Reasons to be excited about food in September

Not only are there loads of food festivals taking place but there’s amazing home-grown produce coming into season…

Image caption,
The Ludlow Food Festival is one of the many food events taking place in September

September sees the kids head back to school and the first of the trees' leaves start to turn golden – but it's not quite time to say goodbye to the warm weather just yet. The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nature of our summers usually has us lapping up the last of the sun and making the most of the season's swan song until the very end.

But – perhaps a result of this year's intense heatwaves giving us our fill of summer – it seems that the country is hankering for autumn, and has been for some weeks. Back in mid-August, when temperatures were still far higher than average, online supermarket Ocado announced that we had stopped searching its virtual shelves for barbecue food and ice cream and instead were adding crumbles, shepherd’s pies, stews and soups to our baskets. Meanwhile, the likes of butternut squash and swede had begun overtaking fresher, lighter summer veg in terms of popularity, too.

The good news is that, in September, you can have it all: hearty casseroles packed with root veg and al fresco drinks at sunny festivals. This month is something of a seasonal sweet spot – which is why there are plenty of reasons to get excited about its arrival.

Don’t pack the barbecue away for the winter just yet, either – chargrilling this seasonal veg will intensify those summery feels, even if the temperatures are already starting to drop outside. Try this recipe for chargrilled summer vegetables (all of which are still at their best in September) with herby, lemony ricotta.

Fruits that are at their best in summer, like nectarines, raspberries and peaches, are also still out in full force. So bake them into desserts like this puff pastry tart and add to breakfasts like Tom Kerridge does in this overnight oats recipe, while you still can.

As those ingredients near the end of their seasonal cycle, vegetables that we tend to associate with autumn are starting to spring up, like cauliflower, squash, beetroot and leeks. Roasted until golden or whizzed into warming soups, they promise the kinds of hearty, comforting dishes that make the cooler months such an appealing prospect.

When it comes to new-season fruit, plums, damsons and figs are ramping up right about now, as are apples and pears, which are landing earlier this year thanks to the warm weather we’ve had throughout spring and summer. So, expect to see fresh British apples on supermarket shelves this month, and perhaps put them to work in the likes of apple tarte tatin or a crunchy winter slaw.

Take the opportunity to mix up summery and autumnal flavours while they overlap – like in this versatile fennel, leek and squash gratin and this baked cheesecake with blackberries, blueberries and figs.

Dates for the diary

Numerous food-focused awareness events happen each year in September. Designed to promote a particular kind of food or culinary practice, they’re often marked by activities and celebrations that everyone can get involved with.

For instance, Zero Waste Week is happening 2–9 September and could be right up your street if you’ve been looking for ways to reduce waste in the kitchen – from tackling leftover food to doing away with the single-use packaging that lots of groceries come in. Look out for any workshops or talks happening in your local area and consider setting yourself a challenge to create no waste for a whole week – a fun project that the whole family can get involved in, and one that might just save you some cash on the food shop.

British Food Fortnight runs throughout the second half of the month, too (17 September–2 October). Now in its 21st year, this annual celebration of British produce is marked by schools, communities and food businesses across the country. Expect special foodie lessons and lunch offerings in schools, menu promotions in pubs and restaurants and the chance to meet some of our best British producers in shops and at markets. So, keep your eye out for events near you.

The ninth month of our calendar is prime food festival territory. All kinds of producers and street food vendors will be making their way to events in all corners of the UK. Whether you set up camp for a weekend-long shindig or simply rock up to a low-key fest in your local town, food festivals are great opportunities to try out new ingredients and cuisines, discover artisanal and local producers and learn cookery tips at demos by top chefs. Here are just some of the events taking place in September.

Five festivals that are free to enter

North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival (3–4 September)Local food and drink producers are the stars of the show at this popular outdoor festival, which takes place inside the walled garden at Holkham Hall. Pick up everything from cakes and craft beers to vegetables and fresh bread and enjoy entertainment at the cookery theatre. Car parking charges apply.

Loch Lomond Shores Free Food and Drink Festival (3–4 September)Expect street food from all over the globe as well as chef demos, markets and plenty of family-friendly activities at this festival which takes place in Loch Lomond National Park, right on the banks of the water.

Nourish Festival (10 September)Showcasing some of the best food, drink and crafts from the whole of the South West is the name of the game at this Bovey Tracey festival. Head to Fore Street for the main slice of action.

Manchester Food and Drink Festival (15–26 September)Now in its 25th year, this 12-day celebration of food takes place across the city and is concentrated at the free-to-enter Festival Hub, where you’ll find street food, market stalls, music and talks by the likes of Great British Bake Off stars Edd Kimber and Rahul Mandal, and TV presenter Kate Humble.

Tide and Turf Portavogie (24 September)The harbour village of Portavogie in County Down is the perfect backdrop for this family-friendly food festival, celebrating the best produce from the local land and seas. Cookery demonstrations, food stalls and entertainment will be on the go, and celeb chef Theo Randall will be in attendance, too.

Five festivals with celebrity chefs on the program

Foodies Festival (Norwich: 9–11 September, Exeter: 16–18 September)Spot chefs from shows such as MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu at this travelling event. You’ll recognise plenty of faces on the entertainment roster too.

Pub in the Park (London: 2–4 September, St Albans: 9–11 September, Brighton: 16–18 September)Originally started by Tom Kerridge in Marlow, this festival now travels the country and always features a star-studded lineup of chefs and musicians. This year, as well as Tom Kerridge himself, guests can expect to see cookery heroes like Hairy Biker Si King, Matt Tebbutt and Simon Rimmer.

Ludlow Food Festival (9–11 September)As well as more than 100 different exhibitors, this well-known festival in the West Midlands features appearances from a great calibre of chefs, producers, food writers and book authors.

Seafeast (10–11 September)Happening in Weymouth in Dorset, this weekend festival promises market stalls, activities for kids and cookery demos from well-known seafood pros like Mark Hix and Mitch Tonks.

Abergavenny Food Festival (17–18 September)This two-day event in a small market town on the edge of the Brecon Beacons has a packed-out programme of events – from talks and tastings to workshops and demos. Countless traders flock here too, from nationally renowned street food outfits to local, artisanal makers.

There are plenty more foodie events happening across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check online to see what’s on near you.

Originally published August 2022.