West Dean’s newest event MedFest – A Taste of the Mediterranean, now in its second year, will be running over the weekend of Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2012.
This weekend event once again highlights the cuisine, culture and vibrant spirit of the Mediterranean. With live music and dance, food demos and tastings, gardening tips and advice and specialist Mediterranean stallholders nestling alongside ‘old-favourites’, MedFest is destined to become a popular addition to the West Dean Calendar in the weeks leading up to the Chilli Fiesta!
Opera singers and world music rub shoulders at this year's MedFest! Musicians from France, Italy, and Spain, combined with Italian opera, and Lebanese belly-dancers give this year's Medfest a distinctly international and cultural flavour. Cafe music from France is provided by Fleur de Nice, and last year's resounding success - the Italian guitarists Buono Notta - are performing on the Saturday interspersed by bouts of participatory Lebanese dancing. On Sunday the dancers are also in evidence as well as Spanish flamenco guitar maestro Eduardo Niebla, and the wandering dulcet tones of Oyster Opera. Live dance performances followed by workshops will give you the opportunity to be inspired and have a go at shimmying and sashaying to the exotic dance-beats.
Mark Ringwood, Musical Director of Roots Around the World “I’m looking forward to once again putting together a programme of live performances and pre-recorded music guaranteed to give you an aural extravaganza of Mediterranean sound. I’m on the hunt for Musicians from Italy, Spain and Greece to highlight how culturally rich and diverse this region is.”
Savour the delicious Mediterranean cuisine with Rosemary Moon as she creates an eclectic mix of authentic Mediterranean dishes and her own recipes in a rolling programme of Food Demos and Tastings. Influenced by the cuisine of the sun, she’ll be drawing on produce closer to home, which you can emulate at home. Rosemary will be dishing up a feast from the Mediterranean, and of course she will feature many of the crops that West Dean is famous for, including herbs, tomatoes, chillies and aubergines.
Sarah Wain, responsible for the wealth of fruits and vegetables grown in West Dean Gardens will be sharing her knowledge and passion in a series of sessions offering guidance and advice about the wonderful range of vegetables that can be easily grown in Britain; which can be included in a healthy Mediterranean style diet. Revealing to the home grower how to emulate the Mediterranean climate with the use of glasshouses and polytunnels, thus enabling you to produce a number of the crops included in the delicious and healthy Mediterranean diet. Displays will take place within the walled garden and glasshouses of over 40 different crops, ranging from chickpeas to cucumbers, artichokes to aubergines and grapes to garlic.
Further delights for all foodies can be discovered in the culinary creations of many of the stallholders. Drawing together a representative sample of regional take away foods, gourmet food products, crafts and plants MedFest offers small and local producers and distributors the opportunity to showcase their wares at this specialist event. Emma Lundie, owner of Palmavera says “ I’m excited to be part of an event exclusively dedicated to the Mediterranean and West Dean Gardens provides a wonderful setting”. Other stallholders include: Pure Spain, Lebanese Fine Food, the Churros Bros and The Garlic Farm who will feature some educational aspects relating to garlic, its history and culture.
With the best of the Med relocated to an English paradise why not kick start your holidays by visiting MedFest – A Taste of the Mediterranean at West Dean Gardens, West Dean, Near Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 ORX. 01243 818 210.
Saturday/Sunday 23 & 24 June. Opening hours: 10.30 – 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Discounts and fast-track tickets are available to purchase in advance here
Advance tickets can now be purchased in the West Dean Gardens shop, crafts shop and reception.
Full adult prices below (concessions and family tickets available)
Gift Aid Standard
Tickets: Online On the Door Online On the door
Adults £ 9.50 £11.50 £8.60 £10.40
Over 60s £9.00 £10.75 £8.10 £9.70
Children £1.00 £1.00 £0.90 £0.90
2012 Events at West Dean, dates for your diary?
Chilingirian Quartet Concert Series 14 – 19 July
Chilli Fiesta 27 – 29 July
International Classical Guitar Concert Series 11 – 15 August
Apple Affair 29 – 30 September
Gift Aid
West Dean Gardens is part of The Edward James Foundation, a registered educational charity. Consequently, if you are a UK taxpayer, and you are willing to pay 10% on top of the normal admission charge, the Foundation is able to treat the whole payment as a charitable donation and reclaim 25p in every £1 from the Government. This will further benefit the work of the Gardens and the Foundation. Click on the following link for more info on West Dean's Gift Aid
As a thank you for your donation we will provide you with vouchers to spend in the Visitor Centre Shop or Restaurant which, if you were planning to use either of these, will actually reduce the cost of your visit. Click on the following link to download a Gift Aid Declaration Form to complete before your visit.
Registered Charity No: 1126084
