Food fanciers flock to Thame

THOUSANDS of food-lovers thronged the centre of Thame on Saturday (24/08) for the Thame Food Festival, making it the biggest and the best so far in the festival’s nine year history.

Over 200 stalls showcasing food and drink of every kind from pickles to pop-corn and everything in between, lined the town centre streets, and more celebrity chefs that you can shake a stick blender at demonstrated and shared their skills throughout the day on three stages.

Lotte Duncan with one of the ‘Foodie Force’ volunteers

The sun shone as it always seems to do on the last Saturday in September, the festival’s regular date in the diary. Volunteers and organisers must be congratulated for a well-organised, well-planned and wonderful example of how the little market town of Thame continues to come up with enterprising ways of increasing footfall in the town, helping to raise its profile and encouraging repeat visits – which must be all to the good for the vibrancy and economy of the town.

The current big names in baking and cooking, including Natalie Coleman, Master Chef Champion 2013, Raymond Blanc OBE, Chetna Makan, Great British Bake Off winner 2015 Nadiya Hussain and the winner of this year’s Master Chef, Jane Devonshire were all there.

The Big Thame Bake attracted some first-class entries, including ‘A squidgy chocolate cake to bury your face in’ and the most ‘blinged up’ battenburg ever! The Victoria sponge category once again proved popular and this year, the bakers had to make their own raspberry jam for the filling! All the entries were cut up and available to buy and enjoy with a ‘cuppa’ in the Thame Belles WI pop up cafe, upstairs in Thame town hall.

Isabella Darnton receives her prize from Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussein

Isabella Darnton, a member of the Thame Belles WI, won the Battenburg category and the overall prize as Best Thame Baker. Watch this space for a full list of the category winners coming soon.

In the meantime, enjoy these images from the day: https://flic.kr/s/aHskHsus3N