Paul will pit his culinary skills against fellow Cornish based chef Nathan Outlaw and Torquay’s Simon Hulstone in the Westcountry heats, which will be shown every weekday commencing Monday 28th May at 7.30pm.

This year’s challenge is to create a groundbreaking menu fit for Olympic heroes; celebrating the arrival of the London 2012 Olympics and demonstrating the extraordinary Olympian heights the talented chefs can reach.

Having won the South West heat last year and making it through to The People’s Banquet with his dessert ‘A Taste of the Fairground’, the pressure is on this year for Paul to create a menu fit for champions.

The highly regarded chef, who owns Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 as well as Italian restaurant Rojano’s in the Square, said: “I found this year’s competition extremely tough, there was a lot more pressure being a champion from last year.

“It was a really good brief and a brilliant thing to be a part of. You had to make groundbreaking dishes with amazing touches and flavour, so it was really pushing all the chefs out of their comfort zones.”

Paul Ainsworth is appearing in the series Great British Menu, currently airing on BBC2.

Paul will be cooking against Nathan Outlaw, whose two Michelin star restaurant is based across the Camel Estuary in Rock, and has also been named the best fish restaurant by the Good Food Guide in 2011. Nathan is no stranger to the competition having previously won the South West heat in the 2010 series.

Also taking part is Simon Hulstone, who holds a Michelin star at his Torquay restaurant The Elephant. Simon is a newcomer to Great British Menu, but he is an experienced competition chef having represented his country more than 20 times, most recently in the Bocuse d’Or.

For Paul to make it to the national finals he must impress judge Tom Kerridge with his menu consisting of ‘Breakfast of Champions’, ‘Monkfish “Two Showings”’, ‘Wishful Chicken’ and dessert ‘Then & Now’.

Tom will choose the two chefs who will then face the Great British Menu judging panel of Oliver Peyton, Prue Leith and Matthew Fort in the regional final on Friday 1st June.

Cornwall is well represented in this year’s competition with Nathan and Paul highlighting the foodie credentials of the Camel Estuary.

Paul said: “Nathan is a great sport and a brilliant chef. Lots of people think we are rivals because our restaurants are across the water, but we are good friends.

“I respect Nathan a huge amount and I really love what he does, it was just like cooking with a good friend, it wasn’t daggers at dawn.”

Paul is one of 24 of the country’s finest chefs competing for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a world-beating four course menu at a prestigious event at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. British Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave will host the gala event with a glittering guest list of British sporting greats.

Paul will be giving regular updates from his Twitter account twitter.com/paulainsw6rth, while you can also show your support and follow his progress on the Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 Facebook page.

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Notes to Editors

Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
A classically trained chef, Paul Ainsworth developed his skills in London under Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay, and Marcus Wareing. Moving to Padstow, Cornwall in 2006, Paul opened Number 6 with friends before taking sole occupancy in 2009. One of the most respected chefs in Cornwall, Paul has appeared on the BBC2 TV series Great British Menu alongside some of the UK’s best-known chefs, winning the dessert course in the 2011 series. www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk

Images
High resolution images for print use can be downloaded from Barefoot Media’s online Media Centre. (click for direct link)

Media Contacts
Jim Michell, Barefoot Media | jim@barefootmedia.co.uk | 01208 895089

For food-lovers everywhere the festival promises a real taste of Cornwall: watch top chefs demonstrate succulent seafood and Cornish game; bite into a freshly baked pasty; savour the hoppy taste of a proper ale or treat yourself to a golden scone oozing with clotted cream and locally-made strawberry jam. The festival is destined to tantalise your tastebuds.

Ruth Huxley, director of Cornwall Food & Drink said: “Cornwall’s culinary repertoire boasts award-winning producers and world-class chefs, and the festival is very much about showcasing this.

“We have some new and exciting plans for this year including a series of exclusive one-off events for real food-lovers and a special festival menu celebrating Cornish ingredients. The fixed price menu will be running throughout the festival fortnight at selected restaurants across the county and will allow everyone the chance to get a real taste of Cornwall.”

Cornwall’s reputation for fantastic food has grown exponentially and it is now recognised as the number one food destination outside London. The Cornwall Food & Drink Festival has cemented itself as a must-visit entry on the nation’s foodie calendar, attracting in excess of 43,000 visitors in 2011.

