Malton crowned ‘culinary capital’ after record-breaking festival (From Gazette & Herald)

20,000 people attend Food Lovers Festival in Malton

12:07pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in News By Karen Darley

Malton was crowned the ‘county’s culinary capital’ at the weekend after a record-breaking 20,000 people visited the town’s Food Lovers Festival.

New patron, Italian cook Antonio Carluccio, said Malton was now worthy of the title after delighting the crowds with his cookery demonstrations and appearances during the two-day event.

Capacity audiences filled the two cookery theatres on both days to see cookery demonstration by Antonio, Rosemary Shrager, Tom Parker Bowles, Matthew Fort, Andrew Pern, James Mackenzie and another 12 of Yorkshire’s prestigious chefs.

Jason FitzGerald-Smith, mayor of Malton, said it had been a wonderful experience.

“The atmosphere was generated by everyone – the producers, the celebrity and local chefs, and also the wonderful ensemble of helpers who, in my view, gave everyone who visited us a tremendous welcome.”

Coun FitzGerald-Smith said the whole two days demonstrated what a wonderful place Malton was – a comment made to me by many visitors.

“Thank you to the Malton Community Interest Company for organising this event which gets better every year. Yet again, Malton is punching above its weight and I can only sum up in three words. Well done everybody,” he said.

Norton mayor Coun Di Keal said it had been wonderful to see the town so busy.

“Despite the weather on the Saturday, it was brilliant to see the town so full of people and there were probably more people there on Sunday,” she said.

“It is a tribute to all those who organised such a good event and I really enjoyed taking part.”

Shirley Hookway, manager of Interiors at Nine to Eleven in Market Place, said they had been busy throughout the weekend.

“We only opened last September so this is the first food festival the shop has taken part in and it was brilliant – we had lots of people looking round, many from outside the area.

“Everyone was commenting about how good the festival was – we can’t wait for next year.”

Many of the 90-plus producers reported they had sold out of their locally-grown produce because of the interest from visitors, with a number declaring Malton “is now THE Festival” and “is unrivalled now in Yorkshire”.

The Beer, Wine and Cider Festival was also hugely popular and extremely busy right from opening time, added to by 12 hours of live music.

Festival organiser Tom Naylor- Leyland said: “The amount of people coming to the festival was been overwhelming.

“We were determined to put on a food event this year to rival the best in the country and people came in their droves to enjoy the atmosphere, food, drinks and our finest foodie stars.”