Stars lined up for food festival (From Free Press Series)

Stars lined up for food festival

THIS year's Abergavenny Food Festival on September 18/19 promises a star-studded line-up to try and attract more than 20,000 visitors and beat last year's record.

Guest speakers include Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who returns to deliver his new meat manifesto (The River Cottage Meat Book).

John Burton Race, just back from French Leave (Channel 4), will recount his adventures in rural France and discuss his eponymous book, which has received rave reviews.

BBC Radio 4's lively Veg Talk grocers, Charlie Hicks and Gregg Wallace will look at seasonal produce and 'grill' local growers - but all in good fun! And on a more reflective note, biologist and author Colin Tudge looks at the big picture - how we can best feed ourselves for the next 10,000 years.

Said festival director Martin Orbach: "There will be plenty of opportunities to see the masters in action. Get some tips first-hand from Mark Hix, bright light of the London restaurant scene; seafood expert Mitchell Tonks, Aga-cook Amy Willcock, and Sichuan cookery specialist Fuchsia Dunlop - to name just a few.

"There is also a strong Welsh presence with Michelin-starred Hywel Jones and award-winning food writer Elisabeth Luard. "There will also be tasting sessions with the likes of organic bread-maker Andrew Whitley, chocolate evangelist Sara Jayne-Stanes and whisky expert Helen Arthur."

Visitors can sample the Cheese and Wine Show, drop in for celebrity Ready Steady Cook, take their pick from a mix of competitions, debates, displays, demonstrations, walks and talks.

Or they can relax in the grounds of the Castle with The Primitives - a Belgium-based street theatre group, and ceremonial artiste-cuisiniere, Miche Fabre Lewin.

The streets will also be packed with the glorious bustle of over a hundred stalls from Wales and the Borders, selling everything from the perfect pork pie to the choicest of chocolates.

Martin Orbach sums up the ethos of the Festival. "Food is the substance of life; cooking it is both honest craft and high art. It creates the foundation of our most important social ritual. So do join us. Let's celebrate it!"

Visit www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com for further details, telephone the office on 01873 851643 or e.mail info@abergavennyfoodfestival.com

Waitrose are the festival's main sponsor and they will be taking over the Safeway store in Llanfoist later this year.