After a wonderful Food Week it is time to put my feet up and to start annoying my wife again.
Throughout Milford on Sea Food week over 150 events provided eating, entertainment and education for foodies and families alike, and we hope some cherished memories have been created for both young and old.
The joy of Food Week is seeing so many smiling faces and satisfied tummies across the village all week!
Food Week is of course totally run by a large enthusiastic band of jolly volunteers, each of whom we thank for a sterling job in ensuring everything ran smoothly. The fabulous raffle team this year broke all records with sales of over £3000 and not too many twisted arms were reported!
Food Week is of course totally run by a large enthusiastic band of jolly volunteers, each of whom we thank for a sterling job in ensuring everything ran smoothly. The fabulous raffle team this year broke all records with sales of over £3000 and not too many twisted arms were reported!
Around 20,000 people were entertained and catered for over the 150+ Food Week events, and many of these were visitors who shared and enjoyed our village for a short while.
It has also been great to hear that many of the villages' eating establishments had a week of record takings, and that the bar at the Elvis Show saw record takings for the Community Centre. (and seeing the way some of the audience walked out, I'm not surprised!)
We were also fortunate to enjoy national celebrities such as Angela Hartnett, Henning Wehn, Shappi Khorsandi, Sean Wilson (Martin Platt from Coronation Street) and many Michelin Star and head chefs from top restaurants across the New Forest. Our fabulous local restaurants were full all week delighting diners, local home cooks did their thing in the Cookery Theatre, the Kids had lots to entertain and educate them, and so, so much more....!
It has also been great to hear that many of the villages' eating establishments had a week of record takings, and that the bar at the Elvis Show saw record takings for the Community Centre. (and seeing the way some of the audience walked out, I'm not surprised!)
We were also fortunate to enjoy national celebrities such as Angela Hartnett, Henning Wehn, Shappi Khorsandi, Sean Wilson (Martin Platt from Coronation Street) and many Michelin Star and head chefs from top restaurants across the New Forest. Our fabulous local restaurants were full all week delighting diners, local home cooks did their thing in the Cookery Theatre, the Kids had lots to entertain and educate them, and so, so much more....!
Food Week is a true community team effort, with many fantastic people joining in by helping, arranging events or doing demonstrations, plus scores of wonderful volunteers, each committing their time, energy and happiness, - without them all it could never be a special as it is.
We also want to thank everyone that came along and enjoyed themselves, no point having an event with no visitors! In fact, the fantastic atmosphere everyone created in the village all week could be felt by everyone.
Food Week is not a fundraising event or charity, our pure purpose is to promote the village as a Foodie heaven, boost local trade and provide a lot of fun for everyone. To do this we raise money through generous sponsors, Friends of Food Week, show tickets, merchandise and raffle tickets.
Should we have any cash remaining we plough it back into the community in various ways, and this year we are delighted to have donated a total of £3500 to local causes. This was shared between Milford on Sea Pre-School, Milford & Keyhaven Sea Scouts, Milford Girl Guides/Brownies, MiCO, Milford School 'Science Hut', Milford Dementia Awareness, Lullaby Trust & Childrens Cancer Research. Action Against Hunger has also received £250 thanks to Angela Hartnett & Luke Holder who waived their fee and asked us to donate it to their favourite charity. We have also given the Community Centre £1500, in return for the use of the centre all week.
A number of village charities also did events as part of Food Week and they will have raised around £2000 for their own good causes.
All in all, I reckon we can say it was pretty good job all round!
All in all, I reckon we can say it was pretty good job all round!
FOOD WEEK in PICTURES: Adam, our professional village photographer from Adam Lynk Studios in the High Street, has been running himself ragged this week snapping at many of the events. A good number of his photos are already online, but keep revisiting his site as he still has more pictures to upload! Click here to see the Food Week photos.
PS: A curious thing also happened, we have just discovered that there is a Milford on Sea Food Week Facebook Page (click here to view), the reason this is curious, is that it is not us that has done it! Whoever has created it, has done a good job in helping to promote Food Week, so let us know who you are - you can also do our twitter next time!
PS: A curious thing also happened, we have just discovered that there is a Milford on Sea Food Week Facebook Page (click here to view), the reason this is curious, is that it is not us that has done it! Whoever has created it, has done a good job in helping to promote Food Week, so let us know who you are - you can also do our twitter next time!
FOOD WEEK is back from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th April 2016, plus we are now working on something completely different for the village to enjoy for next year - watch this space!
Milford on Sea Food Week
A truly wonderful food week and thank you for all you do for MoS - what an event .... great big thanks to all involved and all who visited.
ReplyDeleteHere here, we came down for the weekend and had a ball, great atmosphere too. We were warmly welcomed and Kids had a great time at the egg hunt, winning a delightful prize for their efforts! Then we munched our way around the food market and thoroughly enjoyed that too. What lovely people and a super time. Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Pearson family from Hove.