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Yes, festival season is upon us. Autumn in Manchester sees Manchester Food and Drink Festival, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Buy Art Fair, Manchester Literature Festival and Manchester Science Festival. I think that’s it. Did I miss any off?

The Food and Drink Festival is looking mighty fine so far this year, so here’s my highlights.

Mr Manchester Is Ace always goes to the whisky festival with his friends, and I usually leave the area until he’s been decontaminated. The Lowry Hotel is hosting for the first time this year – they won’t know what’s hit it.

This year I’m going to the Third Big Indie Wine Festival at the People’s History Museum for a sensible evening discussing the merits of old world vs new world, and assessing the acidity, aroma and structure of some fine vinos. OR I’m going to go and swig as much wine as I can with my mates and get dizzy.

Some of the independent wine stores involving in showcasing their grapes are: Reserve Wines, Harvey Nichols, Hanging Ditch, The Vineyard and Origin Wine.

Other attention grabbers from the 2011 line-up involves the man himself, Mr Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall who will be giving a talk and cookery demonstration on Friday, October 14 at 1pm.

I love his whimsical olde English programmes where he jauntily whips up a feast for some village folk using berries he’s plucked from the hedgerows, a hand-reared salmon and some home-churned butter. I wonder what he’ll make of Manchester?

MFDF is also having a Best of British street food at the festival hub, which reflects the latest trend in gastronomy. Although I think perhaps that street food is at its best in parts of Asia, when you fear for your health (or guts) while simultaneously wondering what the hell you’re eating. Although you can, if you want, replicate that fear by purchasing a hot dog a 3am from a stall in the city centre.

I also love the idea of the Nominee Trail, which will be taking a group of food-lovers round a selection of the award nominees for best bar, best restaurant and best newcomer to decide for yourself who is the fairest of them all. Except will you remember them all when you’ve had a drink at each?

Other festival highlights include band Elbow’s new bitter, in partnership with Robinsons, to celebrate the launch of their new album, Manchester Chocolate Festival on October 8 and the tempting sounding Spirit and Cocktail Trail.

Manchester Food and Drink Festival takes place from October 7-17, with the main festival hub being at Albert Square again.

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We’re now in the middle of Manchester Food and Drink Festival ,
after it launched last week with a glitzy bash at Manchester Art Gallery.
Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows I’m doing some freelance PR work for the
festival so I’ve been watching all the behind the scenes action and can really
appreciate how much work goes into putting an event like this on.

And I’m starting to realise the occupational hazard of
working with (and consuming lots of) food and drink is a strong possibility of gout.
But, hey, I’m not complaining!

This weekend (October 8-11) coming is going to be a good
one, with loads of events happening in Albert Square. If you like beers, the
Oktoberfest (Oct 8-11) is for you, while is you prefer a proper British ale,
check out the Greater Manchester Ale Festival (just Oct 9 and 10). And even
better, Saturday, October 10 has been declared Ale and Pie Day with Holland’s
Pies giving away free pastry snacks to thirsty punters.

As a non-ale drinker I’ll be heading down today (Thursday, October for the Chocolate Day, in association with the Chocolate
Café. Last time I went into their shop, I tried loads of very odd flavours of
choccy including bacon (bit salty, but not too meaty!) and they even let me
have a go at making a hot chocolate.

The first Manchester Whisky Festival has also been really popular this
year, and all the masterclasses are completely sold out. There are still
tickets available for the event on Saturday (Oct 10) at MOSI (Museum of Science and
Industry) so if you like your malts, get ‘em quick.

There’s still loads of events happening every day, right up
until Monday, October 12 so check out the website. Click on the events section
to search by date.

www.foodanddrinkfestival.com.
Follow me on Twitter @MFDFO9
Also check out my Posterous, with photos from various
events.

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