GRASSINGTON Festival once again showcases some of our region’s very best culinary delights.

FOR the third year running, locally sourced and prepared food will take centre stage in Grassington Square, on the middle Sunday of the festival, June 21.

Local award-winning chefs John Rudden, of Grassington House, and Stephanie Moon, of All Things Food, will take to the stage to present a day of demonstrations, discussions and tastings.

Both chefs will prepare a selection of dishes in front of the assembled crowds, showcasing and highlighting different styles of cuisine, as well as using fresh produce and ingredients from the several local food producers and suppliers who will also be exhibiting at the festival.

“Like last year, our aim will be to show just how easy it is to cook from scratch, and how wonderful the results can be when you use fresh local produce," said John.

"Once again we have some fantastic local producers and suppliers coming to support the event, like Kilnsey Park Estate who will be bringing their wonderful rainbow trout, and the Courtyard Dairy with their exciting and award winning cheeses.”

And if all this talk of food has whetted your whistle, the Dark Horse Brewery at Hetton will once again be launching its seasonal beer in support and celebration of the festival – aptly named, FestivAle.

Brewery owner Richard Eyton-Jones said: “It’s a light golden ale which is ideal for summer drinking. It’s hopped entirely with English Challenger hops which gives it a delightfully spicy flavour and aroma.”

Look out for FestivAle at pubs in Hetton, Grassington, Linton, Litton, Arncliffe and Appletreewick from June 12.

The Fountaine Inn at Linton will also be hosting a special Bangers and Beer event on the evening of June 15 in celebration of National Beer Day.

Finally, if you are looking for a bit of entertainment with your food and drink, the festival has a few events which combine both!

There will be mouth-watering food from the chefs at the Angel Inn, Hetton, followed by wonderful live jazz from John Helliwell on Wednesday June 17 at Cracoe Village Hall. Yorkshire-born Helliwell is a superbly talented saxophonist who played with the band Supertramp.

And if ‘food for thought’ is more your thing, then look out for the festival’s series of lunchtime lectures from the likes of Anthony Connolly, Ben Crick and Kate Fox, who will deftly combine thought-provoking discussion over a delicious informal lunch.

For more information, visit grassington-festival.org.uk or call the box office on 01756 752691.