Children enjoy some of the locally produced ice-cream on offer at the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival. Photo: www.davidgriffen.co.uk

In the Chefs’ Theatre, culinary stars will be demonstrating their talents and using Cornwall’s finest produce to cook up mouth-watering dishes. This year the theatre is sponsored by Good Energy and, embracing the eco-theme, chef Arthur Potts Dawson will be demonstrating low carbon cooking as well as some of his favourite recipes.

Two-starred Michelin chef Nathan Outlaw is the headline act and will be sharing his tips on how to create stunning dishes with the fresh seafood that is landed on Cornwall’s shores every day.

Located in the heart of Truro city centre on Lemon Quay, the festival marquee will be full of produce from across the county for visitors to taste and take home.

Cornwall Food & Drink Festival hasn’t forgotten about the kids either. There is plenty to keep children happy in their Funky Food Zone which is crammed with amazing food facts, quirky hands-on activities and all-out food fun.

Alan Goddard, managing director of Cornish Mutual, the South West rural insurer who is key sponsor of this year’s event, said: “The food and drink sector is big business – it is worth £1.4 billion to Cornwall’s economy and accounts for almost 30 per cent of employment, so you can see how vital it is for us to support and celebrate the industry.

“We’re really passionate about good quality, local food and drink and we’re frequently at livestock markets and agriculture shows throughout the South West seeing the great work being done. Many of our own members in Cornwall are food and drink producers, we work with them every day and understand their business, so there was no question about us supporting the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival – it is absolutely the right thing for us to do.”

Visitors will be able to relax and soak up the atmosphere in the Croust Bar; where they can sample local ales from St Austell Brewery; freshly made pasties from Simply Cornish and a whole host of other delicious locally produced treats, all whilst watching the masterclasses, demonstrations and talks on the Cornwall Food & Drink stage.

More information and festival updates can be found at www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk.

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Notes to editors:

Cornwall Food & Drink
Cornwall Food & Drink Festival is managed by Cornwall Food & Drink. Cornwall Food & Drink’s objective is to promote the food and drink industry of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and develop market opportunities that no individual business would be able to carry out alone.

Cornwall Food & Drink has been awarded a grant by the South West Regional Development Agency under the Rural Development Programme for England.

Cornish Mutual
Cornish Mutual has nearly 24,000 Members across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.  Although staying true to its origins in agriculture (around two thirds of Cornwall’s farmers are Members), the company now provides farm, equine, household, commercial, events and personal accident insurance to Members throughout the rural communities of the South West. The company has been established for over 100 years. To find out more visit: www.cornishmutual.co.uk.

Chefs’ Theatre
This year Good Energy will be sponsoring our Chefs’ Theatre and helping to demonstrate low carbon cooking. Good Energy were the first suppliers to offer 100% renewable electricity to UK households when they founded in 1999.

The Croust Bar
The Croust Bar will be open from 9am-5pm throughout the festival and is jointly sponsored by Simply Cornish and St Austell Brewery. The oldest pasty maker still producing today Simply Cornish will be selling their famous pasties alongside St Austell Brewery, who have been independently brewing beer in Cornwall since 1851 and now run over 170 of the most popular pubs in the South West.

Images
For high resolution images please visit the Barefoot Media online press centre (click for direct link.)

Media Contacts
Kate Ardron, Barefoot Media | kate@barefootmedia.co.uk
|01208 895089 | 07879 119247

Now in its third year, this midsummer community event celebrates the Cornish coastline through the medium of song, music and dance.

The Big Sing involves school and community choirs from across the county and was originally inspired by  the life and work of Cornish playwright Nick Darke, whose work often highlighted the environmental issues surrounding the Cornish coast.

Dave Hunter, from organisers Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) said: “The Big Sing is an exciting event that celebrates life on the beach. The evening is all about community and brings people of all ages together with great food and fabulous music.

“This year we have students coming all the way from Roseland Community College, Tregony. They will be bringing their steel pans along with them, which should give things a real Caribbean feel.”

Cornwall Youth Dance Company performing "Haul Away" choreographed Sally Williams and Helen Tiplady at The Big Sing, held at Watergate Bay on 15th June 2012.

The event is free and open to the public and last year saw hundreds of people congregate on the beach to enjoy and take part in the musical entertainment.

Dave said: “This year our lead artist Tony Crosby will be building a boat sculpture with the help of sixth form A-Level art students from Newquay’s Treviglas College. This will then be burnt in a fire pit at the end of the night and should make for quite a spectacle.”

