Cheltenham Festival Serves Local Flavors

Hundreds of thousands are attending the Cheltenham Festival, which is increasingly championing locally sourced food. Executive chef Warren O'Connor has planned menus using ingredients from Gloucestershire and surrounding areas, offering an economic boost to local suppliers. Dishes feature trout from the Forest of Dean, venison from the Cotswolds, and baked goods from Cheltenham.

The '480 restaurant' prominently showcases produce sourced within 60 miles. Local businesses like Six Chimneys Bakery see production quadruple during the event, supplying thousands of cakes, pastries, and breads. Cotswold Organic Dairy is providing 2,500 wheels of brie made from local cow's milk.

This initiative supports British food and farming, with a significant logistical operation involving 400 chefs preparing 48,000 meals. Nine 18-tonne lorries deliver food daily to the racecourse, ensuring a continuous supply throughout the 24-hour operation.