Christchurch Food Festival’s Kids’ Kitchen Expands

Financial sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Christchurch will increase the number of workshops offered at this year's Kids' Kitchen, held as part of Christchurch Food &
Wine Festival.

The Rotary sponsorship will also widen the age range for the workshops from three years old to 14 years old. Waitrose in Christchurch is supporting the workshops by providing the food that will be cooked by the young chefs.

The Kids' Kitchen workshops, organised by Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust as part of its commitment to the promotion of healthy eating, will be held in the Priory School on the same days as the International Food Market - Saturday 12 May and Sunday 13 May.

Cast Your Vote for Christchurch’s Best of the Best!

Local diners are being invited to give their views on Christchurch eateries by voting for their favourite restaurants, cafes, tearooms or pubs in the town in Christchurch Food & Wine Festival's Best of the Best awards.

The Coastline Best of the Best Awards 2012 aim to reward those establishments in Christchurch who provide their customers with the best food, the best service and the most enjoyable overall experience.

Getting involved is easy. People can vote either on a paper nomination form, which will be available from any establishment serving food and/or wine in the BH23 postcode area, or vote on the Food Festival website at www.christchurchfoodfest.co.uk.

Are You Having a Bubbly Evening?

Just as world famous cruise liners are inaugurated with a bottle of the finest Champagne being gloriously smashed along the vessel's keel, so too was the latest enrichment offering from Bournemouth's oldest hotel. But instead of the delicious bubbly going to waste, the Champagne in question was rather the centre of attention.

The Royal Bath Hotel, on Bath Road in Bournemouth, is the oldest and grandest hotel in the seaside town. As part of the ongoing endeavours to offer a wide range of entertaining evenings, the hotel has teamed up with Master Sommelier, Marc van de Wynckele, to offer monthly master-classes in sampling and appreciating the fine fizz. Mr van de Wynckele, who is French born, has over 20 years experience at the top end of the hospitality industry, including 14 years here in Britain. As a "Friend of the sommeliers" he is widely respected in the wine trade as one who understands and is deeply passionate about wine, and most particularly, Champagne. He harnessed his knowledge whilst working as Maitre' D at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, under the inimitable Raymond Blanc, and will now use his skill as a natural speaker to share his love of Champagne at the Royal Bath Hotel.

Green House Hotel Offers Wine Tasting with a Difference

Courtesy of Vintage Roots, the UK's leading supplier of the highest quality of organic and biodynamic wines, James Millton, owner of the Millton vineyards, will be hosting an exclusive biodynamic wine tasting dinner at Dorset's critically-acclaimed Green Room restaurant on Wednesday 15th June 2011.

Gordon Jones , the Green Room's award-winning chef has created an exquisite four-course menu to accompany the wines using some of Dorset's finest ingredients. Gordon, formerly of the five-star Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath, has already accomplished two AA rosettes and his own TV series.