Celebrity chefs, workshops and the very best food and drink the county has to offer; entertainment writer WAYNE SAVAGE whets your appetite for this year’s Aldeburgh Food and Drink festival

Showcasing the cream of East Suffolk’s food and drink producers, there’s a mouth-watering array of foodie fun to be had.

Although the main event takes place at Snape Maltings tomorrow and Sunday, fringe events at various locations throughout the county continue until October 8.

This weekend there will be lots of chances for visitors to try before they buy, fun food-related activities, workshops, boat trips, RSPB guided walks and more.

Some of the UK’s top chefs will be on hand to share their skills and help shine a light on the excellent quality of Suffolk’s home-grown produce and locally manufactured products.

The line-up includes Fergus Henderson of St John’s restaurant in London and Galton Blackiston of Morston Hall, Norfolk, to name just two.

Angela Hartnett, of El Murano, and The Good Food Guide 2012 Chef of the Year, will also be at Snape Maltings this weekend.

One of the most high-profile women in the restaurant world she is set to be a wonderful and exciting addition to the prestigious line up.

A varied programme of workshops and seminars will include hands-on cookery lessons for the kids and a number of workshops run by Adnams offering an introduction to wine, beer and spirits for the adults as well as food writing workshops by leading writer Tim Hayward for starters.

The fringe events throughout East Suffolk aim to engage more people in the festival as well as increase the understanding of the wider importance of local, seasonal food and drink and their integration with sustainable farming, fishing and food production.

Visitors can enjoy everything from organic farm walks and meet the producers events to progressive suppers, cookery workshops and training and gourmet food experiences.

Chef and cookery writer Emma Crownhurst will host workshops offering a Best of Suffolk cookery class. Perfect for families, Food Safari give you the chance to learn about wild food, where you can forage for wild berries and mushrooms and learn how to cook with and preserve them.

If you have an appetite for art you can see the sculpture collection by Rodger Herely, made from various food-related materials including objects found at Pinneys of Orford oyster beds.

All this fun is sure to make you hungry; luckily local restaurants, pubs and hotels are supporting the event by offering specialty dinners and themed menus.

You can try the Boardwalk Restaurant’s Seafood Supper in Southwold or savour Michelin Star treatment at the British Larder with guest chef Nigel Haworth.

The festival opens 10am-5pm tomorrow and 10am–4pm on Sunday. Tickets include a festival programme, shopping bag and there’s no charge for parking. Dogs on leads are welcome outside but not in the marquee, except for guide dogs..

Go to aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk for full information of all the workshops, demonstration schedules and what the chefs are cooking and keep checking EA Event’s listings pages for details of future fringe events.