HUNDREDS of visitors flocked to Monmouthshire over the weekend (21st to 22nd May) for a food festival in the heart of Caldicot Castle.

Crowds of visitors from the county and beyond dodged the light showers to attend the event dedicated to food and drink, with sweet and savoury treats along with a range of locally produced ales and spirits to sample.

This event also included the popular Chef’s Theatre, where a number of chefs from the county’s top restaurants showed off their skills.

These included Foysal Miah, chef and patron at The Blue Cumin in Magor; Dion Tidmarsh, head chef at The Golden Lion in Magor; Matthew Dawkins, head chef at The Castle Inn at Usk; Adrian Walker, accredited master butcher at Golden Valley Meat and Game near Grosmont; Mark Turton, chef and patron at the #7 Church Street Restaurant in Monmouth.

Another chef at the festival was Chris Harrod, Michelin-starred chef and patron at The Whitebrook in Whitebrook. Chris said: “We are inspired by the most amazing local ingredients, foraged herbs and mushrooms from the valley. We want our guests to experience the valley on the plate.”

Chris was joined by Henry Ashby, who started foraging for fun and friends and believes that wild food plays a significant part in making Monmouthshire a centre for food lovers. Henry said: “There is no best way for foraging. The coast, fields, moors and woodlands in Monmouthshire are all ideal.”

Also attending the event was the High Sheriff of Gwent Kevin Thomas from Monmouth. He said: “This is the first Monmouthshire Food Festival I have attended and there is an incredible wide range of smells and tasted to enjoy.

“I have sampled a few of the ales and I do recommend them. It is a magical location and Caldicot Castle is an absolute gem.”

Mr Thomas also met Guide Dogs Wales community fundraising officer Frank Greig from Cardiff. The food festival has supported the charity for a number of years, and showed how visually-impaired people operate in the kitchen as part of a display in the Look and Learn Theatre.

Frank said: “This is the third year we have enjoyed the support from the people attending the Monmouthshire Food Festival. We come here to spread information and create awareness about the work of our organisation Guide Dog Wales.”