Mem005

Report by Sarah Turner:

I think we have put Emsworth and St Aubin firmly on the map with our activities at the
Emsworth Food Festival! The Association even received two mentions in the
Chichester Observer report (see below), and I appear to have changed my name!

We were especially pleased to welcome the French committee dressed in traditional
Normandy costume offering tastings of regional delicacies (including cider, Pommeau,
Calvados and tripe), along with local traders and a local chef who cooked a typical
menu Normand at Spencer's Restaurant on the Saturday evening. My personal thanks
to all hosts, committee and other volunteers on the stall for their invaluable help during
the event. I realised that it was a challenge when I took on the role of bringing a taste
of St Aubin to the Emsworth Food Festival and could not have achieved such success
without everyone's support. Another welcome member who visited during the food
festival was Denis Smith, the veteran who came to talk to us last October about his
experiences landing at St Aubin on D-Day.

Excerpts from the Chichester Observer (with names and other text as printed!)

Denis Spencer, chef and owner of Spencer's Restaurant, had invited a French chef
and his assistant from St Aubin sur Mer, Emworth's twin town to share his kitchen. But
Denis was not concerned about it being a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

He said: "I can't speak French and he can't speak English so it'll be fine. We can call
each other what we want and it won't matter. Actually, we have got someone in the
kitchen who can translate for us."

The stall holders in the Emsworth Village were joined by French traders who had
travelled from St Aubin sur Mer. The French connection was organised by the St
Aubin-Emsworth twinning association. Sue Turner, chairman, was very keen to involve
them in the festival. She said: Our aim is to forge links between the two communities
and extend the experience of Emsworth because we are so close." Alsace casserole
dishes and home-produced foie gras and other goose products gave the market place
a definite French flavour. As did Joysane Gotefroy's honey stall, where customers
swarmed to get stuck into her honey, cakes and royal jelly. Mme Gotefray, who lives
just outside St Aubin sur Mer, said: The festival is wonderful, and the weather is nice
too. It's very busy so there has been a lot to sort out. We're making lots of new
friends."