Chefs in action

The last time Confidential went to the North West Food Lovers Festival at Tatton Park, the place was packed out. The crowds munched and nibbled their way around a marquee full of foodie delights before settling down to watch the chefs do their thing on the demonstration stage.

First to appear at the 2009 festival is Ian Matfin, executive chef at Abode and winner of Chef of the Year at the just-announced Manchester Food and Drink Awards.

This year they've extended the event from two days to three, and they've just announced the line-up of celebrity chefs who'll be showing off their culinary trickery.

A first for the festival this year is Aiden Byrne, the youngest chef ever to win a Michelin star. After being the head chef of The Dorchester and Tom Aitkin’s restaurant in Chelsea, Aiden set up The Church Green Restaurant in Lymm –Gordo gave it high marks when he dined there in September. Aiden will be on stage at 1pm-2pm on Saturday 24 October.

Another first to appear at the 2009 festival is Ian Matfin, executive chef at Abode and winner of Chef of the Year at the just-announced Manchester Food and Drink Awards. Ian’s CV includes top London restaurants Claridge’s, Aubergine and Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. He also worked for six years at Michael Caines’ Gidleigh Park, where he became head chef. Ian will be cooking at 2pm-3pm on Sunday 25 October.

TV cook and owner of Greens in Didsbury Simon Rimmer will be there on Saturday 24 October from 12pm-1pm and 3pm-4pm, and Andrew Nutter, chef at the eponymous Nutters in Rochdale will be cooking at 12pm-1pm and 3pm-4pm on Sunday 25 October.

Chefs Michael Riemenschneider, Brian Mellor, Lee Myers, Paul Askew and Paul Taylor will also be appearing this year.

The event takes place at Tatton Park from 23 to 25 October and is the centrepiece of a two-week festival of foodie events involving restaurants and fine food stores in the area. For full details of times, visit www.nwfoodloversfestival.com.