Extra flavour added to this year’s Food & Drink Festival as trio of celeb chefs is announced

Ely’s best kept secret has finally been revealed – the celebrity chef line up for 2016’s Food & Drink Festival.
The first of three wonderful chefs to be appearing at this year’s festival, which will take place on the 1^st and 2^nd May, is Jean-Christophe Novelli, theaward-winning French chef and Michelin Star restaurateur. He simply loved being at the event last year, and is back by popular demand.
Joining him will be Jack Stein, son of Rick and Executive Chef of the Stein Restaurants. He will be relaying stories of restaurant life from Padstow and cooking up a flavoursome fish dish.
The final chef on the books is local talent, Ian Cumming. The Cambridge-based photographer – who you will no doubt recognise as a finalist from 2015’s The Great British Bake Off – will be demonstrating his creative talents, as well as giving the low down on his new celebrity status.
Tracey Harding, East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Tourism & Town Centres Manager, stated: “We are very excited to announce the three celebrity chefs, and we’re sure that those who plan to visit the Food & Drink Festival will be very excited too. It will certainly add extra ‘flavour’ to the event, and we can’t wait to see their demonstrations.”
Along with playing host to a trio of top chefs, there will also be appearances from some gifted local chefs and demonstrators. These will all take place within the fabulous Cookery Theatre on Palace Green, under the gaze of the magnificent cathedral.
While the celebrity chefs are sure to bring in big crowds, the rest of the festival is set to be just as impressive, with even more artisan traders than ever before and the expanded Street Food Scene, comprising of a range of culinary delights which will give visitors a taste of unusual yet exquisitely balanced flavours.
The Ely Food & Drink Festival – sponsored again by G’s Fresh as well as Grovemere Holdings, Labour Tech Recruitment and Ely Gin Company – is part of the renowned Eel Festival weekend, which runs from 29th April to 2nd May.
Mrs Harding said: “This year’s festival is going to be bigger and better than ever, with something for everyone to enjoy. So whether it’s having a go at the World Eel Throwing Competition on Eel Day, sampling some great local food at the Food and Drink Festival or simply browsing our many independent shops and vibrant markets, Ely is definitely the place to be on Spring Bank Holiday Weekend.”
To view the Cookery Programme line up (some local chefs and demonstrators yet to be announced), or to find out more information about any of the festival’s activities, go to www.visitely.org.uk.