Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival

Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival 2013 was the busiest ever in the history of the event. Visitors to the festival, which took place in the centre of Huddersfield at St George’s Square topped 160,000 over the course of the four days.

Many stallholders reported record sales and commented that the Festival is one of the best in the UK.

Now in its 14th year, Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival is the largest free festival of its type in Yorkshire, running for four days every August and set against the impressive backdrop of St George’s Square.

The festival programme boasts an impressive line-up of free demonstrations and sampling sessions, as well as workshops and entertainment for children. Marquees stay open until later on Friday and Saturday evenings to give festival-goers the chance to enjoy the live music and soak up the atmosphere a little longer.

The festival has always begun with a live ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style cookery demonstration between two local chefs and this year the John Smith’s Stadium’s own chef Dave Stewart-Pybus took on fellow local guest chef Ashley Coley, ‘Huddersfield Veg Man’ and Head Chef at the Royal Ancient restaurant.

Dave has an impressive career history, moving to Huddersfield from Manchester in 2006 after meeting his beautiful wife (a local girl from Huddersfield) who he met whilst working as Sous chef at Manchester City FC.

In 2009 he started as Head chef at Goldsborough Hall in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire where his success led him to win the coveted ‘Chef of the Year’ award at the annual Harrogate Business Awards.

Since 2013 Dave began working as Sous chef at the fabulous John Smiths Stadium and has never looked back!

Dave’s opponent, Ashley has 11 years catering experience and a flair for seafood cuisine. He is a great believer in investing in the local community and a big supporter of Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival.

The brief for the demonstration was simple – create a delicious two course meal in one hour which would then be served to the hungry audience who were waiting in anticipation. Neither chef was fazed by the daunting task, least of all Dave who had to be back at the stadium pronto to prep for Huddersfield Town’s opening Championship game that weekend!

With the ingredients provided the Stadium chef was able to rise to the challenge and win the competition with a mouth watering starter of Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls filled with Duck and marinated oriental vegetables served with Soy & Ginger dipping sauce. His main course summed up the whole feel of the festival by adding a Yorkshire accent to a Brazilian marinate for his Pork Tender Loin served with crispy roast sweet potatoes and heritage tomato salsa. The marinade was created with the inclusion of Garlic, bay, Muscovado sugar and, of course...John Smith’s ale!

We’re already looking forward to 2015’s Food and Drink Festival when the John Smith’s Stadium will have an opportunity to retain their title!

Hotels available for this article