Kokova Magazine

Top television chefs, John Torode and Simon Rimmer, and British baking firm Warburtons have announced their involvement in this year's Liverpool Food and Drink Festival.

Organisers revealed that Simon and John are amongst the many guest celebrity chefs at this year's festival launch weekend on September 3 - 4 in the city's Sefton Park - whilst Warburtons will become one of the event's leading sponsors.

The two chefs join an impressive line-up of regional and national chefs who will be demonstrating their culinary skills in the festival's ever-popular Celebrity Chef Theatre.

Masterchef judge John and Birkenhead-born Simon, star of BBC 2 show 'Something for the Weekend' will both take a tour of the festival site on respective days, meeting exhibitors and fans.

Simon said: "I'm really looking forward to taking part in this year's festival as I think the event magnifies just how much Liverpool has become a fantastic food and drink hotspot.

The city has a lot to offer when it comes to eating out and there is a real diversity amongst the bars, restaurants, hotels and producers that are currently out there.

Although I will be doing cookery demonstrations on the day, I hope I can find some time to try all of the different cuisines on offer and to meet the chefs and restaurateurs that I have continued to admire over the years.

They're the ones who have really helped to put Liverpool on the culinary map."

Liverpool Food and Drink Festival launch days will 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, master-classes, sampling and a children’s interactive area.

Commenting on their newly announced sponsorship of the large-scale lifestyle event, Richard Hayes, Marketing Director of Warburtons said: "Warburtons are delighted to be working with Liverpool Food and Drink Festival 2011 and proud to support an event which is fast becoming one of the highlights in the city's events calendar. It is a great opportunity to show the North West's food lovers that Warburtons care more about freshness, quality and the communities we serve."

The Festival continues in the city's bars and restaurants until September 10th, with the prestigious Liverpool Food and Drink Festival Awards concluding celebrations on September 12th.

We are thrilled to have both Simon and John on board, it is the first time both of them will have been to the festival and they join some of the region's culinary heavyweights.

We also welcome Warburtons to the festival as a main sponsor and the involvement of this much-loved family brand adds to the credibility of the week-long festival and we hope that festival visitors will enjoy some free tastings of their fantastic new product ranges.

Denise Harris, Director of SK Events (organisers of the festival)