There will be performances from Newquay Male Voice Choir, Ingleheart Singers, Lost in Song, Lostwithiel Community Choir, Moveintune and Kernowcopia, as well as from students at Treviglas College, Roseland Community College and Bosvigo School, Truro. Each choir will sing two pieces from their own repertoire before joining together to sing The Lobster Song and other suggested favourites.

Cornwall Youth Dance Company will also be performing their cultural olympiad piece ‘A Hooligans’ Game’. This production centres on how Cornwall represented Great Britain in the rugby final at the 1908 London Olympics and has been produced with the Cornwall Youth Theatre.

The entertainment begins at 6pm and will be compèred by Daphne Skinnard from BBC Radio Cornwall. Delicious food and drink will be on sale from The Beach Hut for all to enjoy.

The event is run by the Kernow Education Arts Partnership (KEAP) in conjunction with the Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay.

For more information on all the events taking place at Watergate Bay in 2012 please visit: http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/events.htm

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High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded from our online Media Centre (click for direct link).

Media Contact
Kate Ardron at Barefoot Media
Email: kate@barefootmedia.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089

Notes to Editors
Set on its own spectacular surfing beach on the north Cornwall coast, The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay has earned a reputation as one of the ‘must visit’ coastal destinations in the UK.

The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski and stand-up paddlesurf; technical equipment hire; and the Shop on the Beach, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment.

http://www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy.htm

Kernow Education Arts Partnership is Cornwall’s lead arts education partnership working to create exciting events and opportunities for young in the arts.

www.keap.org.uk

The English Surfing Federation (ESF) has made the decision to defer the event which was due to take place at the Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay on the bank holiday weekend, 5-7 May.

The famous surfing contest will now be rescheduled for the end of the month subject to conditions. A final decision will be made on Thursday 24 May.

ESF Chairman Andy Sturt said: “We are at the mercy of mother nature and if the weather systems aren’t generating any surf then we can not compete.

“It is immensely frustrating but we do plan for alternative dates when such conditions occur. At the end of the day we really want the best possible surf for competitors”.

2011 English Surfing Champion Tom Butler, from Newquay, launches into a big cut back during a heat at last year's Championships at Watergate Bay, Cornwall. Photo: Nick Law.

The ESF has worked closely with surf science students from Cornwall College in preparation for this event.

Now in its 40th year, the English National Surfing Championships is one of the oldest and largest competitions on the British surfing calendar, attracting competitors from across the UK.

The competition includes: open, senior, masters, veterans, ladies, and junior divisions, with champions from each category eligible to represent England in international championship events later in the year.

The Thundercat Racing will be taking place at Watergate Bay on the weekend of 19 – 20 May, as scheduled.

You can find out more information about the event and how to enter at www.englishsurfing.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

For more information on the events taking place at Watergate Bay please visit: www.watergatebay.co.uk/events.htm.

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Images
High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded from our online Media Centre (click for direct link).

Media Contact
Jim Michell at Barefoot Media
Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089

Notes to Editors
Set on its own spectacular surfing beach on the north Cornwall coast, The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay has earned a reputation as one of the ‘must visit’ coastal destinations in the UK.

The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski and stand-up paddlesurf; technical equipment hire; and the Shop on the Beach, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy

The Extreme Academy will host the first two rounds of the 2012 Thundercat National Championships – ‘White Out at Watergate Bay’ – on the weekend of 19 and 20 May.

Powered by 50hp engines the Thundercats make for thrilling and accessible racing; with all the action taking place just metres from the shore, spectators can enjoy the competition at close hand.

Thundercat race organiser James Tapp said: “All the teams are buzzing about coming to Watergate Bay; they finally get to show off their awesome machines in some seriously testing conditions.

“This is an event we hope to build up year on year with the Extreme Academy, as it is a stunning venue for us. Spectators can expect to see explosive wave jumping and competitive surf racing – if there is any kind of swell running it adds an extra dimension to the racing and we’ll really see what the crews are made of.”

Thundercat Racing takes place at Watergate Bay on 19th and 20th May 2012.

The inflatable catamaran boats originated in South Africa, where they were designed to be used in the country’s powerful surf and fast-flowing rivers.

Each four meter boat is crewed by a team of two: a driver to steer, and a co-pilot who uses their weight to stabilise the Thundercat and help achieve the greatest possible speed around the M-shaped course.

