Erddig Apple Festival

No, this isn’t the type of Apple Music Festival you’re thinking of, this is a festival of the foodie kind.. well it’s more of a challenge to be honest with you…

The challenge offered local cafés, restaurants and food outlets the chance to develop a dish which is based around one of the 170 varieties of apple grown on the Erddig estate.

Thirteen local chefs have now developed dishes with a ‘twist’ using local produce that will get new customers through their doors in the run up to the festival.

Paul Groom, Enterprise and Business Development Manager at Erddig Hall & Gardens in Wrexham explained; “The entries that we’ve had for this foodie challenge are so creative and have really amazed us in terms of how each chef has taken a variety of apple from the Erddig estate and used it in a variety of ways.

The challenge over the next three weeks promises to be great, not only for our taste buds, but for the businesses who will benefit from the new customers looking to try these dishes. Getting involved with the Destination Wrexham project has really worked for the team Erddig as we’re all passionate about developing new ideas for the growth of Wrexham as a visitor destination.”

Matt MacHale from La Baguette in Wrexham Town Centre is one of the businesses taking part in the challenge. Matt added; “Our business is committed to sourcing our produce locally as it supports local jobs across North East Wales, therefore getting involved with the Destination Wrexham Team’s Erddig Apple Challenge was up our street. The competition encourages us to not only use Erddig Apples, but work with as many local suppliers as possible to keep money in the local area and showcase what we have to offer. All of our other suppliers are based in North Wales and have their base within 30 miles of the shop and that is also very important to us”.

Along with Matt and the other eateries taking part, one very unique dish has been developed by Steve Rawlinson, head Chef at the Ramada Plaza in Wrexham.  Steve added; “As a diabetic, I’ve had to carefully regulate what I have eaten and prepared for myself over the years, however with this apple challenge I’ve been able to bring in my own experiences and have designed a dish that offers a variety of flavours. The dish is based around the apples available on the Erddig estate that will appeal to food lovers who visit our restaurant.”

Where Can You Taste These Dishes in September?

The 13 dishes being served up between Friday 4^th September and Friday 25^th September are available at;

·         The Plassey Shippon Restaurant – the Erddig Apple Crumble Cheesecake

·         Bellis Brothers, Holt – Granma Bellis’ Apple Sauce Cake

·         Rafters Restaurant at The Holt Lodge Hotel – Home Farm Pork Fillet with Black Pudding & Bramley Apple, a duo of cabbage, thyme roasted new potatoes and an Erddig Cider Sauce

·         The Alyn, Rossett – Spiced Bramley Apple, Granola and Llaeth Y Llan Yoghurt, warm Erddig Cider Toddy and an apple crumble candy floss

·         Emz Cakes, Wrexham – Light bramley apple & blackberry sponge cupcake with crumble chunks, topped with a vanilla custard buttercream, a sprinkle of crumble chunks and a handcrafted edible decoration

·         The Tyn Y Capel, Minera – The Tyn Yr Apel Pie (pork, Erddig apples, smoked ham & chestnuts wrapped in a puff pastry shell).

·         The Ramada Plaza, Wrexham – “Textures of the Erddig Apple” (fried apple pastry with an Erddig apple butterscotch brownie, caramel apple balls, dried Erddig apple crisps, green apple sorbet, cider jelly and cinnamon infused sugar).

·         The Druid Inn, Pontblydden – Minced pork, Erddig apple and sage burger, red cabbage & Erddig apple coleslaw, pulled pork, spiced Erddig apple chutney and hand cut chips

·         The Mulberry Inn, Llywnmawr – “Gwyl Berllan” (local Chicken breast stuffed with Caerphilly cheese and Erddig apples, wrapped in Welsh bacon and oven baked.  Served with local asparagus, parmentier potatoes and smothered in a creamy leek and Welsh apple cider sauce.

·         The Lemon Tree, Wrexham – Glazed belly pork & king prawns with Erddig apple compote & baby apples

·         The Royal Oak, Bangor on Dee – An Erddig Apple martini with caramel Erddig apple popcorn

·         The West Arms, Llanarmon – A small baked Erddig apple filled with a pear puree and pine seeds, with caramel sauce wrapped in a pancake to be unwrapped by the diner.

·         La Baguette, Wrexham – Perl Wen Welsh Brie, homemade Erddig Apple Slaw, Homemade Chilli and Erddig Apple Jam all served on a freshly baked baguette.

Will you be trying any of these dishes?