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“We said it last year and we’ll say it again, this compact, intelligently run, varied food festival is one of the very best in the region” The Great Food Magazine September 2012.

With praise like this the Oundle Food Festival has a lot to live up to, but the organisers are confi dent that the 2013 Festival will beat all previous records for bringing visitors to the town to sample the huge range of food and food-related goods on offer. On Saturday
20th July, from 8.30am to 4.30pm, the whole of Oundle’s beautiful and historic Market Place will be closed to traffi c, and around 5,000 people are expected to visit the town to sample all that is on offer.

It isn’t just about the Street Market either: during the previous week, timed to coincide with Oundle International Festival which is on over the same period (see pages 64-67), all kinds of events are taking place in Oundle and surrounding villages: cookery demonstrations, workshops, tastings and talks, children’s activities at Barnwell Park. Keep an eye on the Festival’s website for details as they become available on www.oundlefoodfestival.co.uk

The line-up for this year’s Street Market is terrifi c, with around 70 stalls providing an amazing diversity of produce and producers, and giving opportunities for people to reconnect with their food - tasting it as it really should be and meeting the people who grow, nurture and produce it. The stalls will sell everything from herbs to honey, gin, real ales and wine, fresh meat and fi sh, handmade chocolates, chillies, oils and vinegars, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, and you can buy delicious foods for your lunch. Drop-in talks and demonstrations will be happening in the Market Place throughout the day, as well as opportunities to learn to juggle, or skin a fi sh! Street Theatre and music from the Fringe Festival will add to the carnival atmosphere. There is plenty of off-street car parking close to the town centre, with park & ride facility.

Saturday 6th July, 12 noon
Italian Wine Tasting and Light Lunch
Hambleton Hall; a tasting of summer wines where Sommelier Dominique Baduel will compare and contrast white and red wines from Italy. Tickets: £70 per person inclusive of 12.5% service.

15th - 19th July & 22nd - 25th July
The ‘Aroundle’. A special 4-course menu at The Falcon, Fotheringhay, available lunch and evening from 15th -19th July and 22nd - 25th July. £35 per head, bookings from 01832 226254.

Monday 15th July, 10am to 4pm
Bread-making Workshop. Bread too heavy? Not getting consistent results? Or never made bread but want to learn? For all those that need some hands-on help with their bread making, Filam Smallbridge of the Small Bread Company will be running an all-day bread-making workshop in her premises in Barnwell. Places are very limited so book early! Tickets are £35 and include a light lunch from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by ringing 01832 270938. Filam is also kindly offering readers of Village Connect a chance to win a free place. To enter, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your details.

Wednesday 17th July, 12 noon
Beginners Guide to AGA with Sue Wrigley. Your perfect introduction to AGA cooking with Sue Wrigley, who has over 25 years demonstrating experience, in the UK and France, at an informal, entertaining demonstration at the Aga Showroom in Warmington! Tickets £10, booked from 01832 280855.

Wednesday 17th July, 7.30pm
Gin Tasting at Amps Fine Wines, Oundle. A fun evening where you will learn about and taste different gins with various mixers, rounded off with an experimental cocktail making session! Limited tickets at £20/person can be booked on www.ampsfinewines.co.uk, in the shop or by phone 01832 273502.

Thursday 18th July, 4pm
Tea at The Talbot with Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall. An illustrated talk about cooking, rationing and food, geared towards traditional home cooking in general. Signings of The Good Granny Cookbook and her other ‘Good Granny’ books this is an opportunity to have tea with the well known author, mother and granny. The chef from The Talbot will be cooking teatime recipes from her books and serving them for you to enjoy. Tickets £15, to include tea, from Oundle Box Offi ce, 4 New Street, 01832 274734, or online at www.oundlefestival.org.uk