Rochdale Town Hall and Esplanade

www.rochdale.gov.uk/events     

@RochFoodFest

Greater Manchester foodies are in for a treat when Rochdale Food & Drink Festival returns on Saturday 16 March in and around the grade one listed Rochdale Town Hall.

Six chefs will be cooking live during the event, with eight 40-minute demos scheduled packed with tips, techniques and the opportunity to ask questions as well as meet the hosts.

Popular TV chef Dean Edwards and local star foodie Andrew Nutter will be among the chefs cooking, alongside BBC Fusion chef and Rochdale favourite Aazam Ahmad.

A finalist on the BBC’s ‘Masterchef’ back in 2006 Dean Edward’s family friendly cooking style made him a firm favourite on ITV’s ‘Lorraine.’ He’s the author of three cookbooks, and his latest, ‘Cook Slow’ features stress free recipes for slow cookers and conventional ovens. On his @deanedwardschef Twitter and Instagram platforms he regularly shares recipes to his 40,000 followers.

Over on the indoor Family Stage Mr Bloom from CBeebies will be performing during the day featuring veggie stories, gardening games and catchy nursery songs for tiddlers and their parents!  Also for families with young children – there will be Shake, Rattle and Roll workshops at 12:15pm and 2:30pm. The sessions were a big hit at last year’s Manchester Food & Drink Festival - children will get chance to explore instruments, create sounds, sing songs, dance, move, socialise and make a big noise! They’ll also be able to learn new songs, activities and games to continue to sing and play at home. For older children, the Mad Science team will be hosting spectacular free workshops in their pop up tent, featuring amazing food related science experiments and a lot of fun.

There’ll be an outside food and drink village, a series of free themed demonstrations including cocktail making and artisan chocolate making, plus live music from local acts.

Rochdale Food and Drink Festival is on Saturday 16 March, open from 11am to 8pm and admission is free.

Find out more at www.rochdale.gov.uk/events

Like the festival on Facebook www.facebook.com/RochdaleFoodFestival or connect on twitter @RochFoodFest

Photo: Top chef Dean Edwards will be hosting demonstrations in the festival kitchen.