Wolverhampton Literature Festival: Cerys Matthews gives demonstrations and talks food and writing

The former Catatonia singer was in the city to talk on stage to librarian and book critic Simon Savidge about her folk cook book Where The Wild Cooks Go, which she describes as "a love letter to the planet."

A smiling Cerys, who was in engaging form, confessed to an almost full Slade Rooms that "I left my brain on the train" but delighted the audience with witty anecdotes about her travels and discovery of sustainable and simple food and drinks on her world travels.

Asked by an audience member if she had ever had Black Country delicacy grey paes and bacon, she admitted her ignorance and on hearing what it was said: "I'm going to have to try that."

She made alcoholic cocktail Death by Chocolate, introduced to her in Japan by Ian Brown of the Stone Roses, on stage using vodka, tia maria and Guinness and served it out to the audience to try.

Cerys, who admitted "my mum was rubbish at cooking" told how the six years she spent in the United States at the end of her Catatonia years was at the root of her writing the book that features 15 countries with a Spotify play list for each chapter which are sprinkled and seasoned with unusual facts and myth busting.

She even produced a huge carving knife on stage to show how to halve a melon to create her favourite dessert filled with sherry and there was a treat for fans of her music as Cerys took to acoustic guitar to deliver a series of songs linked to food and cooking from around the world, including Alouette and Sosban Fach, sung in Welsh.

She advised people to get children involved in cooking to get them eating a varied diet and Cerys spoke of her love of the poems of Black Country poet Liz Berry and confided she was making a record which will feature Liz and other poets reciting their verse

The star, who said south Indian cuisine was her favourite from around the globe, signed copies of her book for fans at the end of the event.