Top chefs for Derry - culinary delights on the streets

Ireland’s most popular celebrity chefs are coming to the north west - for the LegedDerry Feast.

Rachel Allen and Neven Maguire will both be in Derry on Saturday afternoon to cook up a storm and sign copies of their latest books during the three day event, which is organised by Derry city Council and sponsored by the DARD NI Regional Food Programme, Invest NI and the City of Culture Legacy programme.

Rachel Allen will be at the Theatre of Food in the Guildhall Square from 2.30pm, and reveal some of the tricks of the trade.

She will be joined on Saturday afternoon by Cavan’s most renowned kitchen aficionado Neven Maguire, who will be creating a stir with his creative twists on classic Irish produce.

Neven is another familiar face on our TV screens and will be impressing the crowds in the kitchen at 1.30pm. They will be joined by BBC Radio regulars Paula McIntyre,  and Brian McDermott, the ‘No Salt Chef’.

 They will be working their magic on some fantastic local produce on Sunday afternoon, and Brian will be back on Monday for second helpings.

Tourism Officer with Derry City Council Mary Blake, said: “I am delighted to welcome all our chefs to the event this weekend, and in particular Rachel Allen and Neven Maguire who are at the very forefront of Irish cooking. I’m sure they will get a warm Derry welcome on Saturday when they show off the skills that have established them as household names.

The kitchen action kicks off in the Marquee each day at 12.30pm, with demonstrations, talks and dishes served hot off the stove until 5.30pm on Saturday and 4.40pm on Sunday and Monday.

For more information and a full timetable of the LegenDerry Food Festival events go to www.derrycity.gov.uk/food. And to find out more about all the St Patrick’s Carnival weekend, go to www.derrycity.gov.uk/stpatricksday