ST ALBANS FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL GALA DINNER AND AWARDS 3RD JULY SOPWELL HOUSE HOTEL 6:45PM – LATE. THE VOTES ARE IN! The glittering finale event to the Festival is nearly upon us – and there are still a few tickets left! Celebrate everything s that s fa

ST ALBANS FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL GALA DINNER AND AWARDS

3RD JULY SOPWELL HOUSE HOTEL

6:45PM - LATE.

THE VOTES ARE IN!

The glittering finale event to the Festival is nearly upon us - and there are still a few tickets left!

Celebrate everything's that's fantastic about St Albans at this packed evening of fine wine, food and top-class entertainment....

Guests will enjoy Champagne on the lawn to kick the evening off, followed by a 5 course banquet created exclusively for the event by Sopwell's executive chef, James Chapman.

Inspired by St Albans, guests will enjoy a decadent menu...

Salmon & trout rilette, horseradish cr�me fraiche, gribiche dressing

**

Chilled leek & watercress soup

**

(Matched with Opawa Pinot Gris 2008 New Zealand)

Slow braised blade of beef, truffle mash, roasted root vegetables, red wine jus

**

(Matched with Titolato Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG 2008)

Summer berries in "Pimms" jelly, raspberry & plum sorbet, lime syrup

**

English farmhouse cheeses, including Chidwicksbury goat's cheese, gooseberry chutney

After dinner, guests will have the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes as part of the charity raffle and auction.

Up for raffle, prizes include...

Miele Fridge Freezer courtesy of Poggenpohl Kitchens.

Up for auction, prizes include....

A luxury gourmet break to tuscany!

One lucky guest will walk away from the event with this wonderful 'money can't buy' prize under Winners will visit the famous Cusona Estate in Tuscany, producers of Guicciardini Strozzi wines!

This winery is one of the oldest on record producing some of the finest wines in Italy. The owners of the estate are direct descendants of Lisa Gherardini, better known as Leonardo Da Vinci's

"MonaLisa"! Guests will stay at a luxury 4 star boutique hotel, enjoy limousine service to Cusona Estate, meet with the owners, and then be treated to an exclusive tour of the winery and tasting

with the owners. Plus a meal for 2 in an intimate local restaurant.

Following this, guests will hear from celebrity chef Aldo Zilli who'll be sharing some of the

experiences that have taken him on the fascinating journey, which has led him to become one of the

UK's most successful chefs.

Aldo will then present the first ever SAFDF Awards. Residents have been voting in their droves, but the votes have now all been counted and the winners will be revealed and presented with theircoveted trophies.

No dinner would be complete without dancing until the small hours!

TO GET YOUR HANDS ON TICKETS FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT CALL THE FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE

ON 01727 844488, OR VISIT http://www.alban-arena.co.uk/ TO BOOK ONLINE.

ALTERNATIVELY DROP BY THE BOX OFFICE IN PERSON AT CIVIC SQUARE IN THE CITY CENTRE, OR CALL THE FESTIVAL OFFICE ON 0161 834 4312