Celebrity chefs signed up for Devizes festival of nosh (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Celebrity chefs signed up for Devizes festival of nosh

8:36am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Lewis Cowen

Leading food writer and columnist Xanthe Clay is among the celebrity chefs taking part in the 2013 Devizes Food and Festival, taking place two months earlier than usual this year.

The festival is running from May 17 to 25, compared to its former slot in July, and Ms Clay will join Joseph Croan, the former chef at Marco Pierre White’s L’Escargot restaurant in London, and Chris Staines, from the Alium Brasserie in Bath, in a masterclass demonstration in the Corn Exchange on Saturday May 18.
Admission is free to the demonstrations, which are a part of the Grand Market Fair that will also take over the Market Place all day.

Ms Clay has a regular column in the Daily Telegraph and is a contributor to Olive and Good Food magazines. She recently published The Contented Cook: Fuss-free food throughout the Year.

The festival is once again sponsored by local butchers Walter Rose & Son who are erecting a marquee in the centre of the Market Place where they will demonstrate butchery skills and give advice on the best way to prepare meat.

There will be dozens of stalls selling local produce of all kinds, including meat, cheese, wine, sweets and conserves.

There is a cake baking competition for both adults and children taking place in the Corn Exchange in the morning.

The festival is being launched with the now traditional gala cocktail evening on Friday May 17 in the Assembly Room at the town hall.

On Saturday evening there is a cruise on the Kennet and Avon Canal with magic and fish and chips. On Sunday there is a brunch with live jazz at the Bear Grills Bistro in the Bear Hotel.

On Monday May 20 there is a breadmaking masterclass with Gianni of Dolcipani while Walter Rose’s morris men will dance for you outside the Lamb Inn in St John’s Street at 7pm before a food quiz takes place inside.

There are many other events taking place during the week before the grand finale, an Austrian evening at St John’s parish rooms at 7.30pm on Saturday May 25.

Full details of all events are available at the festival website www.devizesfoodanddrinkfestival.info