AS July looms, the organisers of this year's Tavistock Food Festival are working hard to ensure it will be even more successful than the last. Festival chairman Jeffrey Stackhouse said: 'Our 2007 festival was a huge success, with a dramatically revised marquee layout, large open air seating and refreshment "village square" and enlarged chefs' demonstration area. 'So in 2008 we are going to maintain the same basic layout to accommodate our planned 107 exhibitor stands. 'The fact that we always offer our exhibitors and visitors an all-weather venue has paid dividends, and that was particularly relevant when so many regional events were cancelled during an appallingly wet 2007.' Mr Stackhouse said more than 62 high quality regional food producers were already booked and there were verbal promises of another 12 so vacancies were dropping away. Exhibitors will be offering a range of regional food produce including cheese, pickles, fruit, meat, beer, wine, poultry, chocolate, chilli, vegetable, bread, fish, oysters — so visitors will be able to shop 'til they drop! The 'village square' will have more chairs and tables than last year, giving visitors an opportunity to rest and recuperate. Mr Stackhouse said: 'Master chef Peter Gorton has already confirmed a stunning line up of regional celebrity chefs for this year to include chefs Michael Caines, Kevin Viner from Viners, Paul Harwood from Padstow's famous Seafood restaurant, Jason Hornbuckle from the Lewtrenchard Manor, the Tanner brothers, Matthew Corner from Plymouth's new Seaview restaurant, and the ever popular Jacques Marchal. 'Alongside the main chef area Peter will be organising the hugely popular Kiddies corner. 'We are pleased this year to be hosting two major local charities, namely the Children's Hospice South West, who work very closely with Peter Gorton, and St Luke's Hospice.'
