Ahead of food festival season, meet the producers who put nothing but passion into their produce.
Find out which festivals they’ll be at and where to stock up on their goods after the events …
CALDER’S KITCHEN
Sunderland-based street food business Calder’s Kitchen is a firm favourite on the food festival scene.
It is owned by Anne-Marie and Andrew Calder who make traditional piccalilli from a family recipe. They started making the piccalilli as gifts for friends and family, which became so popular that in 2015, they set up Calder’s Kitchen.
Now, Calder’s Kitchen has three products available: the traditional piccalilli – which won a prestigious Great Taste Award in 2016 – a spicy chillililli and a sillylilli, for those who like it hot, hot, hot.
Use it as a relish for your burgers, or serve it alongside a ploughman’s platter for a punchy kick.
WHERE TO BUY: Pick up Calder’s Kitchen products at the North East Chilli Festival, which kicks off tomorrow and runs until Sunday (www.chillifest-ne.co.uk); the Proper Food and Drink Festivals (www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk), Brocksbushes Farm Summer Fayre from July 8-9; and Kells Lane Food Market (the 1st Saturday of each month) and Staiths Food Market (2nd Saturday of each month).
Also available in: Simply Local, Gateshead; Blagdon Farm Shop, in Seaton Burn; Beamish Museum; Mainsgill Farm Shop, Richmond; Brocksbushes Farm Shop, Corbridge; Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett; and Deli Around the Corner, Tynemouth. Or buy online at www.calderskitchen.co.uk. Calder’s Kitchen can also supply its products to regional restaurants, cafes and gastro- pubs who champion local produce.
MIVESI SPICES
Have you ever loved a meal at a restaurant so much that you wish you could recreate it yourself at home?
Authentic Bangladeshi restaurant, Mivesi, in Alnwick, has made it easy with its Mivesi spice kits. After customers repeatedly asked for recipes, owners Amina and Roy decided to roast and blend spices for them, as well as provide traditional know- how hints and tips with a cookbook, so people could create the perfect curry every time at home.
Each spice kit is made with traditional Indian spices and comes with a cookbook making it quick, easy and simple to replicate the taste of Mivesi restaurant’s best dishes.
The venuture has proved such as success that Amina and Roy have also launched street food, too, selling their high-quality dishes – found in the restaurant – at food festivals.
Amina and Roy’s passion is to showcase true, authentic Bangladeshi cuisine and teach others how to easily recreate it in their own homes.
WHERE TO BUY: Visit Mivesi Spices at the Proper Food and Drink Festivals (www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk); Saltburn Food Festival on July 30 (saltburnfoodfestival.com); and at Tynemouth Market and Alnwick Market monthly.
Visit mivesispices.co.uk to order a free sample.
CARIBBEAN CUISINE
He’s used to putting out fires in his full-time job, but now Ryan McVay is turning up the heat in the kitchen with his Trinidadian-inspired street food.
Born and bred in Washington, the fireman learnt to cook authentic Trinidadian and Caribbean cuisine from his mum and gran – both from Trinidad and Tobago, as well as trips to the Caribbean.
He realised how difficult it was to find authentic Caribbean food in the North East and started perfecting dishes which he tried out on his family, friends and work colleagues.
In January 2016, Ryan launched The Calabash Tree. Using flavours from Trinidad and Tobago to create vibrant Caribbean street food, The Calabash Tree offers private dinner parties, for £25 a head, where guests can enjoy a three-course meal and a cocktail – all prepared by Ryan – in the comfort of their own home.
The Calabash Tree also has regular supper club and pop-up events.
WHERE TO BUY: You will be able to find The Calabash Tree at the monthly Jesmond Food Market from July, the Quayside Market in Newcastle and you can book Ryan for your own event or celebration at www.thecalabashtree.com
LE MINI MACARON
Le Mini Macaron, based in Newcastle, is run by Gillian and Joanne.
The mother and daughter team specialise in making traditional French macarons that are gluten free and are made with 100 per cent natural ingredients. Not only do they provide bespoke macarons for weddings as favours and wedding towers, you can also find them at food festivals around the North East.
You can find all the details for which food festivals they’ll be attending at www.leminimacaron.co.uk Macarons can also be ordered online – all you have to do is choose your flavours.
SMOKEY JOE’S
Smokey Joe’s Traditional German Sausage is a family-run catering business.
It’s owned by Nicholas Ling and daughter Raine who sells sausage including traditional Bratwurst, smokey krakauer and cheese krakauer.
“Our sausage also comes with traditional German trimmings, including warm currywurst, senf mustard, sauerkraut and even fried onions – if you fancy something a little closer to home,” says Nicholas, whose meat comes from a German butchers.
Visit Smokey Joe’s at all of Proper Food and Drinks Festivals (www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals.co.uk).
You can also book them for your own private events, corporate events and weddings.
Email nicholasling@live.co.uk
