With a vibrant independent food scene, as well as more Michelin-starred chefs than anywhere else in the country outside London, it's safe to say that Brum loves its grub.
The Birmingham Independent Food Fair at Millennium Point on September 12-13 is a weekend dedicated to celebrating the city's home-grown food and drink talent, with a programme packed with traders, tastings, masterclasses and more. Here are a few foodie festival highlights to get your mouth watering:
Street food traders
The Food Fair will feature over 40 local street food traders, restaurants, producers, drink merchants and bars pitching up at Millennium Point to dish out delicious treats from around the world. Food on offer will include Malaysian curries, Cajun jambalaya, Middle-Eastern flatbread, Caribbean jerk chicken and much more.
Traders can enjoy Caribbean influenced dishes from Crave de Taste, fine dining from Fybin and Loin, a Jamaican menu from Jamrock, Punjabi street food from the Indian Rasoi, wood-fired pizzas from Speedough, Sumatran curries from Mama Eti, New Orleans meals from the Southern Oven and many, many more.
Tastings and talks
The food fair will also round up some of Birmingham's food and drink experts, who will be sharing their knowledge over a series of masterclasses exploring everything from craft beer to chocolate.
These include 'Gin-troductions: Getting to Know Gin', with Opus master mixologist Carl Hawkins, 'Chocolate Tasting' with Neil Hughes of Kneals Chocolates and 'Beers from the Black Country' presented by local beer expert David Shipman.
Alternatively, if you're thinking of getting involved yourself, you can learn more at the 'Street Food: How to Set Up Your Own Business' talk with Alan Fox from the Nationwide Caterers Association, or bush up on your wine skills with 'Wine for Beginners: How to Taste Wine Like a Pro' and 'Wine for Adventurers' with an expert from Loki Wine.
You can book tickets for these talks via the Birmingham Independent Food Fair website.
Gin garden and craft beer bar
There will be two unmissable drinking spots to check out while at the food fair: the beer boot camp and gin garden.
The first, run by Sutton Coldfield drink retailer The Cellar Door, will offer visitors the chance to enjoy beers from a number of regional breweries. Included in the list are brews from Purity Brewing Company in Warwickshire, Thornbridge from Derbyshire, Cambridgeshire's Oakham Ales, Walsall's The Backyard Brewhouse and more.
The open-air Jekyll and Hyde Gin Garden promises a nostalgic and quirky gin parlour showcasing the juniper-based spirit in various incarnations, from local distilleries to more established gin brands. Among those on offer will be gin from Langley's, Burliegh's, Hendricks, Broker's and more, made into classic cocktails or a fruity punch.
For more details about what's on, visit the Birmingham Independent Food Fair website.
Birmingham Independent Food Fair, September 12-13. Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7AP. Adult tickets start at £6.50. Buy tickets here.
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