Foodies to get fermentation class

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Crafty food fans are invited to a workshop about the benefits of fermentation, led by an experienced US teacher.

American Annie Levy, who now lives in Wales, will lead a session at the Embassy Cafe in Cathays on 25 October.

The event, organised by Huw Angle, is hoped to inspire more people to get the most from their food.

Huw says, “We don’t have a big tradition of fermenting in the UK, and I think it always takes a while for people to appreciate new tastes.

“It’s not as easy as cooking. You’ve got to look after a living thing, which can easily turn sour, literally. But that’s why it’s good to go along to workshops and learn from experienced fermenters.”

What is fermentation?

Fermentation is the breaking down of foods using yeast, bacteria or other microorganisms.

A lot of food is fermented – bread, beer, cheese, yoghurt – and there are a lot of benefits to it.

But not only does it give added probiotic elements, it also tastes good.

For the fermentation masterclass, try kimchee, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables.

Cardiff Fermentation

Huw’s website is designed to act as a noticeboard for fellow fermenters.

He says, “I’m not planning any more events, but hoping some other people will.

“I’m still doing some more work on the Cardiff Fermentation website, but the idea is that it will just be an online noticeboard where people can list local fermentation events, advertise local products and share information about fermentation.”

His event, Get a Flavour of Fermentation, runs from 2pm-5pm on 25 October at Embassy Cafe which is a five minute walk from Cathays train station.

Tickets cost £10 and participants should take vegetables (preferably root or cabbage), a chopping board, a knife and jars to store their ferments.

Annie’s website features plenty of recipes, advice and personal stories from her time fermenting.