FINAL preparations are taking place before the York Festival of Food and Drink begins tomorrow.

Organisers of the sixth annual food festival have said tickets are selling fast with today's launch dinner at St William's College already sold out.

The weekend is packed with a feast of activities, including a continental market, a young chef's competition and a festival food theatre of continental cuisine.

The festival's free sampling boulevard was unveiled today, offering visitors tasting opportunities and special offers on a huge range of goods.

Drink features too, with the launch of the festival ale trail, covering 13 of the city's best pubs, a South African wine tasting event and a Scottish whisky tasting event.

To celebrate the festival's opening, organisers are offering two free tickets worth £12.50 each to the Islay whisky tasting evening with Jim McEwan, a former cooper, distiller and global ambassador for Bowmore malt.

To enter the competition send a postcard with your name, address and phone number to Islay Whisky Competition, Annvil Marketing, Poplar Tree Farm, Selby Road, Camblesforth YO8 8HX.

Only people over the age of 18 are able to attend the event at 7pm on Sunday.

Jim, who was recently tempted back to his native Islay to revive Bruichladdick, the island's only independent distillery, will bring a selection of his favourite malts to taste.

On Saturday, Magdalena Chavez, owner of York's El Piano eatery, in Grape Lane, will offer a sneak preview of her new cookbook Hand To Mouth, which will be formally launched on Sunday.

For tickets to any of the ten-day festival's events call 01133 843 808.

To find out more visit the festival's website by following the link at the Evening Press site, www.thisisyork.co.uk or telephone 01904 554430.

Updated: 11:49 Thursday, September 12, 2002