It is a food festival in one of Wales' most beautiful spots, and this September, Street Food Circus' incredible Forest Feastival returns to Merthyr Mawr. Combining street food vendors with a beautiful location, it will be open for all four weekends in September.
We've a full list of vendors, and there are some old favourites, as well as some new up and coming food stars. The list for 2022 includes two pop-up restaurants: Tukka Tuk Canteen, the newest venture from Wales’ best-known Indian chef Anand George and Rupali Wagh, and The Warren, a sustainably-driven restaurant which uses local and seasonal produce. On top of that there is food from Japan, unauthentic Mexican dishes, Jamaican wings, steaks, noodles and puddings.
You can see what you'd be getting into by reading our review of last year's event here but Street Food Circus ringmaster and founder Matt ‘the Hat’ said: "We’re really focusing on food - bringing the best from Wales and some inspiring visitors from further afield. It’s a mix of Street Food Circus favourites - including several British and Welsh Street Food Award winners - new traders who people will not have seen before and a couple of chefs previewing dishes from restaurants they’ve yet to open.
Read more: Abergavenny Food Festival 2022: Top chef line up, stalls, how to get there and parking
“In the evenings we have live music and entertainment in the Freedom Sessions tipi with a focus on showcasing local talent and during the days, plenty of circus-themed activities to keep the kids happy. It’s a beautiful time of year to be out amongst the trees and the dunes on this unique site - and we’ve got one of our most exciting chef line-ups ever to make it a food experience to remember."
There will be a number of bars on site, including The Freedom Brewery craft beer bar and the BoBo cocktail bus as well as craft sodas and soft drinks too.
The vendors:
Ansh
Returning to their street food roots, Aled Hill and Shaun Jones will take their ethical, sustainable, Welsh burgers straight from the family farm to Merthyr Mawr. This will also be the first festival Ansh have appeared at since opening their successful restaurant in Cardiff's Victoria Park.
Bao Selecta
Since it started in 2016, this Taiwanese street food stall has been a constant favourite amongst food festival with its fluffy steamed buns which are loaded with a range of fillings, like slow cooked pork belly or festival favourite, crispy vegan “beef”, topped with fresh vegetables and home-made sauces, it's no wonder they were crowned the British Street Food Awards' winner in 2020.
Fire & Flank
Flash-fried sou-vide cooked steaks served with homemade chimichurri and cheesy garlic mash - this dish won Fire & Flank the Best Main Dish at the 2021 British Street Food Awards.
La Pantera
Mexican food like no Mexican food you've had before, this Cardiff city centre venue is going on the road. Sam and Joe, aka La Pantera (which recently featured on Come Dine With Me: The Professionals), takes its tasty and unauthentic tacos and mezcal to Merthyr Mawr. Previous fillings of theirs have included seared pigeon, sri lankan runner bean and pickled mackerel.
Mr Noodle
Mr Noodle Izakaya & Ramen pop up bar only opened this summer and is usually only available in Bristol - as a pop-up but they're crossing the border with their Michelin trained chefs, who have worked around the world to Wales.
Pwdin
This Cardiff-based dessert truck serves up some of the most photogenic desserts in the city. If drool-worthy desserts like Biscoff cheesecake ‘bad boy brownies’ and PB & J (peanut butter and jelly) bread and butter pudding are your jam, leaving room for pudding will be a necessity.
The Fork Society
Previously The Pork Society, the rebranded Fork Society specialises in plush restaurant-inspired pork dishes - with a street-food twist. They will be returning to Forest Feastival as champions of the 2022 Welsh Street Food Awards People’s Choice Award for their char-grilled pork steaks, served on skin-on fries with homemade chimichurri.
The Warren
Bringing The Warren to the Feastival is a real treat for foodies. If you've not made it down to Chef Deri Reed's award-winning Carmarthen restaurant here's your chance to try it. The chef's goal is to serve simple, wholesome food using local, seasonal and organic ingredients. The team from The Warren will be serving up organic Hazelwell Farm hogget koftas complimented by a range of accompaniments made from local, home-grown and foraged ingredients.
Tukka Tuk Canteen
This restaurant pop-up is the latest venture from renowned South Wales-based chef Anand George and Rupali Wagh. Expect delicious South Indian dishes such as dosas and malabar parotta with authentic curries. This pop-up is a taster of what's to come as the pair plan to open Tukka Tuk Canteen as their fourth restaurant.
Rock & Scallop
If you are loopy for lobster or just seafood in general, try out Rock & Scallop, whose menu at the Forest Feastival will also be a sneak peak of what's to come at their brand new restaurant planned to open later this year in the former Bute pub in Pontyclun. Championing as much Welsh and British seafood and shellfish as possible, Rock & Scallop are famed for their lobster and seafood rolls as well as scallops cooked in their shells. You may have seen them as a market trader at Riverside Market or been to their pop up at Pontyclun Rugby Club.
While the above traders will be available each weekend, the below stalls will only be there on certain weekends:
Tokyo Nights
Based in Cardiff Market and Founders and Co in Swansea, this street food venture, headed up by chef Oli Bryant, brings a fresh new twist to original Japanese cooking. A trip to Japan during the Rugby World Cup inspired his successful food stall and now, he's bringing his famous gyoza's and free range chicken yakitori to Forest Feastival on two weekends, Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4 and Friday, September 23 to Sunday, September 25.
Hot Damn Wings
The second weekend sees local Brigdend boy Ryan Jenkins bringing his wings to this year's Forest Feastival for the first time. Expect dripping and spicy chicken wings partnered with home-made sauces including Pap’s Hot Sauce - a recipe brought back from Zimbabwe by his dad in the 1980s. Ryan will be there on the second weekend, Friday, September 9, to Sunday, September 12.
Bare Bones Pizza
This father and son team made up of Mike and James are returning to their "favourite and most beautiful site to trade at", serving up stunning Neapolitan-style wood-fire pizzas using only the finest local ingredients. Can't eat wheat or have given up meat? They have vegan and gluten free options too. Find them, alongside The Real Ting, on the third weekend Friday, September 16, to Sunday, September 18.
The Real Ting
Albert Vale's nutritious and flavourful recipes transport hungry punters from Wales to Jamaica in one sitting. Having moved to Wales from Jamaica in 2020 just before the pandemic, Albert saw a gap in the market and started up The Real Ting, which not only offers a vast plant-based menu but fresh food that is "all about real experiences, authentic recipes and cooking with energy and good vibes". Albert will be there Friday, September 16, to Sunday, September 18.
How much are tickets?
Tickets cost £5+VAT & booking fee per person - kids, however, go free. The ticket includes free parking - though organisers ask visitors to use public transport or share cars where possible to keep traffic on the local roads to a minimum - and a Forest Feastival reusable cup for use at the bar. Tickets must be bought in advance and are on sale now at forestfeastival.com
When is it?
The Forest Feastival will take place on: Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4; Friday, September 9, to Sunday, September 12; Friday, September 16, to Sunday, September 18 and Friday, September 23 to Sunday, September 25. The opening hours are Friday: 6pm - 10pm; Saturday: 11am - 10pm; Sunday: 12am - 8pm.
What's new in 2022?
There will be no table service, which means that visitors can visit the traders directly and move around the site freely plus you can get your own branded refillable cup. There will be 'adults only' sessions with music and a communal firepit - between 6pm and 10pm with a kids and family area open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Where exactly is it?
The food festival will take place at: Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend CF32 0LS. For more information, visit the website
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