On Thursday night gone, I was lucky enough to be invited to Hillsborough Castle for media night about the new and impending food festival. It’s the first year of the event and there’s already a huge celebrity chef line up confirmed with the like of Bake Off’s very own Nadiya and BBC’s Eat Well for Less Chris Bavin!
Having never been at the Castle before I was well intrigued to have a nose around and to be fair I wasn’t disappointed…and that didn’t even include a tour of the castle! The place is absolutely stunning.
We were treated to drinks of arrival and a few of the stalls that are going to be at the food festival were offering some of their goods. The food from the Parson’s Nose was a right treat for the eyes and the mouth - so much so that I almost felt bad about eating the food…almost!
The Yellow Door, which if you’re local to the area will know is a gorgeous deli/bakery business which is renowned for using local produce to produce food of the best quality. Well they are now also going to be providing the catering at the new Castle Café and Stable Yard Tea Room – reason enough to visit!
At the media event, chefs did a quick demo to show us the slow roasted pork dish that we would be enjoying later that evening. The one we were served had been cooking since early that morning and it literally fell off the fork. The stuffing was made using ingredients grown in the walled garden at the castle. To me, this is the real gem in the crown of this place.
The walled garden is a 4acre site, which a mere 3 years ago was nothing but grass. Now, Adam and his team have created an absolute oasis for flowers, herbs, fruit and veg – all of which go into being used in the food at the café and tea rooms. I cannot tell you the difference in the taste of the food when it’s that fresh. Insanely good!
Poor Adam had the pleasure of sitting with me during dinner grilling him about the garden and how it came into fruition! Thanks for putting up with my incessant questions Adam – this guy is one a kind. What he and his team have created is nothing short of magical.
The salads that were provided alongside the pork were so good – I was so annoyed at myself that I wasn’t fit to finish all the food!! Cannot recommend this place enough. Also, shout out to ‘Young Buck’ cheese…literally the best cheese I have ever tasted. Apparently it’s unpasteurised and that’s the difference. Currently searching for stockists so I can have that in my life all the time….!
It’s the absolute perfect venue for the food festival which will be taking place between Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July. An array of local food producers and celebrity chefs, all set in those majestic grounds. Promises to be an absolute treat! Westlife on the Friday and this Saturday...#winning!
All of the information needed is available on Hillsborough Castle and Gardens website, visit www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle
Now wonder can I use my one and only claim to fame being on the Bake Off to blag meeting some of these famouses?!