Easter is the first of the food festivals. Chocolate-based and rather over-egged if you'll forgive the pun, but there you are. My absolute hands-down favourite this year is Mr Potato Head (£12.50 from Waitrose and John Lewis). Created by Anthony Marshall, head chef at London's Hilton, Park Lane, you get to attach all his features with the special chocolate goo provided. Clearly they're on an inventive roll, because also from Waitrose comes the Clarence Court luxury egg selection pack of rare free-range eggs: one Cornish goose egg, two Braddock white duck eggs, two pheasant and three quail (£4.99). Available until early summer.
Eggs always make me think of Chatsworth and the dowager Duchess of Devonshire's flock of rare hens. There's an Easter Egg hunt there this year on Sunday 8 April (details 01246 583139) and their summer food fair is 29-30 June (Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire).
The regions are really getting behind their producers to showcase them which is great. Here are some of the food festivals being held in the early part of the year:
Exeter and Michael Caines host a big South West England Food and Drink Festival (30 March-1 April). Lots going on and cooks include Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Peter Gorton. