12/09/2011

Tourism Ambassador Ivan Martin, will be a VIP guest at an exclusive Visit York event on Thursday 15th September to officially launch York's 15th annual Food Festival. Over one hundred tourism businesses will turn out in support of the festival at the Fountains Café in Parliament Street to sample a first taste of what's on offer.

York based Ron Burnett Jazz Trio will entertain guests whilst Festival Director Michael Hjort leads a tutored tasting of Yorkshire cheeses including ewes milk cheese from the Shepherd's Purse near Thirsk, goats cheeses from the Lowna Dairy near Beverley and old peculiar cheese from Swaledale.

This year's festival theme; ‘Dine at My Table', will see Sister Agatha of the Bar Convent hosting guests at England's oldest living convent, while Masterchef Finalist Sara Danesin Medio will entertain at her home. Other food festival treats include a ‘step back in time' tour around Frank Green's home; York's historical Treasurer's House, with tasty treats served up by his servants.

Dine At My Table will be one of a stream of eclectic foodie events held throughout the Festival from September 16 to 25, which is supported by Visit York, City of York Council and Welcome to Yorkshire and could see up to half a million visitors flock to the city.

The Queen's 2nd Ghurkha Signal regiment from Nepal will whip up authentic Nepalese Ghurkha curries to raise money for SSAFA (North Yorkshire division of The Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association). Meanwhile Yorkshire chefs who went head-to-head in TV's Great British Menu will battle it out once again in a nail-biting live cook-off compered by food writer Elaine Lemm, author of the Great Book of Yorkshire Pudding.

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York said: ‘We are delighted that so many of York and Yorkshire's businesses have turned out to support the festival. We hope that residents as well as visitors will enjoy the event and make it our best festival yet.'

Ivan Martin, Visit York's Tourism Ambassador for 2011 said, ‘It's a great honour for me to launch the 15th festival. This event is a ten day celebration of food with genuine provenance. Yorkshire produces great meat, game, fruit, vegetables, beer, cheese and much more and I for one am really looking forward to tasting lots of it!'

Tickets are still available for a host of events including a unique opportunity to 'Dine at My Table' with the Lord Mayor of York and enjoy a four course meal prepared by Sara Danesin Medio in York's medieval Mansion House. York Food Festival runs from 16th - 25th September 2011 and the tickets are available at www.yorkfoodfestival.com  or by calling the Ticket Hotline on Tel 01904 466687. ENDS