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FOODIES FESTIVAL returns to Hylands Park, Chelmsford in June  - with a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars.

Foodies Festival (dubbed “Gastro-Glasto”) is the biggest touring gourmet food festival in the UK, featuring MasterChef champions, stars of Great British Bake-Off and Michelin starred chefs

Award-winning chefs and star bakers taking part this summer, include: Essex-based MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 champion, Alex Webb, MasterChef 2020 champion, Thomas Frake and finalist Sandy Tang, MasterChef: The Professionals Elena Frattura, MasterChef 2010 champion Dhruv Baker and 2015 finalist Tony Rodd. 

The music line-up includes: platinum-selling chart-toppers Scouting For Girls, Essex-based Lee Ryan & Simon Webbe from legendary boy band Blue. And new for Friday, Foodies launch their ‘Big Party Night’ - taking a nostalgia-filled trip back to the 90s, featuring some of the biggest music acts of the era, including: Liberty X and 911.

A legion of chefs from Michelin starred and award-winning restaurants will give the festival a distinctive local flavour, including, Graham Noonan-Chatham, executive chef of Downs Hall Hotel in Bishop’s Stortford and private chef, Jon Watts, who’s customers include pop stars and royalty. Also appearing in the Chefs theatre, Essex-based Becky Excell, a food writer, gluten-free recipe creator and best-selling author. 

The high-profile festival has announced thrilling new features and a busy programme of events, in the quest to deliver an unforgettable weekend of fine food, new experiences and exceptional quality, promising a great family day out. 

New features for 2022 include:

*Ready Steady Chef! Celebrity chefs from TV’s biggest cooking shows will once again compete against each other, turning up the heat in the Chefs’ Theatre. Presented with a bag of surprising ingredients chosen by their competitors, it will be an exciting and often hilarious race against the clock to create the best dish, and to win the public vote. 

*Meet the authors and discover new recipes in the Cook Book Shop – with celebrity signings and top chefs’ showcasing their latest cookbooks. 

*Go Global and browse the very latest world food trends in the Shopping Village and try exotic and unusual new dishes on Street Food Avenue. The incredible range includes tantalising delicacies from all four corners of the globe.

*World Chilli Eating Champion Shahina Waseem will join the tour and challenge those brave enough to compete. Competitions will be broadcast live across the world to huge ‘League of Fire’ audiences.

*’No and Lo’ alcohol is predicted to be the UK’s biggest drinks trend. Join the experts to taste and compare some of the best products on the market. Other masterclasses in the Drinks Theatre include Cocktail Making, and Champagne, Beer, Cider and Wine tasting. 

*Keeping the children entertained - an opportunity for the youngsters to get creative in the Kids Cookery School, hosted by Foodies SuperChefs. And for those little (and big!) thrill seekers, a funfair, sand art, toy stalls, face painting and family friendly areas with activities.

*Supporting rising talent – the Musicians Against Homelessness stage will feature over 40 superb artists across the weekend, with the best of local bands and an introduction to exciting new acts from across the UK. 

*Plant-based cooking will be well represented, with delicious dishes and produce. The Cake & Bake Theatre will be showcasing the best of vegan baking with tips and tricks from the professionals.

At the three-day festival, visitors can enjoy the Chefs’ Theatre, Cake & Bake Theatre, Drinks Theatre, Shopping Village with award winning artisan producers, Street Food Avenue, Feasting Tent, Cook Book Shop, Kids’ Cookery School, fairground, live music stage and family-friendly areas with activities for children. 

Over 200 exhibitors will showcase their produce, providing festival-goers with a fantastic opportunity to sample the best of the region – and to try a huge selection of delicious food and drink from around the world.