Birmingham’s diverse food sector celebrated at Colmore Food Festival

MORE than 30,000 people are expected to descend on Birmingham this weekend for the annual celebration of the city’s diverse food and dining sector.

Victoria Square is once again the venue for the Colmore Food Festival.

An award-winning community enterprise and recently-opened Brazilian restaurant are the latest venues to join this year’s line-up of food outlets taking part.

Miss Macaroon, a social enterprise founded by EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner Rosie Ginday, lines up alongside Viva Brazil, which has restored a Grade II Listed building on Bennetts Hill to create its flagship venue.

Others appearing include coffee houses Java Lounge and Jake’s Coffee Box, both of which are making their debut at the festival, which is now in its sixth year.

Also appearing are Colmore Business District favourites Nosh & Quaff, Opus, Metro, Hotel du Vin and Purecraft Bar & Kitchen.

Miss Ginday, who trained as a pastry chef at University College Birmingham and has also worked at Michelin-starred restaurant Purnell’s, said: “I’m really excited that Miss Macaroon has been invited to take part in the Colmore Food Festival as we expand into setting up our own retail spaces locally.

This year’s event is sponsored by The Opus family of bars and restaurants, which will have an Opus Garden in the heart of the Festival area.

“We wanted to feature an Opus classic at this year’s Festival… our leek and haddock fishcake with a poached egg and butter sauce,” said Opus managing director Ann Tonks.

“It’s been on our menu from day one and we thought it would be great to serve it this year as the first ever Festival sponsors.

“We also wanted to include a vegetarian and vegan selection and that’s why we’ve come up with the gazpacho.”

The summer staple is made from heritage tomatoes from the Vale of Evesham, while the sweet option is Hereford strawberries with clotted cream sponge.

The Festival also features two live stages; one is the kitchen demo stage, where chefs from BID venues can show off their talents and flair with food showcases and workshops.

The second stage plays host to bands and musicians from in and around Birmingham, who will all be performing live.

Participating at this year’s Festival are:

All Bar One
Asha’s Restaurant
Bar Opus
Centenary Lounge
Chung Ying Central
Edmunds Brewhouse
Ginger’s Bar
Hindley’s Bakery
Hotel du Vin
Java Lounge Coffee House
Jekyll and Hyde
JoJolapa
Metro Bar & Grill
Miss Macaroon
Nosh & Quaff
Old Joint Stock
Opus at Cornwall St.
Purecraft Bar & Kitchen
Purnell’s Restaurant
The Bureau Bar & Kitchen
The Edwardian Tea Rooms
The Old Contemptibles
The Square Peg
The Wellington
Starbucks
Urban Coffee Company
Jake’s Coffee Box
Reuben Colley Fine Art
Viva Brazil
Zen Metro