Falmouth Oyster Festival 2014

Falmouth held it's 5th annual Oyster Festival to mark the start of the oyster dredging season.  Because of ancient laws put in place to protect the local ecology the oyster boats (called Falmouth Working Boats) are prohibited from using engines and must use sail power and hand pulled dredges to harvest the oysters from October to March.

Mr R and I made the 5 hour journey to Falmouth in Cornwall to take part in this year's festival.

We arrived on the Thursday afternoon and after a quick cup of coffe in our B&B headed down to the town for the start of the festival. There was a fundraising event on featuring the well known Port Isaac group 'Fisherman's Friends' who sang a range of their favourite Sea Shanty Songs to a side slapping, hand clapping crowd.

Mr R had his first encounter with Skinners beers and the look on his face told me that their Betty Stogs was an instant success.

Over the course of the rest of the weekend we came and went into the festival tent, enjoying both the festival and the fantastic weather.  There we were able to try loads of good food from local restaurants and caterers such as:-

Sea Bream Goan style from id Diner & Take Away, a new diner in Newquay - contact them about their bistro nights.

Fresh mackerel sandwich from a local trader using sustainable fish locally caught.

Grumpies (seen here smiling!) make a fab range of hand made pies using locally sourced ingredients to create such tasty pies like Chicken, Gammon & Leek, Pork, Apple & Cider, Blue Cheese, Mushroom and Walnut (v) and a load more equally exciting combinations.

We tasted Worthy Cheddar cheese and really loved the cheddary taste that was both strong and creamy and their creamy Cornish Blue too.

The Cornish Salt Company, Cornish Sea Salt is naturally rich in minerals and lower in sodium making it a healthier choice over processed table salts.

 

I treated Mr R to the special festival shirt.

Me helping Chef Benedict Quinn on the Cookery Demonstration Stage!

The finished mackerel wraps - one for each person in the seating area! Chef Ben needed my help!

Some delightful platefuls from Savour & Relish, celebrating Cornish seafood in an innovative way. Mr R said the Ox Cheek & Oyster Cr4oustillant with Horseradish and Watercress was the best thing he had tasted in ages!!  I was a distinct fan of the Salt & Pepper Squid, Kaffir Line Leaf, Lemongrass, Raddish & Chilli.

And of course .... the oysters put in an appearance! Tender and sweet and so very fresh and truly the stars of the festival.

The festival was officially opened with a parade involving all the local school children.

Mr R and I had such a good time, the weather was perfect, the people we met really friendly, the local food fantastic and we decided that we would attend the Falmouth Oyster Festival again next year.  Want to come with us!!

Many thanks to everyone for all the samples of food and drink over the weekend.  As usual all opinions and photos are my own.