SUPREME sausages, a fountain of chocolate and a host of good and healthy cuisine will combine next weekend as part of the first Haslemere Food Festival. The town and its surrounding villages will play host to more than 40 food-related events to tickle the tastebuds of food lovers in the area. The festival, planned to run for a fortnight, will be launched at noon in the High Street on September 16. Events, such as the Haslemere Supreme Sausage 2006 competition and the Chocolate Day, will take place within the shopping areas and local buildings such as Haslemere Hall and the museum. Lion Green will provide the venue for Delta Radio's Teddy Bears' Picnic during the first weekend on Sunday, September 17. Local author Sarah Whitaker will be cooking up a treat as part of the Supreme Sausage competition from her base in the Aga Shop in West Street next Saturday. Haslemere Hall will see the launch of Chocolate Day, with treats for all the family and for dedicated chocoholics too. These will include local chocolate from the Chocolate Alchemist, a chocolate fountain, and screenings of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and Chocolat. Local author, cook and food historian Sally Grainger will be demonstrating Roman cooking techniques and offering food tastings outside Grayshott Book Shop in Grayshott Square next Saturday from 11 am. Budding Jamie Olivers and Nigella Lawsons can stake their claim to culinary fame at the Junior MasterChef challenge. Young chefs have until September 15 to submit a picture of a recipe and a list of the ingredients, equipment and method used. Judges will pick winners in three categories - nine to 11 years, 12 to 14 years and 15 to 16 years - who will go on to battle it out in the final, which will be held at Wispers School on Sunday, September 24. The winners of the final will get their flour-caked hands on a Magimix mixer. Entries can be emailed to [email protected]">[email protected] or sent to The Haslemere Junior MasterChef Competition, The Haslemere Initiative, 1A Causeway Side, High Street, Haslemere, GU7 2JZ. The Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa is offering a fresh local produce menu devised by head chef James Peyton, which will include five courses and is planned to run throughout the festival from September 16 to 30. The hotel will also stage a wine and cheese tasting with The Cheesebox, Norbury Blue and The Haslemere Cellar on Tuesday, September 19. Stéphane and French chef Nelly at Brasserie Ma Cuisine in Wey Hill are offering a Special South West Cassoulet Soiree with live smooth jazz in Wey Hill on September 22. There will also be a gala dinner the same evening at The Lythe Hill Hotel, in aid of the mayor's charities, GUTS and PAGEANT. For further details about any of the events visit http://www.haslemere.com/foodfestival">www.haslemere.com/foodfestival or call 01483 523088. l Full details of these events and many others are in the Food Festival Magazine available free with this week's Herald.
