3:49pm Monday 14th July 2008
By Lewis Cowen
THE hit TV cookery competition Masterchef moved lock, stock and barrel to Devizes Market Place on Saturday for the grand opening of the fourth Devizes Food and Drink Festival.
Chef and restaurateur John Torode got things off to a sizzling start at 10am by showing how to cook a rib of beef with Bernaise sauce.
Sadly, the Yorkshire puddings supposed to go along with them couldn't be cooked because the oven in the marquee refused to heat up.
But small details like this did nothing to faze the Australian-born Mr Torode, who has been presenting and judging Masterchef for several years now with his colleague Greg Wallace.
His assistant on this demonstration was his four-year-old son Jonah, who won all hearts with his knowing looks to the audience.
Afterwards Mr Torode said: "We had a few hitches but nothing that got in the way. I think events like this are so important at convincing people to use local produce when they cook.
"Jonah certainly enjoyed himself."
Mr Torode's exhibition was followed by a cook-off between this year's Masterchef winner, James Nathan, and Tom Snell, the head chef at the Hare in Lambourne.
Then, in the afternoon, there was a further cook-off between Masterchef runner-up Jonny Stevenson and Jonathan Furby from the Linnet at Great Hinton.
The events in the marquee were sponsored by Plank's Farm Shop at Lydeway. Louise Plank, daughter of owners Brian and Diz Plank, is a PR consultant, one of whose clients is Masterchef, and she was able to arrange the visit of the three chefs.
Nearby, local butchers Walter Rose & Son had set up their own stall where proprietor Andrew Cook was showing how sausages and cuts of beef were prepared.
Perhaps the most popular attraction for young visitors was the pen where young farm animals were on show.
Children and parents alike cooed over ducklings, chicks and calves.
There was also representation from local groups like the Devizes Fairtrade Group and producers like A Beckett's Vineyard at Littleton Panell and Ceri's Cheese from Brinkworth.
The festival continues all this week.
Today saw a traditional Bangladeshi feast at the Jal Khabar restaurant in Maryport Street and a foodie quiz at The Lamb in St John's Street.
On Tuesday there will be a Festival Italiano at the Isola Bella restaurant in Long Street and a Marriage of Wine with other foods in the town hall on Wednesday.
Thursday there is a Moroccan night at The Bistro in the Little Brittox and a Chinese celebration at the Bambou restaurant in Southbroom Road on Friday.
The week comes to a close with a Greek taverna evening in The Shambles on Saturday.
More information and tickets to all events are available from Devizes Books in Sidmouth Street.
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