26/01/2007 - Mike Robinson becomes Patron of the Henley Food Festival

Safely in the festival pot

Celebrity chef Mike Robinson from the Pot Kiln at Yattendon, near Newbury, has become the newest patron of Henley Food Festival, which this year takes place on May 11 and 12.

Mike is a regular presenter and guest chef on UKTV with appearances on Heaven's Kitchen, Great Food Live and Saturday Kitchen as well as many other programmes.

He is also taking part in a ground-breaking BBC webcast series titled "Get Cooking".

His first book, "Wild Flavours - Recipes from Heaven's Kitchen", was published in 2005 and he writes a monthly column for the Field. He also runs his own school of cookery.

Mike's passion is for the outdoor life and for finding his own sources of supply for deer, pigs, poultry and eggs from the woods and farms that surround his pub and restaurant.

Mike and Sassy

He will be giving a live cookery demonstration during the two-day festival, which is based in Henley's Market Place and Town Hall. There is free admission to all areas, which include many well-stocked local produce stalls and a huge marquee in which chefs some of the area's finest restaurants will cook and provide food samples.

The festival's other patrons are Raymond Blanc, Antony Worrall-Thompson, Heston Blumenthal, Roy Ackerman and Henley MP Boris Johnson.

Over 15,000 people visited Henley Food Festival in 2006, its inaugural year, and organisers are anticipating an increase in attendance this year

Further information: Brian Roach of French Jones on 01491 410987