Fantastic foodie delights added to Jamie Oliver presents The Big Feastival with Alex James | Festival News

More chefs and restaurants, Alex James’ Cheese Hub and the winners of the Home Grown Heroes search announced

Mark Hix, Bill Granger, Rakesh Ravindran Nair, Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, Chris Hruskova and James Graham added to the Electrolux Big Kitchen

Joining the already bulging list of top names giving demos, holding cook-offs and sharing recipes live on the Electrolux Big Kitchen stage are a list of chefs from various corners of the globe. British chef and great friend of Alex James Mark Hix, who will also be bringing his Fishdog van to site, will be imparting knowledge. Internationally renowned for his easy-going approach to cooking, and particularly well-known for his way with brunch (The New York Times christened him the “egg master”) is Australian restaurateur and food writer Bill Granger. Head Chef at one of London’s leading restaurants, The Cinnamon Club, Rakesh Ravindran Nair is regarded as “one of the best thinking chefs” thanks to his degrees in maths – he’ll be showing his flair for Indian cooking over the festival weekend. Chris Hruskova trained to be a chef in Denmark working in establishments such as the Michelin starred King Hans restaurant and opened the renowned Emmery's organic bakery and grocers in Aarhus before he founded the Fig Restaurant and Fig Bistro in London. Brothers Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias join the line-up courtesy of Electrolux, the pair were two of Britain's youngest chefs to gain a Michelin star in 2009 when they were aged just 25 and 23. Finally local star and Head Chef of highly rated Oxfordshire restaurant Allium is James Graham.

Alex James’s Cheese Hub launches brand new cheese alongside tastings and masterclasses

Alex James’ greatest passion after music is cheese, which sees him hosting this year’s Big Feastival and the Cheese Hub, home to a wide range of tastings and where the unveiling of his new, rich and creamy, Guernsey milk artisan cheese Goddess will take place. Festival-goers will be able to sample this and others as Patricia Michelson from La Fromagerie hosts cheese appreciation tastings alongside Alex. Rupert Ponsonby, beer consultant for Michelin-star restaurants including Michel Roux’s Le Gavroche and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Richard Fox, author of the acclaimed Food & Beer Cook Book and winner of The British Guild of Beer Writer's award for food and beer writing, will also be running cheese and beer sessions.

A plethora of restaurants to suit all palates join the festivities including Outback Burger, Paellaria, Pommarola Pizza Gardens and The Muddy Duck (& Muddy Ducklings)

Oxfordshire will also see a variety of top name restaurants attend The Big Feastival with something for all the family. For meat lovers Outback Burger will be cooking up their specialist, exotic burgers including bison, kangaroo and ostrich. Bringing the warming flavours of the Mediterranean to the table will be Paellaria serving their wonderful chicken and vegetarian paellas and Pommarola Pizza Gardens who will be serving a selection of freshly wood-fired pizzas and homemade Italian delicacies alongside their very own climbing wall. Highly rated local pub restaurant The Muddy Duck will be showcasing their fabulously British cuisine plus a special Muddy Ducklings menu for the younger generation.

Home Grown Heroes winners announced – the best in local producers and businesses

The search has been on for the best local producers and businesses to win one of five free exhibition spaces at The Big Feastival. The five winners are now revealed and are Woefuldane Organic Dairy, who’s traditional herd of 45 Dairy Shorthorn Cows are responsible for producing their multi award winning dairy products, family run Cotswold Country Wines who use their own organically grown fruit to create their raspberry and blackcurrant liqueur, Samuelsons Of Witney who produce natural, fresh lemonade in five flavours (Proper Strong Lemonade, Virgin Mojito, Blackberry, Lemon & Lime and Oxfordshire Elderflower), local farm Mr Trotter’s Great British Pork Crackling who pride themselves on their new method of preparation and cooking which creates pork crackling as crunchy and porky as that of a Sunday roast and Ross & Ross, a new start up fine food company based in Chipping Norton, specialising in making Potted British Meats using traditional charcuterie methods.

Celebrating three of the things closest to both Jamie and Alex’s hearts – food, music and family – in order to raise funds and awareness for The Jamie Oliver Foundation, The Big Feastival takes place on Alex’s farm on September 1^st and 2^nd and is two days of tasty grub, awesome music performances, a chilled out vibe and general all-round, family-friendly, fantastic entertainment.

As Jamie says: “When you get great food, great music and the kids are kept busy, beautiful things definitely happen”.

Good food, good music and good times for the whole family

THE MUSIC

SATURDAY

Paloma Faith, The Noisettes, Gaz Coombes, The Producers, The Cuban Brothers, Lucy Rose, Sweet Lights

SUNDAY

Texas, Razorlight, Guillemots, Josh Osho, Karima Francis, The Chevin, The TG Collective

THE MENU

Jamie’s Italian, Barbecoa, The Cinnamon Club, Mark Hix’s Fishdog, Outback Burger, Paellaria, Pommarola Pizza Gardens, The Muddy Duck (& Muddy Ducklings), Byron, Café Mor, Piglet’s Pantry, Brindian Roast Bar

THE CHEFS

Taking part in cooking demonstrations, master classes, Q&As and book signings.

Valentine Warner

Gennaro Contaldo

Mark Hix

Simon Rogan

Bill Granger

Rakesh Ravindran Nair

Chris Hruskova

Bruno Loubet

Plus local stars:

Emily Watkins (The Plough)

James Graham (Allium Restaurant)

LITTLE DUDES DEN

For all those with kids in tow, this is where the fun really starts!

Peppa Pig, Slow Food UK Taste Sensation, Shooting Stars Circus, The Music Bus, Chipping Norton Theatre, Giggles Facepainting, Jaffe & Neale Storytelling,

Sharky & George with Eager Drinks, The Fairground, Bushcraft Company

Raising awareness and funds for the Jamie Oliver Foundation, tickets for The Big Feastival are on sale HERE

DAY TICKETS

Standard adult* day ticket £50

Standard teen** day ticket £25

VIP adult day* day ticket £80

WEEKEND TICKETS

Standard adult* weekend ticket £95

Standard teen** weekend ticket £45

VIP adult* weekend ticket £140

WEEKEND TICKETS WITH CAMPING

Standard adult* weekend camping ticket £130