Bewritings

Brighton Foodies Festival was a weekend filled with music, chef-led masterclasses and of course great food. I was lucky enough to be able to visit on May 1st, my second year at the event. I honestly couldn’t count how many different delicacies I sampled during the day, but here’s a run down of my highlights! 

My first purchase was some Tajin by Mexigrocer, something I’ve been keen to try. Their blend of chilli and lime was surprisingly versatile, going great on top of fruit! I wouldn’t expect something with a kick to compliment an apple so well, but the spice brought out the sweetest of the fruit. I’ve since been having it sprinkled on top of mangoes and melon- which is a perfect snack for a hot day. 

I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Kristine from Wow Bao Club a few days prior to the event and she kindly gifted me a day ticket! I already had high expectations from their social media presence, @wowbaoclub on Instagram, which included an endless amount of mouth-watering images. Starting in 2021, the brand has only become more popular, acting as a staple for festivals and markets. However, 2023 marked their Foodies Festival debut.

Multiple vendors mentioned the stall’s success, however its popularity was obvious by the consistently large queue. Clearly they were a best seller! After waiting in line, which moved impressively quickly, I settled on their Korean Fried Chicken Bao Bun. From their online content this seems like their most popular item, and I can see why! The bun was topped with sesame seeds and chillies, with a sauce that was tangy and flavourful without being too overpowering. Overall, this was the perfect first bite to kick off the festival! 

For the over-18s, the festival had an extensive range of alcoholic products (which I happily tried!) I was able to taste Shanty’s seaweed vodka, which was amazing in a tiny Bloody Mary sample. Honestly, I was expecting a somewhat… fishy taste but was surprised with a delicious vodka!  The Flamboyant Wine Company was another great stop, selling chilled wine cans. Their limited edition Hibiscus & Rose Spritzer was the perfect summer drink, and my personal favourite. 

However, the number one beverage I tried on the day is most definitely Nana Rose’s Rum Punch! Rosemary (AKA Nana Rose) is such an infectiously cheerful woman, who produces a 10/10 drink. It’s completely pre-mixed so all you need is some ice and you’re ready to go! The punch is a mix of Caribbean rums, tropical juices and a small amount of nutmeg and is delicious. 

As I have a huge sweet tooth, I had to visit some of the dessert stalls. The Finest Fudge Co had some of the most interesting flavours of fudge. I sampled their Millionaire’s Shortbread fudge and it was amazing, completely melted in my mouth. My personal favourite was their Gold Bar fudge, which had an entire bar encased in their silky fudge. Gold Bars were some of my favourite biscuits growing up, so I had to take a slab home with me. 

My final stop was Itadeli, a quaint stall with a selection of cannolis. I’ve only tried cannolis a couple times before, but have always really enjoyed them. These were probably the best ones I’ve tried! The lemon and salted caramel flavours were so tasty, I had to bring some back for my housemates. 

The entire day was so enjoyable, even despite the inconsistent rain. I met so many lovely people, both running stalls and in queues, that made my day despite me visiting the festival alone. I’m glad I’ve had the chance to visit the Foodies Festival twice during my time in Brighton, as it is a guaranteed fun trip out. Although my purse was considerably lighter after leaving, it was worth it for all the treats I got to try!