Basingstoke ObserverThe Alresford Watercress Festival will return on Sunday 15 May and organisers have launched a competition and revealed more about what to expect from the day.
Visitors can expect a raft of celebrity chefs such as TV’s Lesley Waters and MasterChef’s Shelina Permaloo, showing how to get creative with watercress, plus a competition for locals to demonstrate their culinary creativity with the final judging to take place at the festival.
Both of these renowned chefs can be seen at the demo kitchen on Broad Street, as well as popular local chefs, Andy McKenzie and Phil Yeomans from the Lainston House Hotel, Becca Hoddinott from the Natural Cooking Company, and Hampshire born chef, Thomas Hinsley who for several years worked in Michelin starred London restaurants including Launceston Place. They’ll wow and inspire the crowd, ably assisted by festival regular, Davina Tibbetts who will keep them in line and on time.
Of course, with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee only three short weeks later, expect recipes that could grace the table of any royal and plenty of perfect street party dishes. But the organisers are keen to encourage festival goers to get involved and are running a competition to ‘create a dish fit for the Queen’ with one lucky winner walking away with a fantastic YETI Roadie worth £200 for all those summer picnics, filled with freshly harvested watercress and a delicious hamper of fresh produce, fizz and much more. Second and third prizes of Hampshire Farmers Market goodies and lots of wonderful watercress will also be awarded.
To be in with a chance to win this tasty prize, entrants are asked to create a savoury or sweet recipe suitable for a celebration picnic, or party and which serves four people. The other caveat is that a maximum of seven ingredients can be used, including of course watercress, although other seasoning, herbs and spices are additional.
Recipes will be judged in advance by Davina Tibbetts and members of the Watercress Festival team. The three finalists will be invited to bring their prepared dishes to the festival, where they will be joined on stage for the final tasting by the Lord Mayor of Winchester, celebrity chefs and some of the festival organisers.
The closing date for entries is Saturday 7 May 2022 and entrants need to simply complete the form www.watercressfestival.org/competitions and include a photo of their finished dish.
There is no charge to attend the festival although there are parking fees and the organisers do urge visitors to give a donation to Abby’s Heroes, a local children’s cancer charity, in exchange for the free watercress available throughout the duration of the festival.
