UTTOXETER residents can enjoy some continental delights as a new market hits the town for three days.
The Traditional European Food and Craft Fair will be held in the Market Place from 9am to 5pm from March 9 to March 11, offering residents something a bit different.
The town will be transformed into a bustling market place with professional continental market traders from France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Holland, Poland and many other countries.
They will be wearing traditional costumes, selling high quality products including Brittany biscuits, olives, Italian nougat, cheeses, sausages, tartiflette (a cheese and potatoes dish from the Alps), charcuterie, fresh bread and croissants.
There will also be freshly made crepes for those with a sweet tooth.
Also on offer will be handbags and leather items, Marseille soaps, lavender, children’s toys and pashminas.
A traditional market spokesman said: “Most of the products on sale will come from each stall holder’s region, where they are produced by small organisations such as, family businesses, farms or small factories using traditional methods, maintaining a high standard of quality.
“All of the traders will also wear their traditional local costumes from 100 years ago, as well as decorating their stall to represent the region of the country they come from. The market will therefore provide you with a true flavour of the continent.” Uttoxeter Town Council was set to discuss the market at an extra-ordinary meeting last night.
The news comes only a few weeks after it was announced a food and drink festival is to be held at Uttoxeter Racecourse, in Wood Lane, on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and June 24.
It will feature food halls, cookery demonstrations and a real ale tent alongside meals in the course’s own bistro and restaurant and a family fun area with the team behind the popular Stone Food and Drink Festival offering their expertise to make it a hit.
David MacDonald, executive director at Uttoxeter Racecourse, said: “We are all looking forward to hosting our first food and drink festival at the racecourse.
“It is an event that will bring thousands of people into Staffordshire and it will be a real boost for the town of Uttoxeter we hope that it will be the first of many.” More information on the European market can be found at www.traditionalmarket.co.uk and on www.facebook.com/traditionalmarket.