The teams will each race in four heats, earning points to decide the 12 fastest crews who go on to compete in a final where they will be awarded double points. At the end of the day’s racing all the points from the qualifying heats and the finals will be added together to determine the final positions.

Round one of the championship will take place on Saturday 19 May, with the first race starting at 1pm and the final completed by 4pm. On Sunday round two will commence at 12pm and finish at 4pm. The winning teams will take to the podium after racing has finished on the Sunday.

The championship, which features 13 rounds held across six UK locations, sees teams from across the country compete for the fastest time and the title of Thundercat champion.

For more information on Thundercat Racing and other events taking place at Watergate Bay, please visit: www.watergatebay.co.uk/events

ENDS

Images

High resolution images are available for download from the Barefoot Media online press centre (click for direct link).

Notes to Editors

Set on its own spectacular surfing beach on the north Cornwall coast, The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay has earned a reputation as one of the ‘must visit’ coastal destinations in the UK.

The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski and stand-up paddlesurf; technical equipment hire; and the Shop on the Beach, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy

A press area will be available at the hotel during the event, with access to Wifi and refreshments. Event organisers will also be on hand.

Press contacts

PR on behalf of the Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay
Jim Michell, Barefoot Media. Email jim@barefootmedia.co.uk. Phone: 01208 895089.

Thundercat Racing
Sophie Pascoe, Press Officer. Phone: 07880 794014.

Now in its third year, the boutique food and music festival will for the first time feature the Flying Fish chefs’ theatre where some of Cornwall’s best culinary talents will take to the stage.

The festival, a ‘Glasto for the foodies’, is held in the grounds of Dinham House near Rock, North Cornwall, and will run from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 June 2012.

Event organiser Charlie Anderson said: “The festival has always had a strong food focus and so it seemed like a natural progression to introduce live cookery demonstrations. Flying Fish have kindly sponsored the theatre and will be providing the chefs with fresh Cornish fish for the weekend.

Paul Ainsworth from Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 will be doing a demonstration at the Rock Oyster Festival. Photo: Khalile Siddiqui.

“The chefs’ theatre will have plasma screens so the audience will be able to see their favorite chefs preparing dishes close up. They will also be able to learn professional tips and sample some of their cooking afterwards.”

The Camel Estuary, where the festival is set, has rapidly become synonymous with fabulous food, amazing produce and talented chefs, and the demonstration line-up is certainly representative of this.

Local chef James O’Connor from the St Moritz Hotel will be showcasing his culinary skills along with Tom Scade, who is head chef at the nearby Tides restaurant and was 2011 South West Chef of the Year.

From across the estuary, Paul Ainsworth will be demonstrating some of his favourite dishes and talking about his time on the BBC2 program The Great British Menu.

Sharing their secrets on stage will be Stephane Delourme, head chef from The Seafood Restaurant, alongside Rick Stein’s executive chef David Sharland and sous chef Peter Murt.

Stephane Delourme is Rick Stein's head chef from The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Stephane will be demonstrating at this year's Rock Oyster Festival as well as defending his 2011 oyster shucking title. Photo: John Arandhara-Blackwell

More gastronomic entertainment will come from Andy Appleton, head chef of the Jamie Oliver inspired restaurant Fifteen Cornwall and Neil Haydock, executive chef for Watergate Bay Hotel. Andy was one of the team that launched the original Fifteen concept which has gone from strength to strength and has just celebrated its tenth birthday, with sister restaurants in London and Amsterdam.

James Nathan, Masterchef winner in 2008, will be going head to head with a mystery guest in a timed ‘chef off’ with Daphne Skinnard from BBC Radio Cornwall judging the winner.

Annie Sibert of My Fish Kitchen was a fishmonger from the start of her working life. She set up My Fish Kitchen to be able to share the knowledge and experience she has from her upbringing as part of a large Cornish fishing family. Annie can teach us everything we need to know about how to buy, prepare and cook fish fresh from the sea.

Festival goers will also be able to watch their favorite chefs compete in the hotly contested oyster shucking competition. Contestants battle it out to present perfectly prepared fresh oysters in the fastest time possible.

As well as demonstrations, a wealth of Cornwall’s best food and drink producers will be on site selling their wares for you to buy and take away.

Charlie said: “The Rock Oyster Festival is all about celebrating the delicious artisan-produced food and drink that we have here in Cornwall. Many chefs that are demonstrating will be in the food court selling their food.

