JANUARY is always a little quiet on the food front. Perhaps it is memories of a gluttonous Christmas or an excessive New Year that keeps the gastronomic foot tentatively on the brake pedal.

Personally, I am not a “dry January” man, but I know many who are; either way this enforced abstinence is about to come to a riotous and thankful end.

Ladies and gents, get ready to put your foot down hard on the foodie accelerator because Malton CIC’s Monthly Food Market is back on Saturday, February10.

This year we thought we’d bring the food market back a month early as March just seems too long a time to wait to get our hands on melted Raclette cheese over potatoes, rare breed pork burgers, stalls bursting with the freshest Yorkshire specialities and more.

There are many fab stalls, but one I’m very proud of (which interestingly is consistently one of our most popular stalls) is The Purple Carrot. A fine vegan and vegetarian stall that sells out every single time.

However much they bring, it always seems to go. Think beautiful rainbow coloured beetroot cakes, lightly spiced spinach pakoras, amazing rich potato and chive cakes and much much more. Whoever said Yorkshire folk only eat sausage rolls was absolutely wrong, The Purple Carrot is flourishing. Also coming back after a popular first outing at the Christmas market is La Raclette. They’re based in Norton and with oozy, melted Raclette cheese over potatoes, what’s not to love?

As always there will be a fantastic range of produce stalls, one of my personal favourites is Yorkshire Dama Cheese. The incredible Hallumi sellers from Syria, Razan and Raghid are just fantastic; no wonder they’ve won so many awards and even had Royal visits.

A day at our market would not be complete without a quick visit to Talbot Yard Food Court and Market Street, both are brimming with artisan producers.

Florian Poirot, who opened in the autumn, is planning a special Valentine’s chocolate box, so make sure you go and try it. I think even I might get Valentine’s right this year.

As always Malton CIC provides free parking in the town centre and the market is free entry too. All the market details are on our newly-designed Visit Malton website.

I will be running a Malton Food Tour that day with 10 hopefully happy foodie explorers on the Artisan Tour. It’s just been renamed, but has the same passion and delicious content as before.

At the market there’ll also be some great live music in the shape of a new Brass Band called Charity Brass, who made their debut at the Christmas market. Yorkshire food and drink in a pretty Yorkshire town and a red hot Brass Band. Now that sounds like a proper day out!

The food market returns on Saturday, February 10, from 9am to 3pm.