Organisers were blown away by the response, as the event continues to grow in popularity year after year. Over 450 chefs and 80 exhibitors were in attendance.

UCFF invites chefs to step out of the kitchen and reconnect with the land to learn about the latest developments in farming, seasonal produce, local sourcing and foraged food.

The festival celebrated its fifth year on Tuesday 20^th September at the new venue of Laverstoke Park in Hampshire.

Event directors John Feeney, Lee Maycock and Ian Nottage, said: “We are overwhelmed at the response to this year’s Universal Cookery & Food Festival at Laverstoke Park Farm. It was the perfect venue for us, as the farm pretty much ticks all the values around the festival tree logo.

“The bi-dynamic and organic ethos around how they farm with respect for the soil, animals and environment is amazing and yields fantastic results. Thank you to Jody Scheckter and all the team at Lavertstoke for helping us to make it happen.”

Chefs discovered new cooking techniques and trends from the live demonstrations and debate topical issues with an impressive line up of expert speakers.

In addition, the dynamic programme featured a Laverstoke farm tour, taking in the vineyard, soil lab and the Laverstoke Buffalo, hands-on foraging expeditions, game and beekeeping demos, and an farmers’ market and sponsors’ innovation zone.

Delegates were treated to a gastronomic feast from Alan Paton, executive head chef at Stoke by Nayland hotel and his team of chefs, and the day was topped off with a band and BBQ evening hosted by Dingley Dell’s Flying Visit Dirty Dozen BBQ Competition in association with ‘A Passion to Inspire’.

Jean Paul Gauci won the Grand Pork Chef and ‘Patonporkteteers; won the Golden Pig Awards for Flying Visits Champion Team 2016.

The directors added: “Five years on, the festival vision is an incredible, ever-growing success and a highlight of the chef calendar. Chefs value the opportunity to connect with where the ingredients they work with come from, and also with each other.

“Our fantastic programme of speakers, farm and foraging tours, and markets meant our festival goers were spoilt for choice as to what to see and do on the day. We’re already planning for 2017 - Padstow here we come.”

The UCFF 2017 will take place in Padstow on Wednesday 20^th September. Visit www.cookeryandfoodfestival.co.uk for more information.