Malton’s fabulous Food Lovers Festival

The historic market town of Malton, North Yorkshire has established a reputation as a gourmet destination and the return of the Food Lovers Festival on Saturday, 22 May signals fine local food and drink will be the order of the day.

The popular family celebration, launched last year to huge applause, has even more to shout about this year as two Michelin chefs – both running acclaimed local gastro pubs – will be exhibiting their skills in small demonstration kitchens within the Producers’ Market, alongside other talented chefs from some of the area’s top restaurants

Andrew Pern, the well known Michelin chef at The Star Inn, Harome will be joined by James Mackenzie, the chef proprietor of the Pipe and Glass at South Dalton. James joined the ranks of Yorkshire’s esteemed six Michelin starred chefs just this year and the Food Lovers Festival will be a unique opportunity for foodies to see these two top professionals in close-up action and to speak about all things comestible.

This year’s Food Producer's Market will be significantly larger and enhanced to give participants an improved platform for their wares. These new compact kitchens will accommodate a full programme of cookery shows, producer demonstrations and tasting tutorials. Visitors will have the chance to meet and talk to some of Malton’s food heroes, and producers and local chefs will be offering a taste of the superb cheeses, meats, dressings, breads, deli and all manner of treats on sale.

And another Festival first will be the Real Ale bar and beer tasting tutorials by local brewer Suddabys. However this year’s Festival won’t just cater for foodies; families can enjoy the improved and expanded programme of entertainment, traditional fairground rides and games, the playing of a local brass band and watching street theatre.

Malton is a North Yorkshire market town with a success story to shout about. Under the banner of “We Love Malton”, a campaign was launched in March 2009 to reinstate the town through a series of activities as a top visitor destination and thriving local focus for shopping and entertainment. Since the town’s campaign started it has registered a 17 percent increase in visitor numbers.

Encouraged and supported by the Malton Estate and Malton & Norton Business in Action, the third We Love Malton Food Lovers Festival will showcase fine food and drink, and the eclectic range of high quality shops, eateries and quality shopping around the ancient Market Place and throughout the town.