Manchester food festival

posted by: Nick L | on: Wednesday, 23 April 2008, 10:49

Yesterday saw us in Manchester's Albert Square for our food festival. It went down a treat and was all the more satisfying because on Friday we weren't even sure if it was going to happen. We didn't have any food booked in, we were struggling to get past the environmental health requirements and we didn't have any stalls.

However, 72 hours of frantic work meant that we pulled it off.

We were joined by TV chefs Dave Myers (Hairy biker) and Andrew Nutter (Ready, Steady Cook), Coronation Street chef Tom Hudson and singer Rowetta. There was also a breif appearance by top group The Kooks.

The food was absolutely fantastic, not that I had much chance to taste anything. The Chinese stall won but my own favourite was the gorgeous Lamb Biryani and dahl from the Radjoot restaurant in Albert Square. I guess that I might be biased for those of you who have followed by blog over the last few months would know that this restaurant was mine and Jon Cruddas' favourite on our curry tour of Britain, otherwise known as his deputy leadership campaign.

Our judges were brilliant. Not only were they with us for almost two hours and ate their way through food from across the world but they all gave great anti-BNP interviews.

Just like to say thank you to all those people who have emailed or rung me about our video from Hope school in Wigan. They, like us, were deeply moved with the lengths the school went to welcome us.

Anyway, must run. Today we are in Leeds but to be honest Ros and I are spending more time trying to work out what we will be doing in London as gaps are appearing all over the place.