Culinary superstars The Hairy Bikers, John Torode and MasterChef winner Ping Combes will soon be mixing it up with food lovers and families at Westpoint, Exeter.
The Big Food Show comes to Exeter following M&K Events success of The Big Cake Show, earlier this year.
Having enticed cooking legends to star in a 'London style' three-day event the company have now packed the pie with many other hits.
This month, from October 24 to 26, much-loved regional chefs Peter Gorton, River Cottage's Steve Lamb and Big Baker Glen Cosby, will share their Westcountry charm and expertise. The show anticipates 15,000 visitors over the three days and will be supporting Macmillan charity with donations of £2 from every full-priced adult ticket purchased online.
Show director Mel Edwards said: "Pre-show ticket sales have started well as the all-inclusive ticket gives foodies access to exciting new recipe demonstrations from celebrity chefs each day.
"Separate classroom workshops are available for special interests. Children are well catered for and will be cooking up a storm while learning new skills in the Fun Kitchen, sponsored by Waitrose.
"Entertainment and style are key ingredients, but it was important visitors obtained added value from the show, which has a strong educational element."
Workshops will be led by double award-winning food teacher and found of Fun Kitchen Joe Mann, who said: "Bring your children along for fantastic foodie fun in the kitchen as we invite young chefs to cook up scrumptious treats and make mouth-watering new foods with the Fun Kitchen cookery school company.
"We will be running children's fun filled cookery workshops every hour on the hour in our dedicated Kids Kitchen Zone sponsored by Waitrose.
"Children can learn new skills by getting their hands dirty and getting stuck in making something they can take home for the family to share," Joe added.
"Whether a child is crazy about baking, potty about pies and pastry, or simply bonkers about bread, I want to give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to enjoy making their own great tasting fresh food by having fun in our kitchens at the Big Food Show."
Other features at the show include Fascinating Fun Food, where visitors will be able to experiment with sausage making, have a freezing food frenzy with CO2, eat edible grubs and bugs, try live cow milking, and much, much more.
Otter Valley Dairy is sponsoring an Ice Cream Competition for the show. Primary School children are invited to create their very own flavour to be made and presented on the Sunday. Entry forms can be downloaded from the website or obtained from participating schools.
Budding or experienced cooks can learn new techniques. Game butchery from Good Game, understand more about cooking shell fish with Richard Hunt, all sorts of cake and baking classes or soak up the atmosphere with a glass of wine from Yannick Loue of Le Vignoble.
Darts Farm, Riverford, Sugar & Crumbs with specialised gluten/dairy free, and organic exhibitors are attending. Local favourites La Cantina, Fancy-That Caribbean Food, and Eat The Smoke will keep vegetarian and meat-loving visitors happy with hot fresh and wholesome food all day. Many exhibitors are promising first time and show-only offers.
The show is a first for Devon. Co-director Kim Edwards said: "We are both from Exeter and were disappointed to have to travel long distances to enjoy shows similar in size or format to The Big Food Show. We felt regional producers and food lovers often missed out due to the high costs associated with travelling and exhibiting at celebrity shows in London.
"We've taken some of the glitz from the city, stirred in our regional flavour and created a truly unique blend of entertainment, education and fun for all baking and food lovers.
"Devon is a quickly growing vastly cultured area. Combining popular celebrities with niche producers from the region for visitors to enjoy is just part of why we do this. Small and large businesses can compete on an equal footing."
The Fledgling Business Competition offers the winner a free stand at the show and will be voted for by followers on The Big Food Show Facebook page. Businesses under three years old are eligible. Applicants should go to The Big Food Show website for entry details.
The Big Food Show is all about accessibility and is running various offers and discounts to suit everyone so tickets are selling fast. If it follows The Big Cake Show it will sell out quickly.
The Big Food Show runs from October 24 to 26 at Westpoint, Exeter. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thebigfoodshow.com and start from £8 for a child, £12 for students/senior citizens and £34 for a family of four. To donate £2 of the ticket price to the Macmillan charity enter 'Macmillan' in the Coupon Code online. For further information email: info@thebigfoodshow.com or call: 01392 826200.
