Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival
From the country’s hottest ice cream to award-winning Yorkshire figit pies - Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival Thursday 11th - Sunday 14th August has become a must-visit event for foodies in the north.
Set against a backdrop of listed buildings in Huddersfield's St George’s Square, the festival is the largest free event of its type for miles around - attracting well over 65,000 in 2010.
UK's hottest ice cream:
Customers will be queuing up to be amongst the first to try the country's hottest ice cream - 
Chilli Jam Ice Cream produced by Yummy Yorkshire, in collaboration with Leeds based Chilli Jam Man.
On sale for the first time outside their ice cream parlour in Denby Dale, the artisan ice cream flavour has been described as 'strong with a warm after taste', with light ginger colour with flecks of chilli throughout.
Yorkshire producers:
Part of the festival's attraction is its commitment to local produce; almost 90% of exhibitors are from Yorkshire, and the majority of the rest are from less than 40 miles away.
Award-winning pie producer Andrew Jones will be serving his famous figit pie, which has just won the 2011 Great Taste Award, and ProperMaid will be selling cakes inspired by Yorkshire produce - including Dandelion and Burdock, in homage to local soft drinks firm Ben Shaw’s, and a tea loaf made with Yorkshire tea.
As well as the usual plethora of stalls, the programme includes master classes and demonstrations, many from national brands with local roots, including Grumpy Mule - roasted by Bolling Coffee in Holmfirth, the Fair Trade firm has been Fortnum and Mason’s sole coffee supplier since 2007.
Curry Cuisine, the Yorkshire firm behind Chutnee's Handmade, whose products are stocked in Asda amongst other national names, will be running master classes for adults and also younger foodies - with a programme of children’s chapatti rolling.
The festival's main sponsor is one of the UK's first ever farm shops, Hinchliffe's, which is based at the aptly titled Sunnyside Farm in the Yorkshire hills and run by the fourth generation of the Hinchliffe family.
And, recognised for an increasing commitment to local sourcing, Asda have come on board as this year's demonstration and children's activity sponsor.
Local chefs made famous by TV:
Chefs Barrington Douglas (from Discovery Bay, featured on the F Word and Rhodes around the Caribbean) and Tim Bilton (from The Butcher's Arms, featured on Great British Menu) will compete in a ready, steady, cook style competition.
And, staying with the theme of competitions - two young amateur chefs will have their dreams come true as the final heat of the Young Chef of the Year competition takes place on the festival’s closing day.
Vintage cookery in a befitting location:
Byram Arcade, Huddersfield's oldest shopping arcade dating back to 1880, is to host vintage cookery demonstrations and hands-on workshops for children during the festival.
The Victorian arcade, now home to over 20 independent boutiques and cafés, will become a haven for milling flour and churning butter as local museums experts teach techniques of yesteryear.
Following the children’s workshops on the Thursday/Friday, the arcade will then be transformed into a truly vintage venue with stalls and exhibitions on the Saturday.
Festival at dusk:
Making the most of the long summer nights; on Friday 12th August local band Helter Skelter, hot property at weddings 
across the north, will be performing live, and bars and hot food stalls will stay open until late.
The Festival at Dusk event on Saturday 13th August is aimed at families; all the stalls will remain open until 9pm and there will be entertainment from magicians and illusionists.
Inspiring young foodies
As well as the vintage cookery for children, the festival has a jam-packed line-up of other workshops and activities to inspire tomorrow's chefs.
Hands-on workshops include chocolate truffle making and Indian cookery inspired chapatti rolling. One of the festival stalls, Pizza-tainment, will also be giving its young visitors the chance to make their own pizzas before cooking them for them to take away and enjoy.
Festival trails
In addition to the main festival, two food and drink trails are running across Huddersfield;
Real Ale Trail (25 July - 14 August) - celebrating the local reputation for award-winning real ale, the trail takes in 12 of Huddersfield's best pubs including the Rat and Ratchet, which celebrated 20 continuous years of being in the Good Beer Guide at the end of last year. Keen trail-goers visiting eight or more of the pubs receive a free t-shirt at the festival.
Taste Trail (6th August) -Ten of the town's best independent restaurants are opening their doors for this year's Taste Trail; sharing taster dishes from their menus with hundreds of eager foodies. Trail goers vote for their favourite restaurant to become Taste Trail restaurant of the year. Participating restaurants this year include Argento Steakhouse, Lebanese Med One and last year’s award-winner Chilli Lounge.
The festival has become a true celebration of Yorkshire produce and I'm delighted that we’re now at a point where nearly all of our exhibitors are from the area. We've got plenty of new additions to the line-up this year, including new exhibitors and a new venue in Byram Arcade, and our programme of demonstrations and children's workshops is better than ever.
Festival Manager Cathy Burger
