51 BY GINNY FARRELL
DARTMOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL CHAIRWOMAN
Julie Graham
F
rom humble beginnings in 2002, Dartmouth Food Festival has grown into a first class feast of entertainment that is now a landmark event on the culinary calendar. With food and drink stalls galore, cooking demonstrations and classes, tastings, seminars, street entertainers, cooking competitions and children’s
activities the festival truly offers something for the whole family. And overseeing the whole event this year is the new festival chairwoman, Julie Graham, who brings a wealth of foodie and event experience and knowledge to the festival. We caught up with Julie to find out more about this much loved, food-filled event.
When and why did you get involved with Dartmouth Food Festival? I got involved many years ago while working as head chef at Browns Hotel, but I formally joined the committee in 2013. This year will be the 10th year of my involvement.
What is your role at the festival? I started off looking after all of the festival’s events and was also a festival director, but over the years I’ve been involved in most aspects of the festival - organising everything from the food and drink events, to sponsorship and workshops. Recently I’ve spent time co-ordinating the festival program and looking after our all important festival sponsors.
What is special about Dartmouth Food Festival? It’s special because it’s a locally based event with a great community spirit. Ninety per cent of our exhibitors are based in the West Country and, along with guest celebrity chefs, we also encourage local chefs to get involved too.
Will you be making any changes to this year’s event? We won’t be making any drastic changes. I was lucky when I became chairwoman as the festival was in very good shape. What will be new this year is our Tasting Sessions in the
Food Matters tent in Royal Avenue Gardens where you will be able to get up close and personal with a range of local producers, taste their wares and learn more about the provenance of their fabulous produce.
What will be the highlights of this year’s festival? As well as the Tasting Sessions, our Our Food Matters tent will be also be hosting a series of conversations between experts from across the spectrum of food production, preparation and promotion. The central theme is sustainability, but we will also explore survival and innovation during the Covid lockdown and its possible long-term effects on the food industry, and shine a light on the science of human nutrition. There will also be the opportunity for the audience to get involved in what we hope will be entertaining and friendly exchanges of ideas and discussion. And of course there will be plenty of chef demonstrations and food tasting events on offer too.
What is your day job? I’m the café manager at Nkuku Lifestyle Store and Café at Harbertonford. Before that I spent many years working in all sorts of areas of the catering and hospitality industry both as chef and events manager.
As a trained chef you obviously enjoy cooking - what is your favourite thing to cook? I’ve cooked professionally for many years, but I still enjoy cooking at home, particularly Middle Eastern food.
Where is home? I live in Kingswear at the end of Waterhead Creek with my partner Ian. I’m originally from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides but moved to Dartmouth 17 years ago. I returned to the Isle of Mull for a brief spell but returned to Kingswear 10 years ago.
What do you like about Dartmouth? I love living by the coast, being from an island means being by the water is important. Dartmouth is great because it has the river and the sea - the best of both worlds!
What is your hobby? I love to travel, I have itchy feet. I took advantage of a career break before I returned to Dartmouth in 2012 and spent six months travelling around India, Asia and Australia and New Zealand. It was a real backpacking adventure as I left with a backpack, a round-the-world plane ticket and one night’s accommodation in New Delhi. It was quite an adventure. Food Festival is on 21 - 23 Oct 2022.
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