Tickle your tastebuds (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Tickle your tastebuds

Wensleydale will be full of mouth-watering treats this month, says Ruth Addicott.

FINE FARE: Preserves of all kinds

WITH more than 80 mouth-watering food and drink stands, top chefs offering free demonstrations and non-stop entertainment, the Dales Festival of Food and Drink at Leyburn, in Wensleydale, could be the place to head this May bank holiday.

Housed in a huge marquee, the food hall features a stunning selection of local produce from fresh seafood, meats and dairy to honey, herbs and spices. Ackworth Bread will be on hand with their specialist breads, cakes and tarts, while Alison’s Country Pantry will have their full range of farmhouse cakes, award-winning biscuits and celebration cakes.

As well as food, there will be 40 different ales from a selection of local breweries This year will also see a number of new exhibitors such as Epicure’s Larder, which offers a selection of fresh meat and dairy products, and Well Oiled, which will showcase a variety of extra virgin olive oil products, including fresh, homemade pesto, tapenade and infused dipping oils in beautiful clear glass bottles and jars.

Budding chefs should look out for the ‘Are You Ready To Cook?’ competition in the theatre marquee, along with a kipper demonstration by the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse.

FINE FARE: Sloe gin and preserves are just some of the goodies on offer

The festival also aims to give a boost to new businesses, be it Harrogate- based Artisan Cooks, who cater for corporate and private clients, or smaller outfits such as the family-run Green Machine, which specialises in vegetarian and vegan food using fresh, organic ingredients.

Among the other new additions is The Taste Adventure, an interactive event aimed at educating children to appreciate food and make use of their five senses.

The event, organised by Slow Food North Yorkshire, will feature a number of designated zones, designed to stimulate the senses of smell, touch, taste, hearing and sight. Children will be given a passport to be stamped once they’ve completed each zone.

For those looking for something completely different, there are talks and demonstrations on beekeeping by the Richmond and District Beekeepers’ Association, as well as jazz bands, brass bands and Morris and sword dancing.

Last year’s festival saw more than 14,000 visitors over the course of the bank holiday, and looking at the latest programme, this year’s event could attract even more.

■ Dales Festival of Food and Drink, May 1,2 and 3. Tickets: Adult one-day £7, three-day £10.

dalesfestivaloffood.org