ONE OF the UK’s leading professional foragers – who counts some of the country’s top Michelin starred chefs among her clients – will be sharing her secrets at Sunderland Food and Drink Festival this weekend.
And the session will provide a great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn how to get a product on the supermarket shelves.
Alysia Vasey supplies some of the biggest names in the restaurant trade, including Michael Wignall, Andrew Pern and Mark Birchall of Moor Hall, which was recently voted number one in the country.
The forager, who has also appeared in a range of national magazines and on the BBC programme Countryfile, will be talking about her job and demonstrating how to make a professional cordial with a three year shelf life.
Alysia previously produced her own cordial range which were sold through a leading national chain store.
And along with showcasing a range of botanicals and highlighting how to process wild plants, she will also be revealing the process to getting a product stocked in supermarkets.
“I’m really excited to have been asked to take part in the Sunderland Food and Drink Festival,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity to dispel some of the myths around foraging and hopefully share some interesting information.”
Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland BID which is joint organiser of the festival with Sunderland City Council, is delighted Alysia is taking part.
“Alysia has an amazing reputation and a huge amount of knowledge and we are very excited that she’s agreed to join us,” she said.
Alysia’s session will take place in the marquee at Keel Square at 11am on Saturday 22 June, part of a packed programme of entertainment throughout the day.
It includes demonstrations by celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli, a cocktail masterclass from Sunderland bar Ps and Qs, an Indian cookery session with Nedhi Chera and a cake decorating class with Julie Southern of Bows, Bakes and Cakes.
Other events across the weekend will feature demonstrations by former Masterchef finalist and tv favourite Dean Edwards and Cbeebies presenter, Katy Ashworth, an international food market and Gingo bingo.
The full programme for the festival is available at https://www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/sundfoodfest