Taste Sensation ‘08

Where can you taste the food of champions, the gods and the forties?

Where else but at this years Taste of Trafford’s Taste Sensation ’08 on Sunday 21st September at Altrincham Market between 11am and 4.30pm.

A roaring success last year, “sensational and a brilliant idea...”, “fantastic”, “lots to see, eat and take part in” were just a few of the comments from visitors to Taste Sensation ‘07.

Restaurants from across Trafford will be setting up kitchen at the market and serving small portions of typical dishes that might feature on their restaurant menu. The idea is for you to be able to try flavours from a wide cross-section of stalls before you’re completely full! To accompany your food there will be a variety of drinks both soft and alcoholic.

Usain Bolt became the fastest man on earth at this years Olympics on a diet of Jamaican food – you to can sample some authentic Jamaican delights from one of Taste’s newest recruits, Old Trafford’s M &M's Caribbean Spice Cafe and Take-away. M&M's, will be cooking up some genuine Jamaican dishes at the event such as Jerk chicken and Jamaica's national dish - Ackee and Saltfish. Another first timer, Old Trafford Bakery will also be at the show amongst the producer stalls with their range of Jamaican speciality breads including banana cake, bulla, coco bread, fruit buns and Toto.

Flying the flag for British Food at the start of British Food Fortnight are Earle owned by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer who will be taking a turn chefing on Earle’s stall during the day and The Victoria Altrincham’s favourite Gastro Pub. The rest of the world is also well represented; back again following last years success are; Dilli (Indian), Fat Loaf (Modern British/French), Hanni’s (Mediterranean), La Rioja (Spanish), The Shaker Room (Cocktails) whilst other first timers include, Oca (Pizza), The Pond Quay (Chinese) , Queenie Mumbles (Portuguese) and Sokrates2 (Greek).

Entry to the event is free, but to sample food and drink from the 12 featured menu’s you will need to exchange your money for the special festival currency - Tesetas! Tesetas can be purchased in advance from Trafford’s Tourist Information Centre in Altrincham (0161) 912 5931 with most participating restaurants stocking a limited supply and it’s cheaper if you buy them in advance. This year each stall is providing a limited edition dish which will only be available from 3pm, so if you want to come along later on in the day there will definitely still be something on the menu. Last servings at 4pm.

New for 2008 A Taste of Trafford have teamed up with Cheshire Cat Producers Market to bring a wider range of fresh produce and local and regional speciality stalls.

Community stalls include Trafford allotments where honey, the food of the gods, (well okay they knew it as ambrosia) produced from local hives can be tasted.

This year’s event shares the date with Battle of Britain Sunday and a 40’s theme has been chosen for the entertainment with music and dance demonstrations from GI Jive. The forties theme is picked up by other stalls including Imperial War Museum North who will be presenting objects and activities related to rationing and food in the 40’s. If you’re around at 3pm this is when you have the opportunity to taste that war time delicacy SPAM FRITTERS although with a modern twist from Altrincham’s gastro pub - The Victoria.

A Taste of Trafford’s Fringe Festival coincides with Manchester Food and Drink Festival and runs from 3rd to 13th October. Venues from across the borough will be hosting events at their own premises see our events listings for further details.

The festival has adopted Trafford Diabetes Centre as its charity for 2008, if you have any unused Tesetas at the end of the day please consider donating them to the charity.

Click here to view all menus on screen. Or use this link to download a copy of the brochure.