Feasting at Bristol Food Connections Festival

It was Bank Holiday Monday. After a fried breakfast, my boyfriend and I set off to visit Bristol Food Connections Festival before I left to go home after a weekend of little visits and adventures.

The Bristol Food Connections Festival ran from the 1st to the 11th May, sharing good food with the people of Bristol and beyond. With food markets, demonstrations from top chefs, and even chocolate tours of the city, there was so much to choose from. Unfortunately we were only able to stop by for a morning, otherwise we might have been able to join in with more!

But back to the food. We headed to the city centre and scouted out each tent, circling the arena and picking our targets.

We sampled cheese, bread and truly the most amazing honey I've ever tasted; drooled over the smell of hot chorizo rolls and fresh pizza, locally-sourced lamb burgers and vegetable paella. Our first stop was a small, tropical looking stall specialising in healthy juices and smoothies. I'm a sucker for freshly squeezed drinks. I had to go for 'Coco-nuts'; cocoa, banana, almond milk and coconut. My other half plumped for a concoction of passion-fruit and mango. To be truthful, it was a little overpriced: I could have easily made it at home. But I will admit, it was tasty and I could tell it was healthy and fresh. In fact, it was so yummy that I have now purchased the ingredients to make the smoothie at home myself. I can't wait to have it for breakfast very, very soon.

 

While nothing beats sipping on fresh, cold smoothies in the Bristolian sunshine, our tummies started to rumble and grumble and we set out searching for something to satisfy our hunger.

If there's one thing neither of us can resist, it's Spanish food. We spotted a Spanish tent, The Spanish Buffet. nestled in the corner and purchased a small selection of tapas bites; tortilla, houmous and paprika bread, and a small selection of meat nibbles. They were tasty, and fresh, and moreish. I would have happily feasted on tapas all afternoon.

However, we were still keen to sample even more food. I gravitated towards Gopal's Curry Shack, a vegetarian / vegan curry stall which was giving off the most amazing smells, and opted, after much uhm-ing and ah-ing, for the Aloo Gobi. I couldn't resist picking up a Gluten Free onion bajhi too, and threw it in with my delicious curry, complete with fluffy rice and various sprinkled and drizzled toppings. Who can resist some cooling yoghurt? The curry was so fresh and tasty. I was very disappointed when I had finished every last bite and was left with an empty punnet.

Doesn't it look good?

We topped off our visit with a scoop of sheep's milk ice cream from Shepherds. I couldn't resist the peanut butter and chocolate option and, as I ate it walking back up Park Street, I was in positive ecstasy. It was divine. Not overpowering, not too sweet...just right. There were plenty of yummy noises that afternoon.

We couldn't have been luckier with the weather that day. Spending the afternoon sat in one of my favourite cities eating amazing, fresh and local food, and spending time together was the perfect way to end my bank holiday weekend. I'd love to go back again next year!

Now, if only I could get hold of some more of that ice cream...