YOUNG chefs learnt how to make pasta and pizza, chop vegetables for salads and spot an assortment of herbs and spices — but ice cream was still the most popular food at the Children’s Food Festival.
On Saturday and Sunday, thousands of families flocked to Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, near Didcot for the festival.
And the weather was kind — glorious sunshine engulfed the stunning rural setting and ice creams and cold drinks sold like hot cakes.
Activities, workshops and games included sushi rolling, taste tests and learning everything there is to know about chocolate.
For the adults, there were demonstrations by celebrity chefs including Raymond Blanc, Sophie Grigson, Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall and Nora Sands — the surprise star of the TV programme Jamie’s School Dinners.
Families had a great time.
Paul Cullimore, 39, from Bicester, visited the festival with wife Sarah and daughters Amy, six, and Alice, four.
He said: “I think learning about where food is produced locally and getting children involved is a great idea.”
Father-of-two Glyn Rogers, 46, from Milton Keynes, said the good weather had made the trip down well worth it.
His daughter Bethany, 10, added: “I really loved it. I liked the fact you could make stuff and taste stuff.”
Claire Armstrong, 32, from Headington, brought children Charley, four, and Jamie, three.
She said: “I run a toddler group and a lot of the mums were taking about the festival so we decided to check it out. I think it was a fantastic thing for kids to learn about food at such a young age.”
Lee Figures, 54, was promoting a book called Eat A Rainbow Every Day, which encourages children to learn about and eat fruits and vegetables.
She said: “I was very impressed and delighted to see so many parents taking such a keen interest in their children’s nutrition.
“The weather was cracking — congratulations to the organisers.”
The food festival, organised by the Northmoor Trust, was the second.
The first was in 2007, but it is set to become an annual event.
tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk
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