One of the stars of TV’s Bake Off will be cooking up a feast at Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth.
Crystelle Pereira will appear on the festival’s Demo Stage on Saturday 9 December at 1pm, then signing copies of her debut book, My Flavour Kitchen, for cookery fans from 2pm.
Crystelle was runner up on the 2021 series of Bake Off and the judges raved about her dishes. Born in North London to Kenyan-born, Portuguese-Goan parents and that has inspired the creative tastes in her cooking. She is also an accomplished baker and her book showcases the skills which took her to the Bake Off final.
In 2021, Vanity Fair named Crystelle as one of their top performers, alongside a whole host of Hollywood stars. With her quick wit, she’s also a popular guest on the likes of ITV’s Lorraine and in the US on Good Morning America and The Today Show.
Crystelle will share the festival stage with Cumbrian author Helen Rebanks, whose first book The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days was published in August. She farms at Matterdale near Ullswater with her husband James, known on Twitter as Herdy Shepherd. She will be on the Demo Stage on Sunday 10 December at noon.
Both Crystelle and Helen will be signing copies of their books in The New Bookshop, Main Street, after their demos.
The Taste Cumbria Demo Stage will move to Market Place for this festival while Cocker Bridge is closed to traffic. That will also be the location for the hot food court, fairground rides and family fun. The east end of Main Street, next to Cocker Bridge, will host lots of producers’ stalls, street theatre and live music.
The rest of Main Street will remain open to traffic, and Station Street will run one-way as usual. Vehicle access will still be in place down Castlegate to Bitterbeck car park, and along St Helens Street and Kirkgate.
The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and Councillor Anne Quilter, Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“It’s fantastic to be able to welcome Crystelle and Helen to the Taste Cumbria Demo Stage - and I can’t wait to see what they’ll be cooking. This is shaping up to be another fabulous festival showcasing the very best culinary talent, alongside loads of Christmas shopping and entertainment. Come and join the fun!”
This year’s Taste Cumbria Christmas is organised by Cumberland Council, sponsored by Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Holmen Iggesund and Milburns Solicitors, and supported by Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade. For the full festival line-up, visit the Taste Cumbria website.
For more information about Taste Cumbria email ellie.jones@cumberland.gov.uk