Food & Drink Archives - Bridport Literary Festival

Event 37 | Julian Baggini | The Book of Coffee

£15.00

Julian Baggini - The Book of Coffee - A Philosophy
Julian Baggini has long been fascinated by the philosophical ideas behind how we eat and drink. The chance discovery in Tokyo of a copy of The Book of Tea by Kakuzō Okakura (published in 1906) led him on a journey to explore our relationship with coffee. In The Book of Coffee (co-authored with James Hoffmann), Baggini considers how a humble bean transformed global commerce and fuelled the European Enlightenment, continuing to influence the way we work and socialise. What can the world’s favourite hot drink teach us about the art of living? Ticket price includes a freshly brewed cup of hot coffee and a biscotto, served within the delightfully informal setting of Mercato Italiano.

When: Wednesday 11 November 2026 @ 10.30 am

Where: Mercato Italiano

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Event 45 | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall | High Fibre Heroes

£14.00

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - High Fibre Heroes

Join the broadcaster, writer and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for a feast of an event. Best known for his River Cottage TV series, bestselling books and his passion for food focused on local, seasonal and ethically produced ingredients, Hugh has reshaped the conversation around how we eat. Now he’s determined to help us all eat more fibre, conjuring 100 recipes from 12 of the most versatile and readily available vegetables. He’ll be chewing things over with the journalist Teddy Jamieson. “Only Hugh could take on a subject like fibre and transform it into something interesting, desirable and delicious,” Meera Sodha.

When: Thursday 12 November 2026 @ 11.30 am

Where: Bridport Arts Centre

Sponsored by: Pippa & Hugo James

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Event 54 | Mary Berry | Mary All in One

£18.00

Mary Berry - Mary All in One

Join broadcaster and cook Dame Mary Berry in conversation with the author and food writer Lucy Brazier. This event marks the publication of Mary: All in One, a collection celebrating effortless, one-dish cooking. Alongside these new recipes, from chicken tartiflette to strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake, the discussion will trace Mary’s journey from her classic Cordon Bleu training in Paris during the 1950s to her decades spent teaching Britain how to cook and her time as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. An intimate and lively hour in the company of a woman who for over half a century has helped shape the way the nation gathers round the table and made us all aware of our “soggy bottoms”.

When: Friday 13 November 2026 @ 1.00 pm

Where: Electric Palace

Sponsored by: Symonds & Sampson

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Event 57 | Andrew Wood | Noble Nine

£20.00

Andrew Wood - Noble Nine - The Story and Science of the World’s Favourite Wines

Join plant biologist and wine expert Dr Andrew Wood upstairs at Mercato Italiano for a fascinating look at the world’s most popular drink. Andrew introduces his book Noble Nine, which explores the history and science behind the nine “noble” grape varieties that have traditionally dominated wine racks. He shares the human stories behind every bottle, from 18th-century French peasants discovering sweet Sauternes by accident, to how modern science is protecting our greatest vineyards from climate change. This event will offer a fresh perspective on how botany, climate and culture intertwine in every glass. Tickets include a glass of wine or soft drink and table snacks.

When: Friday 13 November 2026 @ 5.00 pm

Where: Mercato Italiano

SOLD OUT Details