Melon Man interest at Feastival soars…..even to Royalty!
Melon Man meets King of Malaysia
David Loh, the Melon Man, continues to generate more traffic on the Feastival website and blog than anything else this week, in the lead up to Wales’ alternative food festival in Bridgend. Pictured above, David is seen at one recent event that he attended, impressing the King of Malaysia! David is Malaysian himself so this must have been a particularly proud moment for him. Wonder who he’s going to impress upon in Bridgend this weekend?
Melon Man carves up in front of Simon Cowell
Well, he didn’t do too well on Britan’s Got Talent but really looking forward to seeing the Melon Man in Bridgend next weekend. He’ll be at Feastival on both days and performing throughout the day and throughout the town centre with a couple of slots in the Grub Hub tent too.
Anyway, just found this video on You Tube of him performing in front of the wonderful Amanda Holden (sorry, I must admit, I am a fan!), and the not so wonderful Mr Simon Cowell. If you fast forward to about 2 minutes, you’ll see David in action and I’m sure you agree, despite the panel’s view, he certainly does have talent and he’s certainly a bit different which is why we booked him @ Wales’ Alternative Food Festival. If you bring a melon, carrot or pumpkin along to Bridgend town centre next week, he may carve it for you! Now that would be something unusual to take home.
Remember, its about 2 minutes in…..
Fruit carving spectacle at this year’s Feastival
David at work on a giant pumpkin in Southampton in 2009
In the spirit of the alternative approach to our food festival, we’re delighted that we have managed to book one of the UKs most talented food carvers in the form of David Loh, aka the Melon Man, to demonstrate at this year’s Feastival. You may have seen David earlier this year on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent but he is quickly becoming a popular attraction at shows and events throughout the UK and abroad.
“I can carve fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin, all kinds of melons (honeydew, cantaloupe), carrots, butternut squash and even suede. But for best results, it has to be watermelons and carrots. When it comes to watermelons, I prefer the dark green melons, as the contrast highlights the detail” said David who will be visiting this part of South Wales for the first time.
When asked how many melons he can carve in a day, David responded “It all depends on what design, the more complicated design the more hours I need to finish it but I will probably carve 10 melons in a day at Feastival with all waste being recycled of course.” said David “ But if anyone wants to bring some fruit along for me to carve quickly, they’ll be very welcome!
In the interests of reducing food waste, David has urged anyone not to discard of fruit and veg that maybe passed its sell-by date but to bring it along to Feastival to be carved into something special and later composted.
The Melon Man will be appearing throughout Bridgend Town centre and in the Grub Hub tent during Feastival, Wales Alternative Food festival on 1st and 2nd October 2010.
Press release: World’s First Giant Cauliflower Sheep to be born in Wales
One of the most unusual works of food art ever seen in the UK will be created and displayed in Bridgend during Wales’ alternative food festival, Feastival on the 1st & 2nd October. A contemporary artist provided through Altern8media will be making a giant 10 foot high sheep made from cauliflower.
The giant cauliflower sheep that will tower an astonishing 10 feet high, will be the centre piece of the two day event that is set to draw crowds from far and wide. Sponsored by Puffin Produce Ltd., the sheep is to be created on site in Bridgend town and be protected by its own vegetable dog.
“As one of the first alternative food festivals in the UK, the emphasis is on fun with food and doing something out of the ordinary, quirky and totally unique. To our knowledge this is the first place anywhere in the world where a 10 foot high cauliflower sheep has been created over two days.” said event organiser Barry King.
Sponsoring the creation of the sheep is Haverfordwest-based Puffin Produce Ltd, who recently launched their own brand, Blas Y Tir (‘Taste of the Land’) to bring genuine Welsh produce to shoppers in the region through Asda. Blas Y Tir cauliflower is the latest addition to the range. “I think the sheep reflects the ‘food fun’ theme of Feastival really well,” said Puffin’s General Manager Huw Thomas. “It’s a fresh approach designed to inspire visitors – and especially kids – to get more creative with veg.”
Interest in the cauliflower sheep has soared, even before the work of art has been created. There is even a Facebook campaign gathering pace to name the sheep with many tongue-in-cheek names after celebrities appearing all over the internet.
Feastival, supported by the Welsh Assembly, will take place in Bridgend Town Centre and offer food lovers the finest local produce as well as keeping the whole family entertained with food fun. Other alternative attractions at the event include leek lobbing and egg dropping, alongside the more usual food cinema, urban allotment, and cookery demonstrations. The sheep is not the only food art on show at the event, there will also be demonstrations throughout the day on intricate melon carving from Malaysian born food sculptor David Loh who recently appeared on Britain’s Got Talent.
Ends.
Notes to Editors:- This project has received funding through the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Feastival is sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, Capital Region Tourism, Bridgend County Borough Council, Bridgend Festivals, Puffin Produce Ltd., Altern8media, The Really Welsh Food Company & May Gurney.
Altern8media, the crowd sourced ‘artvertising’ agency is a new Welsh based company that specialises in utilising artists and artistic platforms for clients throughout the UK. Tel: 08453 888028 www.altern8media.co.uk
For more information call 01656 815225.
Are you twisting my Melon Man?
Those of you who remember this line from the 80s, may be interested in Melons? If you are, then Feastival will be hosting the outstanding talent of David Loh, better knows as the Melon Man. David has worked the world over but is not yet that well known in Britain, despite amazing the audience in Britains Got Talent earlier this year with his speed carving. He’ll be doing this is Bridgend town centre on 1st and 2nd October, so don’t miss this rare chance to see an unusual talent that you wont forget in a rush.
