CONFIDENTIAL PROMOTION
A 5ft 7ins elephant crafted entirely out of cake will take pride of place at Bolton Food and Drink Festival.
Created by master baker Rose Dummer, also known as Rosie Cake-Diva, for the festival’s tenth birthday celebrations, the cake will be unveiled on Friday when the four-day foodie event gets underway.
Every celebration needs a big cake
The elephant has long been a historic symbol of Bolton and has featured on the town’s coat of arms since 1799.
Made from Genoise sponge and covered in 150kg of icing and 30kg of chocolate ganache, the elephant weighs in at close to 250kg – the equivalent of three celebrity chefs. He will also balance a basket of edible fruit, vegetables and savoury delights on his trunk.
The huge cake will be on display throughout the festival, and will then be shared between local charity Urban Outreach and festival-goers.
Leader of Bolton Council, Councillor Cliff Morris, said: “Every celebration needs a big cake and we’ve pulled out all the stops for what will be a 10th birthday to remember. Thousands of people travel from all around to enjoy the Bolton Food and Drink Festival and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the party this year.”
Work has already started to get the festival ready for this weekend. The event is organised by Bolton Council, in association with Aldi, which is opening a state of the art distribution centre in the town later this year.
Construction of the marquees, which will host the chefs’ demonstrations, is now complete. Michelin-starred Michael Caines will officially launch the festival on Friday from the regional chefs’ marquee, on Le Mans Crescent. The celebrity chefs’ marquee, on Victoria Square, will host festival headliners Lisa Faulkner, John Torode and James Martin.
Set up of the speciality markets has also started. A record 180 food, drink and craft traders will take over the town centre. The markets, opening from 10am, will be located on Victoria Square, Newport Street, Oxford Street, Deansgate, and Market Street as well as four new locations: Howell Croft South, Octagon Square, and Victoria Square North and Victoria Square South.
Festival regulars returning include Franca’s, back for the fourth year with authentic Italian food, Masterchef finalist Jackie Kearney, with her vegetarian food trailer Hungry Gecko, and popular ice cream maker Gingers Emporium,
New for this year is a pop-up cocktail bar on Oxford Street. Market Place Europe will provide a pop-up beer garden on Newport St and Manchester bar Kro will also be hosting a bar on Deansgate. Revellers can enjoy a drink to the backdrop of live music in both venues.
Street food will take over Market Street. Festival-goers can experience Indian, Thai and Spanish street food. Award winning Indian and Pakistani restaurant Zouk, from Manchester, is back along with Spanish churros stall Churtopia, and Two Sisters Thai food.
Deansgate and Oxford Street will also be bustling with food stalls including Artisan bread maker All You Knead and The Little Round Cake Company with their popular ‘tweeners’ and meringues.
As well as the celebrity chef demonstrations in the main marquee on Victoria Square, the public are invited to free cookery shows in Bolton Market’s Lifestyle Hall on Ashburner Street and in the regional chefs’ marquee on Le Mans Crescent where chefs include Andrew Nutter, Sean Wilson, and GBBO’s Luis Troyano. The cast from the Octagon Theatre will also be putting on free pop-up theatre performances.
Keep up to date with the latest news here.
Sponsors are Aldi, Greenhalgh’s, Ikea, Market Place Shopping Centre and Stateside Foods. Partners are Agilisys, Bolton Market, Impression Ltd, Kro Bar, Marriott, Octagon Theatre, and Slattery.
