A feast of fabulous food and drink is on the menu when the Eden Project's Festival of Food returns with a packed three-day programme from Friday September 9 to Sunday September 11. Celebrating the best on offer in food and drink, the event will feature a stellar line-up of celebrity chefs, delicious foodie treats and daily wine tastings hosted by TV expert and author Susy Atkins. First up among the top chefs will be Vivek Singh (Friday September 9), one of the most successful and respected modern Indian chefs in the country with three renowned London restaurants to his name.
His success has continued to grow with the publication of five cookbooks, media appearances and a regular guest slot on BBC's Saturday Kitchen. John Whaite (Friday September 9) is best known as the winner of the third series of the BBC's Great British Bake Off. John now writes for the Telegraph and is a resident chef on ITV's Lorraine. His passion for food started at the dairy farm where he grew up and developed at the fish and chip shop his parents owned.
Chef, presenter and author Phil Vickery (Saturday September 10) has been a part of ITV's This Morning family for over 14 years, as well as appearing on Ready Steady Cook, Proof of the Pudding and his own series Phil Vickery's Pudding Club. Phil was Head Chef of The Castle Hotel in Taunton where he won four Rosettes in the AA guide and the restaurant was named The Times Restaurant of the Year. Lesley Waters (Saturday September 10) is well known for her regular television appearances on Ready Steady Cook, Great Food Live, This Morning and Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is and is the author of several cookery books.
Lesley has always had a passion for teaching, so she opened her own Cookery School in West Dorset using local produce. Brian Turner (Sunday September 11) is one of Britain's best-known chefs. He opened The Capital hotel kitchens in London with Richard Shepherd where they won a Michelin star. Since then he has had 15 years of success with his restaurants all over the UK. Brian has also served nearly 15 years on Ready Steady Cook and regularly appeared on This Morning, Saturday Kitchen and Daily Cooks Challenge.
Jun Tanaka (Sunday September 11) is Head Chef and owner of The Ninth, a contemporary restaurant in London. He has more than 20 years' of experience working in London's top restaurants such as Le Gavroche, The Restaurant Marco Pierre White and The Square, where he was trained in classic French cuisine by Marco Pierre White, Phillip Howard and The Roux brothers. His successful TV career spans the last 10 years.
Marion Harrison, Festival of Food organiser, said: “This year's festival is going to be a packed three-day celebration of the very best in food and drink. “Our stellar line-up of celebrity chefs will be sharing top tips, with something for every taste. Visitors can also try some tasty treats from a whole range of producers, alongside the delicious food on offer in Eden's own shop and restaurants.”
Visitors will be encouraged to make a day of it by having a meal at one of Eden's restaurants.
They can dine in the unique surroundings of the Med Terrace restaurant among the olive trees, herbs and flowers, as they savour authentic Mediterranean dishes such as artisan pizza and paella. Or they can try tasty burritos inspired by the South American elements of the rainforest.
Families can get involved in rolling oats, powering a pedal-powered smoothie bike or even nibbling on some insects in fun workshops exploring more about where food comes from.
