Belong Atherton's food fusion festival goes down a treat

Customers at Belong Atherton got a culinary experience with a difference when one of South Africa’s top chefs Wynand Van Der Watt, paid them a visit.
35 customers attended the “food fusion” event on February 25, which saw British favourites like fish and chips and victoria sponge cake pitted against cuisine like Vetkoek – fried dough bread – filled with savoury mince, and Boerewors, a type of sausage popular in South Africa.
The event was organised by Belong Atherton’s experience day and bistro teams and received great support from the village, as everyone chipped in to make sure the food festival was a success.
Customers helped to design banners and the event was hosted by The Voice UK contestant Kim Alvord.
And the event also helped raise money as part of fundraising efforts for the Isithembiso Babies Home in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Gemma Willetts, experience day co-ordinator at Belong Atherton said: “I felt the evening was a great success. Before we started some of our customers said they were not sure about trying South African food because it was totally new but once they had tried it they were all asking if they could meet the chef because they had enjoyed it all so much.
“Once people had tried all the food we had a ready, steady, cook style vote to see which food everyone preferred but the result was too close to call.”