Rebecca Hubbard
Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:36 pm

Now in its ninth year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces. Sure Start Children’s Centres, universities, the Army, Cabinet Office, BBC and the National Trust are just some of the diverse establishments taking part.

Events during the fortnight include:

On your marks, get set, go
This year’s event is a warm-up for 2012 when British Food Fortnight will run at the same time as the London Olympics. Shops, pubs and restaurants are responding to the challenge by trial running patriotic British food promotions in preparation for welcoming the world to Britain.  

British food promotions
A record nine of the largest food service organisations and eight major pub groups are joining the hundreds of independent shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels putting British food on the menu and shop-shelves during the two weeks.  

Public vote for their favourite 'buy British' slogan
Members of the public have been asked to vote for the slogan that they think best promotes British food. The results will be published at the start of the Fortnight.

British on a budget
More than 20 universities are rising to the challenge with British Food Fortnight promotions in student cafes and canteens. And the event’s long established initiative sending chefs into schools is expanding into Sure Start Children’s Centres where parents are being taught how to prepare healthy, affordable British meals.  

Schools compete to cook for royalty and the hairy bikers
This year’s British Food Fortnight School Challenge is the biggest yet. Secondary schools are being challenged to design and cook a meal based on recipes that would have been used in their school’s part of the country by previous generations. The winning school is being invited to London to cook their chosen meal for HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and the Hairy Bikers.