THERE IS a truly international flavour to this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival.

As the abbove map shows this year’s festival is attracting chefs and flavours from across the globe.

Monica Galetti, José Pizarro and Cyrus Todiwala will be joined by more than forty chefs sharing their passion and expertise.

The wealth of flavours from Asia will be served up with Indian cuisine from Arun Kapil of Green Saffron, amazing Malaysian from Norman Musa, contemporary Korean cooking from pop-up Busan BBQ’s Da-Hae and Gareth West and Persian delights from Simi Rezai.

From Israel, there is Tomer Amedi of Palomar London.

Hang Fire Smokehouse duo Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn and Lockhart London’s Brad McDonald champion the best Deep South cooking the UK has to offer.

From Europe, as well as José Pizarro’s take on Pintxos dishes, there will be a Spanish charcuterie demonstration from Owen Morgan of Bar 44, modern Polish dishes from Zuza Zak and Eleanora Galasso will show us how to do as the Romans do.

Closer to home, the Festival welcomes Naomi Devlin who will be showcasing gluten- free cooking fresh out of River Cottage. Rude Health’s Nick Barnard will give an insight into healthy eating along with Great British Bake Off favourites Richard Burr, James Morton and Martha Collinson.

Abergavenny Food Festival Chief Executive, Heather Myers, said: “Every year we get chefs and cuisines from all over the world, but this year we are particularly proud of the diversity of food on offer. We have a dedicated World Food Market for the first time in the event’s history. “

There will also be plenty in the line of drinks masterclasses and tutored tastings Nick Strangeway and the Moorland Spirit Co will create delicious gin cocktails, Kay Plunkett-Hogge explains which sherries to combine with which tapas, Marie Cheong-Thong and Jon Old talk through Sake and Wasabi and Richard Ehrlich will teach how to make the perfect margarita.

Eric Charriaux and Henry Chevallier will prove that cider and cheese is the perfect combination, Dave Broom de-mystifys rums, James Morton takes on home brewing instead and Richard and Joy Morris will provide the best Ancre Hill Vineyard wines.

Alongside the bursting programme, new for 2016 the Festival will introduce the Gin Palace. The Palace will showcase some of the UK’s smaller artisan gin distillers. These will include The Moorland Spirit Company, Val Warner’s Hepple gin, Chase gin, Warner Edwards, Sibling Distillery and the Da Mhile Distiller from Ceredigion.

The Friday Street Food Supper Party and Cabaret gets the party started with Dana Immanuel & the Stolen Band and Ish Kabibble.

Saturday night’s Party at the Castle includes music from Little Rumba, CoCo & The Butterfields with headliners RSVP Music closing the evening.

Book a place at the Artisan Kitchen School for a unique opportunity to receive expert tuition. Mini budding MasterChefs can show off their culinary talents at the Children’s Food Academy .

The Rude Health Rants are back for their eighth year in a row. The team, led by co-founder and chief ranter Nick Barnard is a proudly outspoken gang not afraid of standing up for real, honest food. Throughout the weekend festival goers will be given the chance to join them in their mission to eat right by speaking up.

The 2016 Festival is supported by a number of businesses from across Wales and the UK including Cardiff Airport, Chase Distillery and Alun Griffiths Contractors Ltd. In addition to support from Welsh Government, Monmouthshire Council and Abergavenny Town Council.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to get your tickets, visit www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

lSEE tomorrow’s Argus for an interview with headlining chef and TV star Monica Galetti