Experts

Be Inspired
Come and meet the experts at our Chefs Showcase!

Tops Fun Food Factory

Ian Gibbs - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Katy Ashworth

Saturday 23 October

Katy Ashworth has currently hosts the CBeebies series called I Can Cook. Aimed at getting the under-sixes in the kitchen, the series celebrates a hands-on approach to cooking and discovers the magic of the full cycle of food. Come and visit her in the Tops Fun Food Factory for a day of singing and stories!
 


Honeybrook Farm Demonstration Tent

Matthew Cook - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Matthew Cook

Saturday 23 October 10.30am
Waitrose Challenge: Ready Steady Cook - Fishing for Ideas & Sunday 24 October 12.10-12.40pm, Something Fishy!

Matt Cook has had a varied career in catering, taking in some of the top hotels and gastro-pubs in the UK and Australia. Matthew now runs his own catering company called Fishface, producing beautiful seasonal dishes from local produce and the West Country's amazing seafood.
 
Ian Gibbs - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Sophie Grigson

Saturday 23 October 11.20am, 1pm & 3.30pm

Sophie Grigson is synonymous with great food and has a natural ability to teach cookery in an informal and friendly way. She has published 21 cookery books and has been a regular on TV and radio since 1993 when she starred in the award-winning Grow Your Greens, Eat Your Greens.
 
Andy Kelly - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

Can you guess which one is Andy?
 
 

Andy Kelly (aka The Professor)

Saturday 23 October 12.10pm, It's all Greek to me...

Andy Kelly is passionate about preparing fresh seasonal food from the finest Dorset sources. Andy is particularly interested in Molecular Gastronomy (where science meets food - think Heston!) and cites Harold McGee and Hervé This as his influences. As head chef at Drusilla's Inn, he works hard to reduce the pub’s carbon/trotter/hoof print by sourcing local pork, free-range lamb and beef from Honeybrook Farm.
 
Ian Gibbs - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Ian Gibbs

Saturday 23 October 1.50pm, Know eye Deer!

Ian Gibbs has worked in some of the most renowned eating establishments in the country - including Heythrop Park in Chipping Norton, and Renaissance in Cheltenham. Now making his mark at the award-winning Coventry Arms in Wimborne, Ian combines experience with a passion for Dorset ingredients, to create outstanding seasonal food.
 
Paul Keating - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Paul Keating

Saturday 23 October 1.50pm, Know eye Deer!

Wimborne butcher Paul Keating has been supplying top quality, local, free-range meat for the past seven years. Paul is recognised not only as an excellent butcher but also for his passion for good food. He is always on hand to offer advice and great recipes on seasonal cooking.
 
Mark Hartstone - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Mark Hartstone

Saturday 23 October 2.40pm
La Fosse and The Cranborne Chase Rabbit


Mark Hartstone trained as a Geologist - but on the first day of the millennium decided to follow his passion for cooking and began chef training. He has since worked with Europe’s best and has reached the finals of four national competitions. He is now chef/owner of La Fosse
at Cranborne.
 
Jayne Mugridge - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Jayne Mugridge

Sunday 24 October 10.30am
Waitrose Challenge: Ready Steady Cook - Game On!


Jayne Mugridge is the co-founder of Yarty Valley Provisions Ltd, Britain's premium hand-made cordial. Their delicious recipes come from Jayne's grandmother Mable, who cooked for the New Forest nobility. Originally created to preserve fruit, these delectable flavours can also be used to add greater depth to foods - or cocktails!
 
Ian Gibbs - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Dean Edwards

Sunday 24 October 11.20am, 1pm & 2.40pm

After coming second in BBC's Masterchef Goes Large in 2006, Dean Edwards left his career as a digger driver to pursue his love of cooking. He made his debut on This Morning in September 2009 and is now on the show every week, cooking his dishes for millions.
 
John The Fish Bell - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

John "The Fish" Bell

Sunday 24 October 12.10pm, Something Fishy!

John Bell, of Bell's Fish in Wimborne, is a fourth generation fishmonger. He has a great respect for the delicate balance of the sea and leads the way in stocking the very freshest and sustainable fish from the English Channel. He is one of Rick Stein's 'Food Heroes'.
 
John The Fish Bell - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Russell Brown

Sunday 24 October 1.50pm, Apples & Cider

Russell Brown, chef-proprietor of the Michelin-starred Sienna in Dorchester, traded in his fishing tackle business 14 years ago for a career in cooking. He learned his trade across the West Country and has now developed his signature style, characterised by seasonality and high-quality local ingredients, following six years at Sienna.
 
James Coward - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

James Coward

Sunday 24 October 3.30pm, Coward by name, not by nature!

James Coward, chef and patron at Les Bouviers Restaurant near Wimborne, has enjoyed a reputation for producing fine food for nearly 20 years. A multi-award winner, James has a wealth of experience in Michelin-rated establishments in both France and England and he has maintained two AA rosettes since 1993.
 


Street Market Demonstration Areas

John The Fish Bell - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Ram Murti

Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 October all day (in the Square)

Ram Murti from Dehera, North India has been head chef at The Red Fort in Dorset for the last three years. His philosophy is simple - real Indian food as it's made in India. That means spice mixes freshly prepared and ground for each individual dish, using Indian stone grinders.
 
John The Fish Bell - one of the experts at Wimborne Food Festival

 

Gabrielle Jackson

Saturday 23 October 11am, 1pm & 3pm (in the High Street)

Gabrielle Jackson has extensive television experience, producing three series of 'Rhodes Around Britain' with Gary Rhodes and working as producer/director on 'Kitchen Chemistry' with Heston Blumenthal. Gabrielle, the official chef of Sunseeker International Boats, is an expert in cooking with chocolate, proudly landing the 'Best Chocolate Cake in Britain' award.
 
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