Food festival success

2:58pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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The fourth Devizes Food and Drink Festival has been hailed a major success with a week filled with good things to eat and drink.

It all began the Saturday before last with a visit by John Torode, chef, restaurateur and judge of TV Masterchef.

His visit was sponsored by Plank's Farm Shop at Lydeway, but the rest of the event in the Market Place was paid for by the festival committee and its other sponsors.

Festival chairman Brian Crane said: "We had a fantastic week. The Grand Market Fair on Saturday was followed on Monday by a foodie quiz in the Lamb, which was full to bursting, and a wonderful Bangladeshi feast at the Jal Khabar restaurant.

"On Tuesday the Festivo Italiano night at Isola Bella was oversubscribed with almost 100 people feasting with gusto on the Sicilian food including Porchetta cooked outside on the terrace.

"Wednesday was the night of the Marriage of Food and Wine at the Cheese Hall. The evening took the form of a dinner party with appropriate wines accompanying the various courses.

"Thursday was Moroccan night at the Bistro restaurant - wonderful food, a sell out.

"On Friday there was a Chinese celebration at the Bambou restaurant, a thoroughly good evening much appreciated by those who attended.

"Also on Friday there was a cocktail party in the town hall with canapés and a band to provide mood music."

The food festival ended on Saturday with a Greek taverna evening in The Shambles. This was attended by more than 150 people who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and ended the evening by smashing plates in true Greek style.