07 Jun 2024
Already considered one of the highlights of the St Albans events calendar, the Foodies Festival made its triumphant return to the grounds of Oaklands College last weekend, for three days of music, cookery and fun.
Topping the bill were Blue, Sister Sledge ft Kathy Sledge and the Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra, while celebrity chefs included Harpenden’s own Theo Michaels, This Morning’s Omar Allibhoy and former MasterChef contestants Scott Barnard, Omar Foster and Sonia Gallo.
Duncan James was missing from the Blue line-up after being rushed to hospital following complications from a minor operation he had two weeks ago. Bandmate Antony Costa, who revealed he grew up in Bricket Wood, said Duncan was doing well and recovering in hospital.
The chefs included local names Ren Behan (renbehan.com) and Crishi White of The White Lotus Cake Company.
Ren, author of various Polish recipe books, said: “It was a real pleasure to take part in the Foodies Festival 2024, especially in my home city of St Albans. The crowd were warm and welcoming. I made a Polish cheesecake live for the audience in the Chef’s Theatre and a vanilla and chocolate marbled bundt cake in the Cake and Dessert Theatre. Both recipes were from my book The Sweet Polish Kitchen, published by Harper Collins in February.
“The Foodies Festival was a wonderful opportunity to introduce my baking to a new audience, who asked lots of interesting questions and picked up lots of tips. I also enjoyed meeting some of our local chefs, and other dessert makers in Hertfordshire, as well as some top talent including chefs and authors from further afield.
“Theo Michaels, author and TV chef from neighbouring Harpenden entertained the crowds. It was great to see a whole variety of dishes being demonstrated, including seasonal and local produce, as well as international treats, such as Spanish and Malaysian food and sweet treats from my own Polish kitchen. I look forward to even more people hearing about this great event at Oaklands College Campus and joining in next year.”
Crishi (@thewhitelotuscakecompany) added: “Having attended the Foodies Festival last year as a guest and loving the vibe, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to showcase my work and present in the cake theatre.
“I demonstrated how to make chocolate cupcakes with my signature chocolate buttercream and taught the audience how to elevate their home decorating skills by creating edible fondant roses. I guided them through a step-by-step process to craft these seemingly intricate decorations. By the end of the session, many attendees expressed that they felt confident and excited to try the techniques themselves at home!
“I chose this demonstration because I believe it is highly accessible and I find great joy in empowering people to create such beautiful things themselves. I am also passionate about the connection between mindfulness and creativity. Working with your hands is a peaceful activity that allows you to focus entirely on the task at hand, providing a break from the many demands on your mind. In my experience, cake decorating offers a respite from the busyness of everyday life and gives you time to yourself – unless, of course, you’re baking for a child’s birthday party, which I love doing as well!”
Aerial photos by Andy Lawrence.
