North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival Cookery Theatre kindly sponsored by Arthur Howell.

Hosted by food and wine writer Andy Newman

 

Saturday 5th September

10:45am – Lewis Peck, The Earle Arms, Heydon 

11.30am – Gary Hunter, Hunters Chocolates: Chocolate Masterclass

12.15pm – Dan Herbert, The Kings Head, Letheringsett

1pm – Arthur Howell and Chris Coubrough – Showcasing the best of British meat

2pm – Loic Malfait, Satiate Artisan 

2.45pm – Katy Truss, Fabulous Food Finds: Tasting of local produce

 

Sunday 6th September

10.45am – Michael Chamberlain, The Victoria Hotel, Holkham 

11.30am – Saima Khan, The Hampstead Kitchen, with Sally Francis, Norfolk Saffron 

12.15pm – Bert Blaize and Harry Williams, The Chandlery, Wells

1.pm – Arthur Howell and Chris Coubrough – Showcasing the best of British meat

2.pm – Fran Hartshorne, White Horse, Brancaster Staithe

2.45pm – Laura Robinson, Burn Valley Vineyard: Tasting of Norfolk wine

 

Cookery Theatre Host: Andy Newman

It was when he was studying Moliere for his French ‘A’ level that Andy Newman first came upon the quote, ‘you should eat to live, and not live to eat’.  Realising that he disagreed with this misanthropic advice, a life spent enjoying the delights of the table and the glass was inevitable.

Originally from Hampshire, Andy came to Norfolk to study modern languages in 1988, and like many UEA graduates, decided to make Norwich his home after graduating.  Since then, he has built a successful career in public relations, and has run his own PR consultancy since 2004.

Alongside his day job, Andy has built a reputation for his food and drink writing, contributing to a number of newspapers and magazines.  He is particularly passionate about persuading people to abandon convenience foods and rediscover the joy of cooking.

While he wouldn’t claim to be a chef, Andy is a talented home cook, and enjoys nothing better than spending time in his kitchen, creating delicious dishes for visitors to his home.

He is also a qualified wine writer, holding the WSET Level 3 qualification.  Andy regularly leads tastings in Norfolk, writes about wine for a number of publications, and has led a Norfolk wine tasting club for 35 years.

 

Lewis Peck, The Earle Arms, Heydon

Lewis has been an important part of the food scene in Norfolk for many years, culminating in his recent appointment as head chef at the Earle Arms in Heydon, which has just reopened after an extensive refurbishment.

He worked at Norwich’s iconic Last Wine Bar from 2005 until 2012, when he moved to become head chef at the Last’s former Unthank Road offshoot, the Last Brasserie.  From there he moved to London to gain experience in a number of high-profile kitchens, including a stint as sous-chef at The Chancery in Holborn and as head chef at Rotorino in Dalston.

He returned to Norfolk and the Last Wine Bar in 2018 to become sous chef, working alongside Iain McCarten.  In 2022 he was asked to create a new restaurant at The Parlour, Binham, from where he has moved to his new role at Heydon.

This is Lewis’s third appearance at the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, which he praises as ‘a great way to showcase and celebrate local produce, and what amazing things North Norfolk has to offer.’

 

Gary Hunter, Hunters Chocolates

Gary Hunter is co-founding Director at Hunters Academy of Food.  Born in North Norfolk, as a child he became inspired by food cooked by his mother and grandmother.  Enrolled at City College Norwich on a professional chef course, he specialised with an advanced course in patisserie and confectionery; almost immediately, his love for the sweeter side of the hospitality industry was born.

For the next few years, Gary honed his skills in high end hotels and restaurants, before being offered the chance to teach at the legendary Westminster College in Central London.  The UK’s leading and oldest professional culinary and hospitality school, here Gary produced thousands of talented and leading chefs for the hospitality industry, with alumni such as Jamie Oliver, two-Michelin starred Andrew Wong, and National Chef of the Year 2022 Ben Murphy.

Travelling abroad frequently to work with leading chefs and industry associations, Gary also works throughout the UK providing specialist culinary demonstrations and training.  In 2008, Gary was part of the team that led a junior chef team to Erfurt, Germany to represent Great Britain for the World Culinary Olympics, winning a total of twelve silver medals.  He also managed the first ever UK Pastry Team to compete in the World Pastry Team Championships at Arizona, USA in July 2010.

Gary has now written and published seven educational professional cookery books for students and training chefs, alongside his most recent and highly acclaimed ‘In a Class of Its Own’.  These books have been endorsed by industry alumni such as Jamie Oliver and Heston Blumenthal, who have both written forewords for the textbook series.

