A SEASONAL

first came to Beechenhurst on Sunday (November 26) when Forest Showcase launched their Christmas food festival.

The event saw a mixture of festive treats, handmade gifts and local produce as well as Christmas-themed activities for both adults and children.

Organiser Amanda Smith said: “As well as the usual seasonal foodie treats like roast chestnuts, mince pies and mulled wine, regional producers and breweries laid out their wares to add

a real local flavour

to the festive proceedings. Chefs were demonstrating seasonal recipes in our cookery theatre and there were plenty of  kid’s activities and local arts and crafts.”

The event saw performances from the Singing Clubs of Forest of Dean and Chepstow, Christmas trees were on sale from Coinros Nurseries in Lydney and Harts Barn’s Yvette Farrell hosted a Christmas cookery theatre.

Plenty of local producers were offering the public a chance to sample or buy their wares. Ian Barnes of Infamous catering created a mincemeat and apple strudel, Sixteen Community Cafe in Coleford offered gluten-free muffins and V Q Wines brought along a selection of hedgerow and fruit wines.

Fabien Voisin, of Chepstow’s Tell me Wine shop gave a talk on pairing festive food and wine, while Kitchen Flowers from Mitcheldean offered a selection of floral jellies, syrups and seasonings.

Hale and Co. (Drybrook) Ltd. once again supported the Showcase by supplying the ESSE electric range cooker used in the popular cookery demonstrations.

The local builders’ merchant also

brought along their impressive exhibition vehicle complete with

on-board range cooker and provided hot festive treats along with goodie bags and product information.

•See this week’s Review for more photographs.