For all those food and drink lovers out there, the waiting is nearly over as the Holdenby Food Show, sponsored by Bell, will take place this coming bank holiday weekend. With top chefs ready to inspire and entertain visitors, a huge range of local and regional producers, and fun for all the family, the third year of the event looks like being another hit with the crowds.

Adam Gray, head chef of the Michelin star ‘Rhodes Twenty Four’ in London, which is one of Gary Rhodes’ restaurants, will be returning to the show to headline the live cooking theatre, the ‘Courts Courtyard’.  Having grown up in the County and undertaken his training at Northampton College, Adam is delighted to be at the event. “I am very proud to be involved in the Holdenby Food Show again this year” Adam says. “It has definitely become a permanent fixture in Northamptonshire’s culinary calendar”.

Also this year, the show will also see the top chef Stephen Bulmer entertaining the audiences at the show. Stephen, who is now the head chef and owner of Brook Hall Cookery School in Winslow, near Buckingham, has had huge experience working in very prestigious restaurants across England. Most recently he was Chef/Director of the Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for the last six years.

Visitors will also have the chance to try the finalists in the Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards, before the final ‘taste off’ takes place at the show with the hotly contested results being announced live on the second day of the Show. A shortlist of nine finalists are in the running for the two awards, Best Local Drink and Best Local Produce. The Awards, which have been devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd in partnership with the Holdenby Food Show, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about the county’s produce and drink. 

Show organisers, Stonehouse Events Ltd, are delighted to have local company Bell on board this year too, who will be at the show demonstrating how to cook tasty treats on an Aga throughout the event on their stand. A. Bell and Company have been in Northampton since 1898 and offer a wealth of experience and knowledge over a large range of quality products, including stunning, top quality kitchens, bathrooms, stoves and gas barbeques.

This year also sees a second demonstration area at the event, the ‘Simply Specialists featuring Shires Cookery School’, which will comprise a mixture of varied sessions including from how to successfully flambé strawberries, testing your knowledge on healthy eating plus how to create tasty Indian dishes by an International Award Winning Chef.

Held at Holdenby House, just north of Northampton, this delicious day out will showcase a wonderful range of products to tempt you, plus plenty of opportunities to taste fantastic flavours of our region and beyond. Top quality and imaginative kitchen and home accessories will also be available, to create a great shopping experience.

With a licensed bar located on the picturesque front lawn of Holdenby House, plus the gardens and grounds of Holdenby House to sit and relax in while listening to love music, this food event will be a perfect destination for food fans everywhere. Holdenby House is also open both days too, admission included in the entrance fee. There is even a chance to play croquet thanks to Northamptonshire Croquet Club who will be on hand to give visitors tips on the tactics of this perfect summer game.

The ‘Holdenby Food Show sponsored by Bell’ takes place on 30^th and 31^st August, open 11am – 5pm each day. For more information call Stonehouse Events on 01604 820011, or see www.stonehouse-events.co.uk.

Come along to the Simply Specialists marquee and enter our competition to win a day with Shires Cookery School.