Helen Peacocke reports on the first Henley Food Festival taking place over two days at the end of the month

Who said we don't care about the food we consume? Despite all the gloomy reports on the way we eat, child obesity and the staggering amount of fuel required to ferry food from one country to another, our interest in local food appears to be increasing. It is reflected in the burgeoning number of food festivals taking place, not just in the UK, but throughout the world.

Try tapping 'food festival 2006' into your computer. My Google search up came many thousands of sites, beginning with Auckland this weekend and closing with a Highland Food Festival at Inverness from September 29 to October 15. Admittedly, many of these festivals will be taking place in the US, and exotic oriental cities such as Singapore where a month-long celebration takes over this exciting island in June. Nevertheless, the UK has its fair share of festivals too, including Cowley Road Food Festival on July 2.

This year, Henley-on-Thames gets in on the act with the aim of promoting local produce, and arousing interest in the town's ever-increasing number of restaurants and gastro pubs. The town is intent on establishing itself as one of the country's top gastro destinations and festival organisers are convinced a festival is a very positive way of making this happen.

If the festival proves successful and media interest suggests it will be it is hoped that it will become an annual event which heralds the beginning of the Henley Summer Season. With Roy Ackerman, Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc, and Antony Worrall Thompson as patrons, the festival certainly boasts an impressive line-up of celebrity chefs, many of whom will be conducting demonstrations, food tastings and discussions.

The main events takes place in a covered area in the town's Market Place and the Town Hall opposite, with a large screen which will enable visitors to watch the master chefs at work. The covered area will also be filled with stalls, offering tastings and samples of their produce.

As Roy Ackerman is already honorary president of the Henley Festival of Music and the Arts (an honour bestowed on him last year as its founder), he is well placed to head this festival too. His catering career, which began more than 40 years ago when he became an apprentice chef, takes him all over the world, but Henley is his base. Over the years, Roy has written and produced some 40 books including The Ackerman Guide and the Egon Ronay Guides, both of which highlight many of the restaurants in the Henley area that will be taking part in the festival.

One young festival participant who has gained recognition in virtually every food guide that's been published in the past year is Michael North, who until recently was chef/manager of The Goose at Britwell Salome. Just 26, Michael rates as one of the youngest Michelin-starred chefs in the country, which is why he's taking time out this summer to set up his own establishment.

His Michelin rating was awarded for his use of local produce and the clever balance he achieved by pitching his menu in a manner that satisfies both those who don't necessarily wish for something too fancy and those who appreciate a few frills. Michael will be demonstrating his skills to the festival crowds at 6pm on Saturday, April 29.

Paul Clerehugh, from the Crooked Billet in Stoke Row, has also built his reputation on serving local produce. Paul actually encourages local gardeners to bring him their produce in exchange for a free lunch. On Friday evening (April 28, at 6pm) Paul will be demonstrating his delicious rabbit burgers which come in wheat-free bread made from local spelt flour. Paul is particularly proud of this bread, as spelt, which is one of the original grains mentioned in the Bible, boasts anything from ten to 25 per cent more protein than common varieties of wheat. It's a superb fibre resource too and contains large amounts of the B-complex vitamins. Such little-known ingredients, which many of us are not familiar with despite them being produced in our area, are what food festivals are all about.

Food writer and broadcaster Henrietta Green, widely acknowledged as the country's leading expert on local produce, will be at the festival too. Henrietta spearheaded the current thinking about food miles and encouraged us to shop at farmers' markets. She admits her earlier enthusiasms for local food have now become a life passion which she hopes to encourage others to embrace. She will be attending the festival at 5pm on Saturday (April 29) when she will be discussing today's food issues.

Antony Worrall Thompson, who is passionate about organic vegetables, will make his appearance on Friday, April 28, at 2pm. Raymond Blanc follows at 5pm. You can meet Roy Ackerman at 2pm on the Saturday. Others taking part include cookery writer Mary Berry and Belinda Hill, who runs her own cookery school near Henley.

Festival director Simon Cromack says that now the date of the festival is almost upon them, the organisers are getting incredibly excited. They believe they've put together an event with something for everyone. Even beer-lovers are catered for, thanks to Chris Hearn from the award-winning Loddon Brewery, at the nearby village of Dunsden, who will be displaying his latest brews.

Simon stresses that the emphasis of the festival will be locally produced food. "We are encouraging our exhibitors to look locally for their ideas, so that they create a real awareness of local food and a reason for holding the festival," he said.

  • Entrance to the festival, which opens at 11am to 9pm on both days, is free. For further information go to the festival website: www.henleyfoodfestival.co.uk