiery fiesta was a great success! All had the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful and vast collection of chillis (200 plus) grown in the magnificent restored Victorian Glasshouses, displayed in pristine rows in every shape and size ranging from the serene green through to red hot. And to whet the appetite even more, there were over 150 stall holders selling hot and spicy foods, chilli beer, chilli plants, plus chilli growing demos, salsa music and lots of dancing! "Vamos muchachos!" For those who wanted a saucy time at the fiesta, checked out Trees Can't Dance. TCD produces hot, tasty marinades and sauces from the world's most northerly chilli farm- in Northumberland! "The Chilli Fiesta at West Dean is the highlight of our year as far as consumer shows go," says Dan May, founder of TCD. "This year we will be highlighting our in-the-bag marinades (Spicy Cajun, Texas BBQ and Flaming Mango) as truly innovative products that take all the time out of creating great barbeque marinades!" And if you fancy something a little hotter then grab a bottle of Flaming Lips Hot Sauce. Ouch! A show favourite, Chilli Pepper Pete, launched a new range of three curry sauces this year, marketed as the world's hottest curry sauces and made from the naga chilli. And just in case you needed cooling off there was Pete's new Dragon's Blood ice-cream - new at this year's fiesta! A range of other Dragon's Blood products will also be on sale for the brave-hearted. "Every year we try to do something new for the fiesta," says Pete, "as it's the biggest and best show of the year. It usually takes a month to prepare so July is a very busy and creative month for us. See you at the show!" Also new for this year, Wine Sorted Ltd are holding a wine theatre, with wine tasting sessions over all three days of the show. Giving you the chance to discover which wines to savour with spicy food, and cool down with a glass of Chilean Errazuriz. West Dean's Chilli Fiesta is a great day out for all the family with food, drink, live music and dancing. This year, the entertainment had its own tent on the front lawn, next to a bigger and better beer tent to keep everyone cool and refreshed. Please note, only assistance dogs are allowed into events.

Manchester Chilli Competition

Photos and video from the Manchester Chilli Festival & chilli-eating competition, held outside Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square. The competition was won by local chilli-champion eater, Geoffrey Slawson.

Waynesboro 2010 Chili Blues and Brews

2011 Birmingham Chilli Festival at Brindleyplace

Brindleyplace supported by the Broad Street BID will be turning up the heat this October by hosting the first ever Chilli Festival to be held in Birmingham. As part of the new Birmingham Food Fest, on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd October, Brindleyplace will be turned into a hotbed of activity with the help of market operator, Sketts. There will be a wide range of stalls offering both chilli-related produce such as jam, chutneys, breads, oils and chocolate as well as food to eat on the day from across the globe. The fiery festival will also feature live cookery demonstrations with a chilli theme from a number of chefs around Brindleyplace including Bank Restaurant, Thai Edge and Edmunds and a “Ready, Steady, Shake!” cocktail demonstration from the popular bar, Nuvo. For those with a real hunger for heat there will be a chilli eating competition with 12 chillis of increasing strength to work through. There will also be plenty of entertainment for all ages and palates with live music, dancing, a bouncy castle, face painting, street entertainment and event hosting courtesy of radio station brmb. Ailsa Raine, Marketing Executive at Brindleyplace said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting the first Birmingham Chilli Festival. Thanks to the enthusiasm and welcoming nature of people that visit our Local Produce Markets, Brindleyplace has a good reputation with producers and has attracted chill specialists from further afield.” “There are so many countries which have spicy specialities; the festival will be a showcase for a diverse range of cuisines from Caribbean to Spanish and Thai to Italian complemented by live music, dancing and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.” Russell Dean of market operator Sketts said: “A number of major cities and counties across the country hold chilli festivals which are incredibly popular with both locals and those travelling from further afield. Until now there has been a gap in the Midlands and the cosmopolitan nature of Birmingham’s food scene seemed to be the perfect fit. We anticipate that the Birmingham Chilli Festival in Brindleyplace will become a major date on our annual calendar of events.” Emma Gray, Director of Marketing Services at Visit Birmingham, the team behind Birmingham Food Fest, said: “Birmingham has a growing reputation as a hotbed of culinary creativity. From our diverse range of cuisines to Michelin stars, the city is a foodie lovers’ haven and Birmingham Food Fest this October provides an opportunity to celebrate and sample all it has to offer. “With over 100 fringe events taking place throughout Food Fest, Brindleyplace’s Chilli Festival is yet another great opportunity for visitors to Birmingham to get hands on by sampling fresh produce, as well as eating out at some of the city’s best restaurants.” The Birmingham Chilli Festival is part of the new 10 day gastronomic celebration of food and drink throughout the city from 14th – 23rd October. Birmingham Food Fest is set to showcase the revolutionary talent of the city’s culinary scene with over 80 restaurants producing irresistible festival menus at discounted prices and a mouth-watering programme of food and drink themed events taking place throughout the city.