Thousands of foodie’s delved in to the full bodied flavour of Cheshire when it came to life for a celebration of everything that’s tasty about the county. Visitors flocked to The Hollies Farm Shop, at Little Budworth in the heart of Cheshire, for the Vale Royal Food and Garden Festival with Vale Royal Borough Council to celebrate the ‘Taste of Cheshire’. Food producers from across Cheshire and the North West demonstrated their delicacies at the free Festival on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19. The Hollies director Ed Cowap said: “The Food Festival was a huge success and showcased the food of the region at its absolute best.

“There were some fantastic regional producers attending and we hope visitors came away having experienced a ‘Taste of Cheshire’ and will continue to support local producers.

“It was a great celebration of what Cheshire has to offer as a leading dairy county and boasting some of the country’s finest independent producers.”

More than 50 regional food producers tantalized taste buds with the finest delicacies from across the North West, including meats, fish, cheese, pates, chocolates, jams and preserves, fruit juices, olives, wine and champagne, and much more. The food marquee was bursting full of tasty treats as hoards of visitors met with producers and sampled some of Cheshire’s tasty attractions. Visitors were also able to pick up some mouth watering tips from award-winning Master Chef of Great Britain Brian Mellor, who was joined by culinary experts from some of Cheshire’s finest eateries to give cookery demonstrations.

Chefs from Cheshire restaurants, including Nunsmere Hall Hotel, The Alvanley Arms, Cabbage Hall, The Hollies’ Concept Café, and Heathercliff Hotel, showed visitors how to cook using the regions freshest and finest ingredients. Brian, who works closely with producers in the North West, explained: “Cheshire is a foodie’s heaven, with more and more outstanding producers cropping up all the time. The Hollies is a fantastic platform for local producers to have their products recognised, and it is vital that we support and sustain local food producers.”

For those watching the calories there was also a craft market, entertainment, Christmas gifts and winter gardening ideas from The Hollies horticultural experts.

For more information visit www.theholliesfarmshop.co.uk