Dorset Dumpling

I have a terrible confession. Please don’t judge me. But I’ve reached the age of 40 something or other and I’ve never been to a music festival.  I know, shameful isn’t it?  But last weekend all that changed. The Dumplings went to Camp Bestival in the lush grounds of Lulworth Castle. And words cannot describe how amazing it was. Four days under canvas with three kids might seem a recipe for disaster and if I’m honest both Mrs. Dumpling and I were slightly dreading it. But we needn’t have worried. From the very moment we entered Lulworth’s grounds the vibe was chilled. Everyone, customers and staff, were smiling, even the security guard on our campsite at one in the morning! The music was outstanding and ever present until the wee small hours; The Kaiser Chiefs, Clean Bandit, Professor Green, Soul II Soul, Kimberley Anne and The Rhajisthan Heritage Brass Band were our highlights. And the place is a paradise for kids and parents wanting to reconnect with their inner child. So much to do and see in fact that we didn’t tick off everything on our ‘must do’ list. We’re still kicking ourselves we never got to see Dick and Dom reading bedtime stories or Bill Oddie talking about wildlife or Julia Donaldson’s The Scarecrow’s Wedding, but, but, but… as a parent if your children are happy then so are you and we were guided by their whims and fancies. So apologies Ella Eyre and Ella Henderson, we did have every intention of seeing you but we were just too busy honing our circus skills in the Big Top area! And what about the food? Just too much is all I can say. A food lover’s nirvana of delectable street morsels. So here are just some of our Camp Bestival foodie highlights: SHRIMPY in the Feast Collective tent (a foodie’s paradise of artisan stalls). Fried shrimp with perfect dill and pickles and unbelievable samphire in a toasted brioche bun. Mwwah! The SEACOW chips were some of the best our connoisseur of a son has ever tasted. BANGWOK served pad thai noodles to die for. ANNA MAE’s MAC N CHEESE did exactly what it said on the tin (new recipe book ordered, review coming soon!) CHURROS GARCIA made for a popular, sugary, doughnutty breakfast with our constantly hungry kids. THE DEADGOOD BURRITO CO. whose name kind of says it all really! The COTSWOLD CORN ROAST COMPANY was the best fast food lunch; superbly and simply cooked corn on the cobs with a choice of chilli or sea salt. But the highlight for Mrs. Dumpling was the JAM JAR BAR. Ingenious cocktails served in, yes, a jam jar, that positively reeked of English gardens; Rosehip, Gooseberries, Rhubarb and Elderflower being just some of the ingredients. Just spectacular! And we only scratched the foodie surface at this outstanding festival. There just weren’t enough meals in the day. CAMP BESTIVAL – we miss you, we love you! See you in 2016! http://www.campbestival.net