THIS year's York Festival of Food and Drink is already proving to be the best, the event's organiser declared today.

Michael Hjort, of York Hospitality Association, said this year's festival was the biggest and most popular in its nine-year history.

He said: "I think this is undoubtedly the best year, because the scale of the event is bigger and we have also got a much more interesting programme than in the past."

Stallholders sold out of produce on Saturday, as members of the public flocked to the market to buy local produce.

"It is going very well," said Mr Hjort. "Even today on a weekday lunchtime there is a really good buzz in Parliament Street and a lot going on.

"And most of the events are proving very popular. Moving the food theatre to the Guildhall has been a great success because it has allowed us to put on an evening programme."

Mr Hjort was speaking at an event where top chefs from North Yorkshire passed on some of their trade secrets to catering students and keen amateur cooks.

The line-up included Andrew Pern, from The Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley, and Stephanie Moon, head chef at Rudding Park Hotel, near Harrogate.

Stephanie said she was happy to pass on her tips to enthusiastic young cooks.

She said: "It was really refreshing to see so many young people there. I wanted to try to show how they can use local food and create restaurant quality dishes."

The festival fun continues tomorrow, and will include a waiters' dash through Parliament Street at 2pm, when waiters from restaurants in York will compete to show off their food-serving skills.

Tea enthusiasts can discover the origins of their cuppa at a special talk at Betty's Caf Tea Rooms in St Helen's Square.

The caf's tea buyer will tell customers about the different teas Betty's uses from around the world at the event, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

For more details about these events or the festival, phone the ticket and information hotline on 01904 466687.

Updated: 10:54 Tuesday, September 20, 2005