“Tickets are selling quickly so people should buy now to avoid disappointment.”

The Rock Oyster Festival certainly promises more than just oysters with critically acclaimed music acts, children’s entertainment and food galore.

For more information and to buy tickets visit: http://www.rockoysterfestival.co.uk/.

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For high resolution images please visit the Barefoot Media online press centre (click for direct link).

Notes to editors
Rock Oyster Festival is a food, music and arts festival held at Dinham House on the Camel Estuary near Rock, north Cornwall. Now in its third year, the festival will run from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 June 2012.

The Rock Oyster Festival is a not-for-profit festival which last year raised £4,000 for the charities Cornwall Hospice Care and The Army Benevolent Fund, The Soldiers’ Charity.

Media Contacts
Kate Ardron, Barefoot Media | kate@barefootmedia.co.uk | 01208 895089 or 07879 119247

Charlie Anderson, Rock Oyster Festival | charlie@rockoysterfestival.co.uk | 07971684737

Fire Café in Mawgan Porth, North Cornwall has welcomed new head chef Johnny Gilbert, who has joined them from the One Eyed Cat in Truro.

Originally from Brittany, Johnny has returned to the team after working at Fire in 2008 and is looking to diversify the menu and expand the daily specials board.

Head chef Johnny Gilbert plates up during service in the Fire Cafe kitchen. Photo: www.davidgriffen.co.uk.

Having spent the majority of his career working in beachfront locations, he will be incorporating flavours inspired by the sea, as well as his classic French training to the menu.

Reflecting on his new role Johnny said: “I am really excited to be back in the kitchen at Fire Café. I have enjoyed working on the new menu and putting my own spin on the food here.

“The local produce is inspiring; Cornish pork is always a winner, but you can’t beat the fresh fish. I like to combine classic cuisine with beach themed cooking, to create simple modern dishes that complement the amazing location here in Mawgan Porth.”

Since opening in 2006, Fire Café has established itself as a hub for visitors and locals to enjoy great food in a relaxed environment, overlooking the stunning beach.

When owners Graham and Liz Jones renovated the existing beach cafe six years ago, they had a vision of creating a laid back, informal dinning experience, where the menus reflect the best of Cornwall’s local produce and beautiful landscape.

Owner Graham said: “We are really looking forward to the season ahead, and are thrilled to welcome Johnny back on board.

Chocolate pudding with vanilla ice-cream and strawberries made by Fire Cafe's head chef Johnny Gilbert. Photo: www.davidgriffen.co.uk.

“Having worked for us four years ago, he really understands the ethos of Fire Café and has a real flair for fabulous food. We are particularly excited about the introduction of the daily specials board which will give customers a chance to try something a bit different.”

The bar and grill is open every weekdays for lunch and dinner from 12 noon until late and from 10am for breakfast at weekends. From Whitsun, Fire will open at 10am 7 days a week.

For more information and to book a table, please visit: www.firecafe.co.uk.

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Images
High resolution images can be downloaded form our online press centre.

Notes to editors
Fire Café opened in 2006 when owners Graham and Liz Jones converted the existing beach cafe. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner the food at Firé Cafe is made using fresh local ingredients and reflects the relaxed atmosphere of its beachside location.

Press Contact
Kate Ardron | Barefoot Media | kate@barefootmedia.co.uk | 01208 895089 |07879 119247

The Harbour Kitchen offers bespoke outside catering for weddings, canapé parties and other private functions.

For those feeling a little more indulgent, The Harbour Kitchen also offer a private chef to cater for in-house dinner parties or home-cooked delivery meals from the kitchen of The Harbour Restaurant.

The new venture is in part thanks to the arrival of sous chef Megan Brigstocke, who joins the team at the celebrated Cornish restaurant, which is located in a beautiful 15th century building on the water’s edge.

Emily says: “It is great to have Megan on board. She has cooked all over the world which has given her fantastic knowledge and skills.

“Megan’s arrival gives us the capacity to diversify and to offer these additional services. We will be bringing the same quality and flavours that you can find at The Harbour to the rest of Cornwall, catering for weddings, private dinner parties, special occasions and corporate functions.”

Emily's home-made shepherd's pie can be ordered from The Harbour Kitchen. Photo: Daniel Scott.

Megan, originally from Hampshire, has trained at the Tante Marie School of Cookery and has always loved Cornwall since first visiting as a child.

