With six weeks to go until Bishop Auckland Food Festival, organisers are excited to announce the final celebrity chef making up the weekend’s line up.
The Durham County Council-run festival will delight foodies from across County Durham and beyond on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April, when it returns to Bishop Auckland town centre next month.
With big celebrity chef names already announced to entice audiences at the festival’s cookery theatre, organisers can reveal the final addition to Sunday’s line up.
Taking to the stage to share her culinary skills will be professional chef Philli Armitage-Mattin.
Starting her career in Michelin-starred kitchens with the Gordon Ramsay group in the UK, Tokyo and Hong Kong, Philli entertained the nation with her take on Asian-inspired dishes when she made it to the final of BBC One’s MasterChef The Professionals.
Philli has a passion for Asian Street food, after spending a year working and researching across Asia to find unique recipes that would appeal to the Western palette.
She has since developed and launched hundreds of products for well-known brands, including plant-based food ranges.
With a master’s degree in chemistry and a love for food, has designed and launched restaurant concepts focusing on nutrition.
Festival organisers are also excited to confirm that crowd favourite Chris Bavin will be welcomed back to host the cookery theatre and introduce chefs on both Saturday and Sunday.
First discovered by a TV production company in 2011, Chris has gone from strength to strength and is co-presenter of BBC One’s popular series Eat Well for Less? alongside his new co-presenter Jordan Banjo.
In addition to the successful series, Chris has presented Tomorrow’s Food with Dara O’Brian, The Truth about Meat, and Food: Truth or Scare with Gloria Hunniford.
He was also a judge on BBC One’s Britain’s Best Home Cook with Mary Berry, chef Angela Hartnett, and presenter Claudia Winkleman.
Chris is a regular on The One Show and recently presented BBC’s Shop Well for the Planet alongside Jordan Banjo, Melanie Sykes, and Joanna Page.
Festival goers can also now book tickets for the special events and workshops taking place at Bishop Auckland Town Hall throughout the weekend, including cookery workshops for both adults and children with Great British Bake Off star Karen Wright.
From Stromboli to focaccia, to fruit crumble and naan bread, Karen will be sharing her skills and knowledge on both days of the festival.
The workshop programme will be:
· 10.30am – Making naan bread (for children aged 7 to 15)
· 12.00pm – Making focaccia (for adults aged 16 and over)
· 1.30pm – Making fruit crumble (for children aged 7 to 15)
· 3.00pm – Making Stromboli (for adults aged 16 and over)
Sessions are just £5 for youngsters and £7 for adults.
This year the festival is also a key part of County Durham’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, showcasing the many major events that take place across the county throughout the year and how people can enjoy culture together through food.
For more information or to book tickets for each workshop online at www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
