Eat, drink and enjoy the festival fun in Yorkshire

Held in the beautiful Roundhay Park, Leeds, on July 2, 3, 4, Foodies Festival Yorkshire will showcase a wealth of fine food and drink, demonstrations by top chefs, and culinary inspiration from the North.

The Yorkshire Post is media partner for the new event which will join the collection of Foodies Festivals, now in their fourth year, taking place across the UK this summer, including events at Hampton Court Palace, Oxford, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Foodies was launched in Edinburgh four years ago, following research carried out in Edinburgh Festivals magazine which identified festival-goers' desire for a dedicated food and drink event.

The festival will feature a Chefs' Theatre with live demonstrations from local Michelin-starred and celebrity chefs as well as daily food and drink masterclasses, with hands-on tutored tastings by industry experts.

This year's chef line-up includes TV's Rachel Green, Michelin-starred Andrew Pern, of the Star Inn, Harome, Simon Gueller, of The Box Tree, Ilkley, and James Mackenzie of The

Pipe and Glass, near Beverley, as well as Harvey Nichols's Richard Walton Allen and Masterchef Professional finalist

Murray Wilson.

There will also be more than 100 speciality producers and exhibitors from the Yorkshire region as well as favourite local restaurants and top bars and a Veuve Cliquot champagne tent.

For the sweet-toothed wine lover, there is The Chocolate & Malbec Masterclass hosted by Gaucho's head winebuyer and director, Phil Crozier, giving advice on chocolate and red wine matching.

There will also be Codorniu sparkling wine tasting, hosted by flamboyant Saturday Kitchen wine expert Joe Wadsack; gin tasting led by Geraldine Coates, of Gintime, showcasing some exciting new arrivals in the gin world; and a cocktail masterclass with Jakes Bar.

And Foodies Festival Yorkshire isn't just about the adult love of food and drink – there will be a children's masterclass.

On Friday and Saturday, Gilly Robinson, of Swinton Park cookery school, will be hosting classes designed specifically for the young budding chef.

Foodies Director Sue Hitchen commented: "Each Foodies Festival event is a great opportunity to celebrate local culinary and restaurant talent and a commitment to fresh, seasonal and local

produce.

"Foodies brings together a passionate and discerning audience with Britain's finest producers, connoisseurs and top chefs."

Last year's successful run of events saw Mat Follas celebrating his Masterchef win with his first live demonstration, showcased rising stars Tiffany Goodall, Shay Cooper and Jun Tanaka, celebrated book releases with top chefs Tom Aitkens, Tom Kitchen, Galton Blackiston and Jay Raynor, and saw foodie personalities Heather Mills and Stephen K Amos take to the stage in the chefs' theatre.

Foodies Festivals 2010 are set to hold an abundance of gastronomic highlights.

Tickets are on sale now, online at www.foodies festival.com or from 0871 230 5573.

Two-for-one tickets – quote foodies241 when booking online or over the phone.

Tickets allow entry to the event and to the main event features: Chefs' theatre; Food Masterclass theatre; Drinks Masterclass theatre.

On top of these activities there are more than 100 exhibitors to sample and buy from, live entertainment stage; restaurant tents serving signature dishes and bar tents serving summer cocktails, champagne and even a beer caf.

See next week's Life & Style for some mouth-watering recipes from some of the Foodie Festival's top chefs for you to try at home.