Porthleven Food Festival
Harbour Head, Porthleven, Helston, Cornwall. TR13 9JY
There’s never been a better chance to experience the culinary delights that Cornwall has to offer, than on the first bank holiday weekend in May! Porthleven’s wonderful weekend of food festivities is back for its 16th year!
The harbour town of Porthleven is certainly apt in its selection of lush little spots to eat. But if you happen to visit during the annual food festival, you’ll likely find yourself in a state of glorious sensory overload when choosing your menu for the day. Starting early at 11am, you can delve into all different kinds of cuisine to satisfy your foodie thirst throughout the day.
Talking of thirst, what better way to soak up the sun and quench the appetite for a beveragini than with a classy little cocktail? This year’s festival included a cocktail bar serving all their drinks in pineapples! A simple touch that bought some serious sense of joy.
If pineapple jugs seem like a bit of hassle to you, stick to the basics and enjoy a drink from another of the bars around the harbour. Open all year round, Porthleven’s Mussel Shoal is never short on good vibes and great food. But the place doubles in energy during the food fest, and this year supplied three vendors along the harbour front, selling their epic cocktails and signature food.
While all the local favourites remain open during the weekend, the streets and Shipyard become jam-packed with Cornish-based food producers. Not to mention, the live music; chef demos, family-friendly activities and various other Cornish retailers that set up to sell over the three-day weekend. If you’re lucky enough to relish in the sunshine during the festivities, it’s easy enough to surrender to the food coma and take some time out on Porthleven’s glorious beach. Just to the other side of the harbour, the music becomes a charming distant echo, and the flurry on the streets seems long ago as you re-charge by the waterfront. Don’t scamper from the fun for too long though- listen to your foodie thoughts and get stuck back in to the festival!
Navigating the labyrinth of the food stalls can be somewhat overwhelming – even for the seasoned veterans. With new stall emerging each year, it’s no wonder survival mode kicks in when you’re desperately sifting through food choices to make sure you pick the right one! I was pretty pleased with my options this year, and the stalls I selected did not disappoint!
A cracker of a meal from Katie’s Cornish Hot Pot started off my Friday evening gorgeously. The aromatic vegan dhal, accompanied by a fresh, cheesy, garlic naan was top-notch, and when it’s accompanied by views like these, there’s not really much room for complaint.
From the same stall, if meat is more your thing, the rice bowl served with Mediterranean chicken received flawless reviews and was easily devoured.
As a personal favourite of mine, it seems only right to talk bao buns. These little beauties were superb. Soft in texture and rich in flavour, if you wanted a little pre-dinner filler, the Bao Bun stall is a proper winner. It’s worth noting the short wait time at most of the stalls. My advice: don’t stick around ravenous, it’s best to keep that hunger topped up so the small queues don’t induce some hanger related issues…
If you’re not feeling food in the moment, take the chance to peruse the Royal Cornwall Food and Farming Market. The variety of sellers offering delightful local products to take away is sublime, and an epic celebration of the wonders of local Cornish producers.
What’s a food festival without a sweet treat? The weekend of food fest is likely to deliver the sweet treat offerings of your wildest dreams. With churros; crepes, brownies and delicacies galore, you’ll be wanting to go back simply for the sugar! This peanut butter brownie from Awesome Brownies was divine on day 2. While the simplicity of the lemon and sugar crepe from Falmouth Crepes was just the perfect pick-me up by the end of day 1.
So, if this all sounds a bit up your street, get yourself down to Lev for a fantastic weekend of food (and the rest) next year. Support the local gems and fill up with delicious dishes while you’re at it!
