City Comedians Go Head to Head...
...to urge the public to use their leftovers.
Two Liverpool comedians have gone head to head in the kitchen to encourage members of the public to make the most out of their leftovers.
Popular funny men Brendan Riley and Sam Avery were invited to take part in a unique culinary challenge by Liverpool Food and Drink Festival at Franklins Deli, within the city's Metquarter, to create a number of dishes using items regularly found at the back of a stock cupboard.
The duo were joined by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, who are one of the sponsors of this year's festival, which launches on September 3 and 4 at Sefton Park.
Last year, a survey undertaken by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority revealed that organic kitchen waste was the single biggest element in our bins, making up an average of 28.4% of everything we throw away - and amazingly the average family with children can throw away up to £680 worth of food a year - that's more £50 per month!
Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, and all of the Merseyside and Halton district councils are working hard to promote the 'Love Food Hate Waste Campaign' and we're thrilled that Liverpool Food and Drink Festival has organised this event.
Learning how to cook from your store cupboard or by using leftovers will save you money and help divert food waste from landfill.
Tony Scott, Waste Prevention Officer
Brendan and Sam had just 15 minutes to create a dish using items such as beans, dry bread and packets of pasta, before serving it up to willing members of the public.
Helping them to create their culinary masterpieces was former head chef at London's famous restaurant Daphne's and MD of Franklins, Adam Franklin.
In times like these, we should be doing everything that we can to save waste and pinch pennies. Love Food Hate Waste is such a fantastic initiative we wanted to do our bit to show Liverpool what you can do with things you thought were long gone and get them back in the kitchen.
Adam Franklin
Festival organisers have also announced today that chef to the stars Ian Pengelley 
will be appearing at this year's Sefton Park event. Ian, who previously worked with Gordon Ramsay, now owns Gilgamesh, popular with celebrities including Johnny Vaughan, Lisa Snowden, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding.
When one of the exhibitors Perry Ng, owner of the Buffet Club, asked me to return to the festival for the second time, I was delighted and I'm really excited to be coming back this year.
The atmosphere at the event is fantastic and there is such diversity with all of the different ethnic cuisines on offer.
As a city, it boasts an increasing amount of outstanding restaurants, which continue to impress me every time I visit. Liverpool is wonderfully hospitable, with exceptionally friendly and fun people, and I can't wait to cook in the middle of Sefton Park once again.
There are now just over two weeks until Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, which promises to delight thousands of visitors yet again with an array of mouth-watering dishes from some of the finest bars, restaurants, hotels and food retail outlets in the city.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy live music, celebrity cooking demonstrations, masterclasses, sampling and a children’s interactive area.
Opening Times: Saturday 10.30 – 18.00 / Sunday 10.30 – 17.00
Daily Entry for adults is £4 (if tickets are bought online prior to the event) or £5 on the day.
Children under 14 are free.
For more information visit the website www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk