A FOODIE festival for all the family will return in 2023 as a three-day event with camping and comedy.
The Big Eat Street Food festival is making a comeback to Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley from September 8 to 10 next year after the inaugural event in June attracted 8,000 foodies.
The event will be filled with street food vendors from across the south in a celebration of local food and talent with all the profits being donated to charity.
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Exciting additions to the festival will include onsite camping, as well as a comedy tent. There will also be live music and entertainment for all ages.
The Hampshire Street Food Awards are also returning. A panel of expert judges will be attending and will be crowning the Hampshire Street Food Awards winners.
All street food vendors will be entered into award categories including Best Pizza, Best Dessert, Best Vegan Cuisine, Best BBQ Food and many more.
Big Eat founder Jeremy Gaskin is now looking for the best and most loved street vendors from across the south to sign up for next year’s event.
He told the Daily Echo: "I’m very excited for our second Big Eat festival. The festival will be bigger and better and we hope to raise even more money for charity.
“The Big Eat will encourage the community to connect and celebrate outstanding Hampshire street food.
“The wide range of award categories means we can recognise and appreciate the amazing range of food we have right on our doorstep.”
A panel of expert judges including MasterChef semi-finalist Luke Bryan, award-winning business owner Lulu Whitmore, Britain’s Best Home Cook quarter-finalist Katie Davies and ITV’s Britain’s Best Dish Susie Carter determined this year’s winners of the Hampshire Street Food Awards.
Best Overall Street Vendor was scooped by Eastleighy caterer Down D'Islands, bringing a true taste of Trinidad and Tobago to the streets of Southampton. Other award winners included: Best Innvoation - Awesome Gelato, Global Conservation - Gorilla Spirits and Best Pudding - Potty for Puds.
Profits were donated to four local charities, Hounds Basic Food Bank, MOTIV8 Life Chances for young people, Music:Fusion and Tonic Music for Mental Health.
Visit hampshirestreetfoodawards.co.uk/the-big-eat/ to find out more.
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