AN Italian market is heading to Bridgnorth over the May Bank Holiday bringing authentic Mediterranean cuisine, cooking tips and recipes to the town.
Run by L’assaggio Italiano Ltd the market will see the High Street closed to traffic on Sunday May 1, from 10am until 4pm, to give shoppers and food lovers plenty of space to see the chefs at work.
Market manager Francesco Accurso said: “We are a travelling Italian market, which is the oldest in the country.
“We have three bakeries based in London and we take our food all over the country. Our chefs are happy to talk about their work and give recipes – there is always a nice atmosphere, for people to enjoy the best of our produce.”
Francesco said the market was a great place to find more unusual foods and ingredients, which would not be in supermarkets.
“We have specialised cave aged cheeses, cured meats and, of course, fresh bread and pastries,” he said. “We also teach people about the different oil olives – it’s all about our Mediterranean diet, our cuisine – giving people the chance to taste and see the different flavours.”
After being told about the picturesque Bridgnorth Francesco said he believed the backdrop to the town would be the perfect setting for the market.
“We are always scouting for new places to visit, particularly in picturesque locations because a lot of success depends on the town itself,” he said.
“I think the market will work really well with the town hall in the background. It’s our first time here so it is a bit of an experiment.
“I’ve been doing this for about seven or eight years and I started because there were mainly French and continental markets travelling the country, but Italian cooking is a little bit different – not only the way we cook, but the way we prepare the dish. It’s about produce but also presentation.”
Locum Town Clerk Ann Wilson said the Italian market would run alongside the normal Sunday market, under the town hall.
“They approached me about holding the market over the bank holiday weekend and I’ve worked with them to get a licence,” she said.
“There will be roads closures along the High Street, from Whitburn Street to Cartway, between 10am and 4pm.”