Gary relocated back to North Norfolk in 2018 and after extensive research and planning, he and Nichola followed their hearts and Hunters Academy of Food was born.  An inventive food education facility – set in a relaxing rural environment – it offers exceptional experiences and culinary teaching for everyone from home cooks to industry professionals around the world.

 

Dan Herbert, The Kings Head, Letheringsett

For a number of years, Dan Herbert has been creating exceptional dishes in restaurants along the Norfolk coast, and now proudly calls The Kings Head at Letheringsett home.  Working alongside his talented kitchen team, Dan has played a key role in earning The Kings Head its prestigious 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, recognition of the passion, skill and consistency that goes into every dish served.

Dan’s cooking is imaginative, full of flavour and beautifully presented.  He works closely with local suppliers and relishes the challenge of transforming the finest seasonal ingredients into memorable dishes.  His carefully curated menus celebrate locality, seasonality and sustainability, with every ingredient chosen to showcase the very best of Norfolk.  Bringing creativity, technical skill and infectious enthusiasm to the kitchen, Dan ensures every new season introduces guests to an exciting selection of fresh dishes, giving them another reason to return.

In 2023, Dan showcased his talent on MasterChef, The Professionals, further demonstrating the dedication and expertise that have become hallmarks of his cooking.

 

Arthur Howell and Chris Coubrough

Arthur Howell is head of an established family business with a reputation that has built steadily since his great grandfather founded his butchery business and game dealership in Binham, Norfolk, in 1889.  Every one of the Howells has been a butcher – the original Arthur was followed by his son John Howell, then his son the late Arthur Senior, and now the present day red-coated Arthur who is one of the best known characters in his home town of Wells-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast.

The firm now operates butcher’s shops in Burnham Market and Wells, in addition to a bakery business, an award-winning delicatessen and a wet fish shop in the north Norfolk seaside town.  It has a large community of loyal customers across a 20-mile radius, with a client base including many of the area’s leading hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafes.  Arthur’s daughter Alex represents the fifth generation of Howells to become involved in running the family business.  She has worked with her father since leaving school at 16, spending two years learning the butchery trade before taking on the bakery in November 2008. Her husband, also called Alex, manages the Wells butcher’s shop.

Chris Coubrough is a well-known Norfolk chef and owner of the Crown Hotel in Wells.  Coming from an isolated farming background in the North Island of New Zealand, Chris’ understanding and knowledge of food grew out of being part of a family where the natural way of life meant that they grew, nurtured and butchered everything that was put on the table.

Passionate about local produce, the Kiwi Master Chef was talent-spotted during a cooking demonstration in 2006 before hosting ITV’s Coastal Kitchen, where he travelled around the coastal areas of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex in search of food producers and locally-grown ingredients. He has also appeared on Eating for Britain (Channel 4) and Market Kitchen (UKTV).

Chris and Arthur are a firm favourite in the cookery theatre at the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, and will once again be demonstrating their unique combination of humour, food knowledge and culinary genius on both days of the weekend.

 

Loïc Malfait, Satiate Artisan

Loïc is a classically trained pastry and cuisine chef who honed his skills in various fine establishments in France and London before joining an internationally renowned culinary school where he taught French cuisine and patisserie to thousands of students and did live cookery demonstrations on television, cruise ships and all around the globe. ​

Loïc now shares his passion for all things food at his cookery school, Satiate Artisan, located in beautiful Norfolk countryside in the village of Beeston. ​ It is the perfect place to indulge in amazing food and sharpen your kitchen skills under Loïc’s guidance.

Satiate Artisan offer a diverse range of cooking and baking workshops, tasting demonstrations and bespoke events that are designed to awaken your passion for cooking and baking for both novice and experienced home chefs.  Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to develop your skills and tastebuds, Satiate Artisan welcomes you.

You can also indulge in Loïc’s baking and cooking at Satiate Artisan’s La Petite Boutique where you can drop in and pick up delicious breads, pastries and all things tasty.  The hardest part will be deciding which ones to take home with you!

​Satiate Artisan champions simple, delicious food presented in a friendly and professional setting that will leave you perfectly satisfied yet wanting more.​

 

Katy Truss, Fabulous Food Finds

Katy is an artisan food and drink specialist based in West Runton, North Norfolk.  She grew up in north Norfolk and after time away at university and working in London for the BBC Good Food Show, returned ten years ago to start a family and her own business, Fabulous Food Finds.

She seeks out the finest, most interesting and exciting products and producers for her work as a food writer, presenter and curator of tasting boxes to share her finds with food lovers across the UK.

