As Bristol Seafood Week once again proved earlier this summer, The Pony Chew Valley‘s Josh Eggleton knows how to put on a food festival. Now, he’s teaming up with Shona Graham from Team Canteen to launch FŌDA—a new ‘festival of food ideas’ taking place at the Arnolfini in Bristol this September.
What is happening for FŌDA?
Consisting of two days (Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29), FŌDA will host an outdoor producer village by the Habourside. Showcasing local suppliers and producers, there’s no ticket required to try and buy, from the likes of Black Bee Honey, Catleys, Muti, Nanias Vineyard, Port O’ Bristol, Somerset Chacuterie and many more.
The festival also sees the launch of The Pony Farm Bus, a vintage double-decker turned food education centre—where, among other things, you can find free-to-attend pizza and pasta workshops. Plus, Dr Vanessa Kimbell will host The Sourdough Exchange, an afternoon of talks, live baking, and a sourdough swap (tickets £5).
FŌDA will also host a symposium of panel talks, specialised workshops, and networking opportunities on Sunday. Chaired by food writer Xanthe Clay and Sharpham Park founder Roger Saul, four themed panels will invite debate and audience questions. These are:
- Salt – with Josh Eggleton (Head Chef, The Pony Chew Valley), Philip Tanswell (Cornish Salt), Ash Ranpura (Neuroscientist) and Gurdeep Loyal (Food Writer)
- Fat – with Margot Henderson (Head Chef, Rochelle Canteen) Kalpna Woolf (Food Writer) and Tom Calver (Westcombe Dairy)
- Acid – with Yeo Valley, David Rowley (Head Grower, The Newt) and Liam Fitzpatrick (Head Chef, Our Farm)
- Sweet – with Max La Manna (Chef), Emma Hopkins (Mother’s Manifesto), Eleni Morus (Community Organiser, Bristol North West Food Bank) and Josh Eggleton
The Morning session (Salt and Fat), including breakfast, and the Afternoon session (Acid and Sweet), including lunch, by The Pony, are £45 each. But you can enjoy all four panels, as well as breakfast and lunch, for £85. To learn more about FŌDA, head here.