Quintet of celebrity chefs stir up the 2nd day crowd on Easter Day at Chester Food & Drink Festival
A packed Taste Marquee following record crowds on the first day of the Festival this year, saw a star turn from celebrity chef, Guy Wolley on Easter Day. Guy cooked a couscous salad with tomatoes, basil and olive oil, chicken breast wrapped in Speck with fennel and presented a cheeseboard in his first cookery demonstration.
Guy’s second demonstration featured charcuterie from Italy and Spain, risotto with parmesan and grilled aubergines and truffles.
Guy, of Hampshire, said: “My sort of food is simple food. I am really interested in the sort of food that is cooked before you eat it, like charcuterie and olives. We need to take small steps to help the environment, like eating locally. Cooking is about getting simple ingredients.”
Paul Taylor of Fat Loaf, gave a cookery demonstration on the main stage at the Taste Marquee. Paul, who was a finalist in a Gordon Ramsay scholarship, owns restaurants in Hale and Altrincham and said: “It is my ambition to bring great food into the suburbs.”
Leigh Mayers, executive chef at Ciro’s Restaurant at the Grosvenor Arms, Pulford took to the main stage at the Taste Marquee and cooked tomato juice, ratatouille with a steak of halibut and roasted vine tomatoes and melted chocolate pudding, with raspberries and vanilla ice-cream.
In the final cookery demonstration of the day Sheyl and Jonathan of Taste of Andalucia focused on tapas, showing how to make a spinach and chic pea meal and Spanish tortilla, made of chopped potatoes, egg, olive oil and onion.
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Guy, who cooks on UKTV Food, tours the world to taste food. Guy owns a deli in South London and enjoys riding motorbikes and listening to music.
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The Taste Marquee contains over 100 retailers and growers with samples of Cheshire, North Wales, national and international produce, reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of Cheshire. Highlights include a chocolate fountain & chocolatieres, icecream, wines, beers and liquers, pies, roasts and game, sausages, watercress, juices, organic products and hundreds of taste experiences. Family tickets are £12, adults £5 and concessions £3.50.
The Food and Drink Fringe Festival is taking place around the City from April 6 to 15, 2007 with special events, restaurants, bars and hotels all helping to make Chester the focus of food and drink within the UK, with theme nights, special family offers and accommodation promotions.
The Gala Awards Dinner will ensure 250 people sample a gourmet menu sourced from leading producers in the North West and celebrates the best of the region. This is on Tuesday April 10 2007.
Chester’s Food and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Chester City Council with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and Warrington, Cheshire County Council, Made in Cheshire, North West Fine Foods and the Rural Recovery Fund.
2006 Visitor Survey 16,000 people visited the Taste Marquee and £90,000 was spent there over the three days. 51 per cent of visitors came from a distance of more than 25 miles, making a total of 8,000 people brought into the City. 78 per cent of people surveyed said the event was good or excellent. 87 per cent of people surveyed said they were likely to return. Nearly 100 producers and exhibitors were on show in the Taste Marquee, bringing their own skills and produce from Cheshire and around the world to be part of the Festival. There were seminars and competitions in micro brewing, wines, sausages and cheeses and the opportunity to taste local paté, black pudding, bread, cereals, oils, pies, meat, fish, cheeses, chocolates, liqueurs and even a juice bar.
Festival brochures will be available across the City from March. Phone 01244 351609 for more details. For further information on the region go to www.visitchester.com. More general information at www.chesterfoodanddrink.com
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 Tel: 01244 330000 MARKETING PROJECTS Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk
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