Katy grew up in pubs and restaurants and really loves the food industry; she regularly judges for prestigious awards like Great Taste, hosts a Tasting Theatre at the BBC Good Food Show and consults with industry professionals looking to discover producers with fantastic products and stories.

Katy will once again be sharing some of her latest finds and offering a guided tasting of some of the fantastic produce at the show as well.  She will share her top tips on how to taste and what makes a great product.

 

Michael Chamberlain, The Victoria Hotel, Holkham

A stalwart of the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, Michael is one of the luckiest chefs in the county, as he has a 25,000 acre larder to draw on – the Holkham Estate, kind hosts of the Festival.

Michael is Head Chef at The Victoria, a two AA rosette restaurant and hotel at the gates of Holkham.   The Victoria’s location on the North Norfolk coast is perfectly placed to give him and his team the freshest, most seasonal, sometimes unusual, but always delicious, ingredients for their ever-changing menus, all sourced locally.

Michael is passionate about dishes that emphasise taste, sustainability and a connection to the local landscape and is often to be seen foraging in the marshes, hedgerows and woods, choosing vegetables from Holkham Walled Garden and cooking imaginative dishes with the game from the Holkham Estate.

 

Saima Khan, The Hampstead Kitchen

The list of famous people private chef Saima Khan has cooked for is solidly ‘A’ List: Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, the Obamas, the Clintons, Angelina Jolie, Pierce Brosnan and even our own Royal Family at Sandringham.

Saima set up The Hampstead Kitchen after a high-flying career in international finance, moving her business to Norfolk in 2025.

Growing up in a household where the dining table was the heart of the home, she was able to take her passion for food around the world during her banking career, collecting ideas to fuse with her own heritage.

She likes to create informal, communal dining experiences, with all the dishes in the middle of the table to be shared and passed around by the guests rather than waiting staff.  She says the Hampstead Kitchen is about more than just food; it’s about bringing people together and creating sensory experiences and unique dining experiences.

During her demonstration, Saima will use saffron grown locally by Norfolk Saffron, whose owner Sally Francis will also be in stage to talk about her unique business.

 

Harry Williams and Bert Blaize, The Chandlery, Wells

Making their debut on the North Norfolk Food and Drink Cookery Stage are Harry Williams and Bert Blaize, from the newly-opened Chandlery restaurant in Wells, situated in the historic Chandlery building on the seafront in the town.

Harry is a rising Norfolk talent known for his ingredient-led cooking and strong relationships with local producers.  He previously worked at The Gin Trap Inn (which held three AA Rosettes during his time in the kitchen), No Twenty9, and The Stiffkey Red Lion.  His cooking is shaped by close relationships with fishermen, farmers and growers across the county.

Bert is an award-winning sommelier and maître d’ who has spent his career working in some of the world’s most respected dining rooms, including two Michelin star restaurants Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and The Clove Club.  He was also the winner of the best sommelier in the UK under 30 in 2019 and has published two books on wine: ‘Which Wine When’ & ‘Drinking the World’.

 

Fran Hartshorne, The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe

We are delighted to welcome back a long-time friend of the Festival, Fran Hartshorne, who recently celebrated 21 years at the award-winning White Horse at Brancaster Staithe, where she is now Executive Chef.

After studying Hospitality & Catering at Stamford College, Fran gained valuable experience at the Michelin-starred Morston Hall before spending two years cooking at prestigious private members’ clubs in Long Island, New York, and West Palm Beach, Florida.  Although her travels broadened her culinary horizons, Norfolk was always home.

Today, Fran leads one of Norfolk’s most respected restaurant kitchens, creating menus that showcase the county’s outstanding seasonal produce.  She works closely with local fishermen and trusted suppliers to ensure the freshest seafood and ingredients reach every plate.

Alongside her husband, Phil, Fran also created the Staithe Smokehouse at The White Horse, producing a range of traditionally smoked fish that has become a signature feature of her menus.

 

Laura Robinson, Burn Valley Vineyard

Established in 2016, Burn Valley Vineyard spans 12 acres of south-facing, free-draining flinty soil with a chalk base near North Creake – ideal land for viticulture.

The vineyard cultivates nine grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Solaris, Rondo, and Regent. Since their inaugural harvest in 2018, Burn Valley has been producing award winning wines that capture the essence of the Norfolk unique terroir.

The vineyard is run by Laura Robinson, who has built a reputation as a champion of Norfolk wine.  We are delighted to welcome Laura back to the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival stage, where she will be introducing a selection of Burn Valley wines for everyone to taste.