Chilli jam ice cream and figit pies on menu for food lovers

The festival, which takes place from Thursday to Sunday, in Huddersfield’s St George’s Square, attracted well over 65,000 visitors last year.

Customers will be among the first to try Chilli Jam Ice Cream produced by Yummy Yorkshire, in collaboration with Leeds-based Chilli Jam Man. On sale for the first time outside their ice cream parlour in Denby Dale, the artisan ice cream flavour has been described as strong with a warm after taste, with light ginger colour with flecks of chilli throughout.

Part of the festival’s attraction is its commitment to local produce; almost 90 per cent of exhibitors are from Yorkshire. Award-winning pie producer Andrew Jones will be serving his famous figit pie, which has just won the 2011 Great Taste Award, and ProperMaid will be selling cakes inspired by Yorkshire produce – including Dandelion and Burdock, in homage to local soft drinks firm Ben Shaws, and a tea loaf made with Yorkshire tea.

One of Huddersfield much-loved coffee houses, Merrie England, will join the list of stallholders. Local restaurants Mustard and Punch, Memsahib, Chutney Mahal and Bradley’s have also signed up to get involved this year and will be selling their wares in the square. As well as the usual plethora of stalls, the programme includes master classes and demonstrations, many from national brands with local roots, including Grumpy Mule – roasted by Bolling Coffee in Holmfirth, the Fair Trade firm has been Fortnum and Mason’s sole coffee supplier since 2007.

Chefs Barrington Douglas, from Discovery Bay and Tim Bilton, from The Butcher’s Arms, will compete in a ready, steady, cook style competition on Thursday.

Leader of Kirklees Council, Coun Mehboob Khan, said: “Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival is one of the biggest events in the town, not to mention one of the biggest free events of its type in Yorkshire. The festival brings thousands of visitors to Huddersfield, boosting the local economy and raising the profile of the town.”

A number of fringe events are being held across the town. The full festival line-up is on the website at www.foodanddrinkfestival.co.uk