Megan said: “Getting the opportunity to move to Cornwall has been brilliant. I love cooking with all the fresh local ingredients and meeting Emily has been such an inspiration. I am feeling just as passionate about cooking now as I did when I first started.”

Megan joins patisserie chef Bianca Weyergraf in The Harbour’s all-girl kitchen. Bianca used to work in education and has been trained from scratch by Emily over the last year in the art of puddings and desserts.

The inspiration behind the new venture comes from Emily’s past experience in private catering, providing food for events such as at Windsor Castle and weddings.

Emily creates menus that are individually crafted to reflect the occasion, the season and the ingredients available.

The Harbour Kitchen’s delivery meals can be ordered via the website and are designed to be reheated when ever you need them.

For more information about the Harbour Kitchen please visit: www.theharbourkitchen.com or telephone: 01208 880237.

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High resolution images for print use can be downloaded from our online press centre (click for direct link).

Media Contact
Kate Ardron at Barefoot Media
Email: Kate@barefootmedia.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089

Notes For Editors
The Harbour Restaurant is run by chef Emily Scott. After training at a top London cookery school, Emily worked for three years in the restaurant industry in Burgundy. Her time there brings French and continental influences to the dishes she creates, which use the best Cornish ingredients available.

The Harbour, 1 Middle Street, Port Isaac, Cornwall, PL29 3RH.
Telephone: 01208 880237.
http://www.theharbourportisaac.com/

Just days after new recruit Kate Ardron joined the St Wenn-based firm, the agency have won the pitch for the PR and marketing of the 2012 Cornwall Food & Drink Festival.

Specialising in food and drink, tourism and events, the agency are looking forward to working on the festival which takes place from 28 to 30 September and celebrates Cornwall’s best food and drink producers.

Two children sample some of the locally produced ice-cream on offer at the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival.

Managing partner Jim Michell said: “Kate’s arrival has strengthened our team’s food and drink credentials and she has helped us get off to a great start with a successful pitch win to work on the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival.

“We are really looking forward to working on the event; Cornwall’s food scene is absolutely buzzing at the moment and what’s most encouraging to see is that the quality of the produce and the skills in the local community are defining what makes us different. It’s great news for the future of the sector as it accounts for 30 per cent of all jobs in the county.”

From left to right: New recruit Kate Ardron, Partner Ellie Michell, Managing Partner Jim Michell and Intern Caragh O'Donnell.

The team’s newest recruit, Kate Ardron, has joined Barefoot Media from her previous role as PA to the executive team at The Seafood Restaurant Ltd, bringing her expertise in food and drink and events.

In her time at The Seafood Restaurant, Kate worked on the 2011 Padstow Christmas Festival focusing on the event’s PR and logistics, and the launch event for The Trencherman’s Guide.

Kate said: “I am delighted to join the team at Barefoot Media and continue to work in an area that I am passionate about.

“There is such an exciting foodie scene emerging in the South West at the moment and it’s great to be a part of this in my new role.”

The award-winning agency has also sponsored the 2012/13 Trencherman’s Guide, and  worked on the PR for the launch of the guide which took place on Monday 12 March.

For more information on the services offered by Barefoot Media visit the website: www.barefootmedia.co.uk

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Notes to editors
Barefoot Media is an award-winning PR, digital marketing and content creation company based in Cornwall. Working with clients including Cornish food and drink producers, tourism businesses and beach sports events, Barefoot have run PR campaigns for award-winning events, project managed website builds, delivered social media strategies and much more.

About Cornwall Food & Drink Festival

1. Cornwall Food and Drink Festival is managed by Cornwall Food & Drink,  Cornwall Food & Drink’s objective is to promote the food and drink industry of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and develop market opportunities, providing a series of events and other targeted collective marketing and promotional initiatives that no individual business would be able to carry out alone.

2. Membership of Cornwall Food & Drink is open to any food or drink business within Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly, or to any business that has goods or services to sell to the food and drink sector.

3. Cornwall Food & Drink Festival is open to members and non-members of Cornwall Food & Drink, but all produce on sale will have been produced or processed within Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly.

4. Cornwall Food & Drink has been awarded a grant by the South West Regional Development Agency under the Rural Development Programme for England.  This funding is provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra. The grant is intended to support the company’s initial activity and help it become fully self-financing by December 2013.

Press contact
Jim Michell, Barefoot Media. Email jim@barefootmedia.co.uk. Phone: 01208 895089.