Hundreds savour food festival

It’s a tasty showcase for the town’s wide offering of food and drink establishments, organised by the St Annes Enterprise Partnership (STEP) and lasting throughout the Olympics.

The centrepiece of the event – a cookery demonstration held in The Square – was attended by more than 3,000 people who were encouraged to ‘try out’ the plethora of dishes available.

A marquee featured various cookery demonstrations from the town’s restaurateurs, including spaghetti and Italian meatballs from Tiggis, Chinese and Thai creations by Zen Restaurant, paella by Olivers, chicken souvlaki and lamb kokinsto from Greek Flame Taverna, chicken manpasand Moghul Premier and fishcakes and burgers cooked by Bistro St Annes.

Veli Kirk, owner and chef of Anatolia Turkish Restaurant, who is deputy chairman of STEP, meanwhile wowed the crowds with moussaka and chicken shish and said: “We wanted to bring a buzz to St Annes and it went really well.

“We clearly showed the marvellous and wide range of fantastic food the town has to offer, with everyone working together to deliver a really memorable event.”

A selection of local retailers showcased many delicious wares with great success, with many selling out.

Mark Daniels from the Little Stage Company was the master of ceremonies for the day, providing commentary and entertainment and the event was screened to the public via televisions within the marquee.

The Fayre continues through until Sunday and features a wide range of special offers in the majority of the town’s restaurants and cafes.

It was an idea which resulted from the public consultations initiated by STEP last year, which showed a definite need to highlight the fact that St Annes has some of the finest restaurants in Fylde and the North West.

STEP chairman Bev Wood said: “A common thread of the consultation was the variety of food we have in the town and we felt there was a clear opportunity to showcase the culinary delights we have on offer here.

“With more than a dozen different nationalities for restaurants it seemed obvious to run this first year alongside the dates for the Olympic Games, which runs in Brazil until August 21. The majority of restaurants, cafes and teashops have had special offers and special discounts throughout the Fayre, up to Sunday.”

Darrel Treece-Birch, STEP facilitator and St Anne’s Town Council officer, said: “The Food Showcase Day was a massive success but the Fayre is not finished yet.

“The people behind the town’s food and drink sector work for their businesses, but their hearts have ‘St Annes’ written right across them. Thanks and well done to all the chefs, restaurants and cafes who have served up a feast of a Fayre.” Details of participating restaurants and cafes over the remaining days of the Fayre online at http://stannesenterprisepartnership.co.uk