Tom Flint: A week of foodie fun across the city

Many of you will have seen or attended the weekend of festival events on Hove Lawns, but have you been to one of the many one-off events? Possibly not. Well, what are you waiting for? These events are a chance to sample special meals, attend superb drinks dos and raise some money for charity. Everything kicks off with a chance to visit some of the world-beating vineyards that Sussex is home to. Next Saturday (August 19), take a vintage bus and head to Ridgeview and Albourne. These beautiful sites are home to two of my favourite local producers and it is a great day out with plenty of opportunities to sample some fabulous wines. The Brighton Food Festival team has been arranging international chef exchanges for the past few years, and the festivals are our chance to sample food from around the globe. This month there are two opportunities, with a taste of St Lucia on the August 24 and The Hague on August 30. The dinners will see two high-profile chefs head to Brighton and put on meals that celebrate the cuisine of their homeland. These events are always in high demand, so be sure to book your tickets soon. Meat lovers need to put August 25 in their diary for the Trenchmore beef dinner at Isaac At. It will celebrate the versatility of beef, with every course showcasing the quality produce of this excellent high-welfare farm. Chef Isaac Bartlett-Copeland has created a menu in collaboration with Joanne Knowles of Trenchmore, and I cannot wait to tuck in. If the beef event is not your thing, then why not head to Hotel Du Vin for this year’s charity banquet in aid of The Crew Club youth charity. The event is brought to you by Brighton’s premier independent wine merchant, Butler’s Wine Cellar, and will also see the launch of a new project from chef Kanthi Thamma. The Spice Circuit is a new pop-up events and food tourism start-up from Kanthi, who will be putting on an Indian banquet to fit in with the night’s Bollywood theme. The five-course banquet will be accompanied by music and dance from the Rakhi Sood Academy – plus a charity raffle hosted by Henry Butler. It promises to be a great night, and all for a wonderful cause. Other special events include a Court Garden Vineyard brunch at Pascere and a very exclusive Ridgeview dinner at Matt Gillan’s super stylish restaurant Pike and Pine. All of this is in addition to the usual festival weekend on Hove Lawns over the bank holiday weekend. Be sure to pop in to Boho Gelato too during the festival week for exclusive flavours that have been created in collaboration with top chefs, restaurants and mixologists in Brighton. For tickets and information for all events, visit: www.brightonfoodfestival.com