Cornish Food Is Headline Act At Top UK Festival

Woodfired Canteen, a Cornwall-based catering company which specialises in unique dining experiences, is preparing to serve the opening banquet at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire next month.

Led by chef Ben Quinn and his wife Sam, the experienced team will serve over 300 people on the first night of the award-winning festival, which takes place in a nature reserve and was described by The Times as “inspired and out of this world.”

Woodfired Canteen have naturally put Cornish produce centre-stage in a menu which includes Duchy Charcuterie, De Bara Bread, Cornish Lamb and Rodda’s Clotted Cream.

Ben commented: “Our whole team is energised by this opportunity to demonstrate what we can do at a world-class festival, and we are really proud to be showcasing some fantastic Cornish ingredients.”

Sam, who is in charge of logistics, added: “Although it will be a challenge serving such a large number, we’ve had plenty of practice at the regular events we run – for example at The Lost Gardens Of Heligan – so it’s simply a question of taking our woodfired model to the festival and giving our guests a fabulous experience.”

Banquets on following nights will be given by Yotam Ottolenghi, Thomasina Miers and Nuno Mendes – but the organisers couldn’t resist the allure of Cornwall for the opening celebration.

Woodfired Canteen has built a cult following for hosting dinners in special locations; remote clifftops, aircraft hangers, tropical gardens and rustic barns have all be the scene of their epic culinary adventures, where creative, colourful and wholesome food is cooked over wood fires and served to communal tables.

The Woodfired Banquet at Wilderness is sold out, but for a taste of something similar closer to home tickets are available for events at Porthmeor West in St Ives, The Lost Gardens Of Heligan and Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.

Visit www.canteencornwall.com for the latest news; events usually sell out quickly so signing up to the mailing list is recommended.