WHAT started as a mere morsel of a foodie event, served up to mark the millennium, the annual Christchurch Food and Wine Festival has spread over the years into a huge banquet for the senses.

Now it is one of the most important dates on the gourmet calendar, attracting global gastronomes, top chefs and, well, just lots of people who like looking at, talking about, cooking and, most of all, eating seriously good grub!

Having rapidly made its mark as one of the best food festivals in the UK, it draws many of the big names from the lofty world of professional cooking and every year locals find themselves rubbing shoulders (and not just of lamb) with the likes of Jean-Christophe Novelli, Ian Rankin, Anton Edelman and former prodigy of the Chewton Glen’s world-famous kitchens, James Martin.

Telly favourites, Lesley Walters and Brian Turner are stalwarts, in fact Walters is now patron of the festival and regularly pops up to rustle up a tasty treat or two for her fans.

And this year promises to be extra special. To mark the 10th anniversary, the programme is packed with even more of the usual brilliant demos, talks, tastings and fun stuff for every age.

Peter Pan of the frying pan, Gary Rhodes, will officially open the show, underlining his commitment to the area’s already impressive foodie credentials, which has seen him put his money where his mouth is and open not one, but two new eateries in Christchurch.

During the first weekend, local and celebrity chefs will be showing off their skills with the skillet and more – free of charge – in the swanky Rangemaster kitchen in a marquee in Saxon Square; outside on the High Street the ridiculously popular International Market will be in full swing, with even more live demos, all the latest foodie products and, most important of all, a smorgasbord of delicious delicacies and the very best food and drink from around the world.

We’re talking more than 100 stalls here, so be sure to take plenty of shopping bags!

And thanks to the evangelical verve of the likes of Jamie Oliver, with his campaign for better school meals, and Rhodes’ firm belief that children should be involved in the cooking process as soon as they can grasp a spoon, education plays an important part in the event; the Kid’s Kitchen is back (Druitt Hall, just off the High Street) and aims, through food-based fun and games, to encourage youngsters to find out more about different foods and eat healthily. In the lead up to the festival, schoolchildren throughout the borough have been taking part in the Junior Cook of the Year contest, the final of which will be held in the marquee on the first Friday of the show.

Three finalists, chosen by festival president Mary Reader, will take part in a cook-off in front of a panel of judges and a live audience to decide who is the overall winner. No pressure there, then!

With all this and oodles, or maybe that should be noodles, more gluttonous goings on every day of the festival, it has all the ingredients for a perfect day out.