TV Lesley has recipe for success
Wolverhampton's Civic Hall was transformed into a culinary paradise to welcome thousands of people to the city's first-ever food and drink fair. Wolverhampton's Civic Hall was transformed into a culinary paradise to welcome thousands of people to the city's first-ever food and drink fair. The drizzle did little to deter the eager crowds from queuing up outside, with the temptation of tasty treats and demonstrations by TV cook Lesley Walters all too mouth-watering. People packed around the main stage as the good-humoured chef rustled up three dishes. More than 25 exhibitors set up stalls giving away free nibbles to highlight the best in buying, cooking and eating food and drink in the region. Among them was Artisan Organics, City Bar cafe and bistro, Fudge Heaven, Kev's Plaice, Wolverhampton Vegans and Veggies and Ladies in Pigs. Neil and Mandy Gatts, who run a delicatessen stall at Wolverhampton Market, were at the event to show off their produce. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
The drizzle did little to deter the eager crowds from queuing up outside, with the temptation of tasty treats and demonstrations by TV cook Lesley Walters all too mouth-watering.
People packed around the main stage as the good-humoured chef rustled up three dishes. More than 25 exhibitors set up stalls giving away free nibbles to highlight the best in buying, cooking and eating food and drink in the region.
Among them was Artisan Organics, City Bar cafe and bistro, Fudge Heaven, Kev's Plaice, Wolverhampton Vegans and Veggies and Ladies in Pigs. Neil and Mandy Gatts, who run a delicatessen stall at Wolverhampton Market, were at the event to show off their produce.
Mandy said: "It's nice to be able to promote our business in the city, especially as the market is not as successful as it used to be. It gives people who don't know about us the chance to try out our produce. "It's been really good".
Lord Dennis Turner of Bilston was there helping to promote the Fairtrade stand and said the massive turnout was "fantastic".
More than 300 people snapped up tickets in advance of the event and hundreds more flooded through the doors during the day.
Lesley, a household name thanks to BBCs Ready Steady Cook, said she wanted to encourage people to cook themselves.
"We are showing seasonal, lovely dishes that people can make themselves," she said.
"The idea is they are all really straightforward. The hope is people will say 'well that was easy, I can do that', and then get in their own kitchens and cook them.
"I really love teaching people how to cook and this is a really great event to do it," she added.
Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton's leisure and culture chief, said he was "gobsmacked" with the fair's success.
"We had 300 people book tickets in advance but we still had people queuing outside pushing the doors trying to get in," he said. "It's fantastic, especially considering that this is the first event. We will definitely be running it again."
