Press releases

Take a large helping of restaurants, a generous serving of local producers and add a huge dollop of entertainment – you’ve got the perfect ingredients for Taste of Birmingham 2009!

Marketing Birmingham, which runs the four day outdoor food festival, held an event to launch it to the region. The event, held at University College Birmingham, was attended by the chefs, restaurants and local producers taking part in Taste of Birmingham, as well as the sponsors Advantage West Midlands and Brindleyplace.

Taste of Birmingham will showcase the best of the Midland’s culinary offering and at the launch event, details were revealed of the restaurants and local producers taking part. There will be over 15 restaurants offering worldwide cuisine from around the Midlands – la crème de la crème of fine dining at la Beccase and Purnells, a taste of Asia at Thai Edge in Brindleyplace, and Italian dining at Filini. Local producers from Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) include Flights Orchard Organic in Herefordshire, Freedom Beer in Staffordshire and Fudge Heaven in Worcestershire.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive at Marketing Birmingham, says:
“Following Birmingham’s recent success in the Michelin guide, we feel it is important to build on what the city’s good at. We are working closely with restaurants and chefs in the city and throughout the Midlands to ensure Taste of Birmingham showcases the region’s growing culinary offer.”

L-R: Glynn Purnell, chef at Purnells restaurant, Neil Rami, chief executive, Marketing Birmingham, Luke Tipping, chef at Simpsons restaurant

Louise Pickford from Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) says:
“As the regional food group, Heart of England Fine Foods is delighted to be involved with Taste of Birmingham to give visitors a real flavour of the excellent produce from Birmingham and the surrounding Shire counties. We will showcase quality local food cooked by some of the region’s best chefs.”

Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell who runs Purnells restaurant says:
“As a proud Brummie, I think it’s vital that a food festival in Birmingham properly reflects the cuisine of the city and wider region. Marketing Birmingham has listened to what people want and will deliver.
“The city and Midlands as a whole is now a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cooking. You don’t have to look far to find great food and drink locally, and there is a real demand for it.”

For more information please contact:
Emma Ward, PR Executive, Marketing Birmingham
Tel: 0121 202 5075    Email: emma.ward@marketingbirmingham.com