A FORMER royal chef and another who worked at the iconic Sydney Opera House are joining forces to champion local produce at a food festival.

Graham Tinsley MBE, who has tickled the taste buds of world leaders, the Queen and Prince Charles on numerous occasions, will be showcasing local talent as well as the best of Welsh foodstuffs when he returns to Llangollen Food Festival with his young protégé Harri Williams.

Graham, currently executive head chef at Carden Park near Chester, has recently appointed 26-year-old Harri as his new head chef, cementing a 13-year long mentorship which began when Harri took on an apprenticeship with him at the age of 15.

History has now gone full circle and Harri has returned to the hotel in which he learnt his craft with a wealth of exciting ideas inspired from his travels across Australia.

The former sous chef at the Sydney Opera House will show off his skills alongside Graham at this year’s food festival, being held on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14.

Graham, 58, from Abergele, will be leading a trio of culinary geniuses at a series of cookery demonstrations at this year’s festival, which will be staged at Llangollen Pavilion.

Llangollen Food Festival committee member Phil Davies said: “We are so lucky that North Wales is a hotbed of culinary talent and I am sure that Graham and Harri will put on a great show at this year’s festival.

“In addition to many favourites, we have lots of new food producers wanting to come this year.

“The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can’t imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting.

“It’s also brilliant news for the local economy. If you buy from a local producer, all that money is recycled through the local economy and that sustains employment in our rural areas.”

For more information about Llangollen Food Festival go to www.llangollenfoodfestival.com