AN action-packed weekend lies ahead for South Lakeland food lovers as top producers and chefs prepare to showcase their talents.

The Kendal Food Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday – and with new management it hopes to be the most exciting yet.

Kicking off the event on Saturday will be Michelin-starred Phil Fanning, who will dish up slow-cooked Cumbrian sea trout, while Great British Menu chef Will Holland and Scott Fairweather – head chef at Crosthwaite’s Punch Bowl – will also demonstrate.

As well as a tutored cheese-tasting and demonstration from Lakeland’s Steven Doherty, Simon Thomas, of Kendal’s Staff of Life Bakery, hopes to emphasise how easy it is to make bread without machinery.

He said: “I will also be doing bread matching – like you would do with wine or beer. I think it should be a really great event.”

Sunday’s line-up will feature Justin Woods, of the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, a guide to baking without gluten and a class on smoking food with Smoky Jo.

And headlining the day will be ‘The Fabulous Baker Brothers’ Tom and Henry Herbert, known for their hit Channel 4 series, who will show off recipes from their book published just days before the festival.

The two-some will also judge the Fabulous Festival Baking competition, which gives locals the chance to showcase their own skills in four categories.

To find out more about the food festival, visit www.kendalfestivaloffood. co.uk.