Interview with Cornish chef and food writer, James Strawbridge about his new book 'Salt' at the Falmouth Book Festival on 21st October 2023.
Photo © Rob Jones
Interview: Charles Clover
Interview with journalist and campaigner Charles Clover about his new book 'Rewilding the Sea' at the Falmouth Book Festival on the 21st October 2023.
Interview: Craig Barr-Green
Interview with Craig Barr Green who's holding a story making session at the Falmouth Book Festival 2023. Conducted by Rob Jones
Interview: Tim Hannigan
Interview with Tim Hannigan, author of 'The Granite Kingdom' and who's appearing at the Falmouth Book Festival on Saturday 21st October 2023.
Interview : Seamas Carey
Interview with Seamas Carey about his stage show 'Help I think I'm a Nationalist,' performed as part of the Falmouth Book Festival, which examines Cornish identity, second homes , xenophobia and bagpipes.
Interview: Natasha Walter
Interview with author Natasha Walter about her new book 'Before the Light Fades' which examines her reaction to the 'planned death' of her mother Ruth, and how it brought about a rediscovery of her mother, and am understanding of the process of grief. Speaking at the Falmouth Book festival on October 20th 2023.
Shen Hong: China's Lost memories Through a Western Lense
Professor Shen Hong of Zhejiang University delves deep into China's history through international perspectives. Venturing into prestigious global institutions, Shen unearthed vintage photographs that depict China from the late 1800s to the early 20th century, which offer a unique perspective into the intersections of China's history and its ties with the world. Dive into this edition of "Footprints" as we join Shen Hong's quest to retrieve China's memories from Western archives.
Interview: James Holland
Interview with historian James Holland who was speaking at the Falmouth Book Festival on Thursday 19th of October 2023, about his latest book, 'The Savage Storm.'
Photo © Rob Jones
Interview - Robin Ince
Writer and Comedian Robin Ince appearing at the Falmouth Book Festival.
17th October 2023
Photo © Rob Jones
Package - Young and Talented Cornwall: Creative Writing Awards
Package on the Young and Talented Cornwall - Creative Awards at the Poly in Falmouth during the Falmouth Book festival - 16th October 2023
Interview: Louis de Bernières
Interview with Louis de Bernières at the Falmouth Book Festival 2023
Interview: Craig Barr Green
Interview with Craig Barr Green - Children’s Author - at the Falmouth Book Festival
Photo © Rob Jones
Oyster Catchers
(Reproduced from Minhall & Jones Food Blog)
Now … I do not like Oysters. In fact I would go as far as to say that I loathe then, and have to think twice before entering a room where I know they are being served.
I have tried them. So I am not speaking from inexperience. A long time ago on a road trip to the Western Isles. I found myself in an Oyster bar in Loch Fyne of all places, and deciding that it was now or never to try them for the first time. In they went. The feeling was just all wrong. And I only just managed to get it over the threshold and into my gullet. My antipathy was solidified a few year later when a friend’s son also tried them for the first time … and couldn’t quite get it past the that threshold. The look of panic on everyone’s faces. Were we about to be showered with the remains of an undigested oyster?
So, my attitude has always been ‘proceed with caution.’
But if that’s the case, why have I been loitering around the Falmouth Oyster Festival all week?
Photo © Rob Jones
The bottom line is that I just love festivals - Book festivals (about to kick off) Arts Festivals (that happened a couple of weeks ago) and of course Food Festivals. I think it harks back to the days when, as a treat we’d all pile onto the train - it was steam trains back then - get off at Paddington and then negotiate the short journey to Earls Court of Olympia to the Ideal Homes Exhibition, where we’d be dragged around the exhibition hall trying various foods, labour saving devices (like spiralisers) and watching demonstrations of how to live this fantastic existence in a time of novelty. I love watching demonstrations, from a distance. I adore the idea of ‘devices,’ though I have spent the last few years divesting myself of all the unused devices I have collected over the decades. Nice idea at the time. Totally impractical when you get it home. Too flimsy to keep till Christmas and pass it off as a ‘thoughtful’ present to an aunty.
Photo © Rob Jones
I don’t seem to be alone. It’s estimated that more than 3000 people plan their holidays around food festivals in Cornwall alone, which generate some £3 million for the local economy. Needless to say, some have not weathered the storm of Covid well, and have struggled to rebuild their popularity.
Not so it seems with the Falmouth Oyster Festival, which was actually much more than simply about oysters. The festival marks the start of the oyster dredging season which runs from October to March, and brings together oyster lovers of course, but also chefs, food and drink enthusiasts, producers and local musicians.
Plenty of street-food outlets too. Yum.
I had a few close shaves with oysters as I squeezed my way through the tent, but I kept my composure at all times.
No plans to change my mind, but certainly no reason to shun this annual shuck-fest.
R
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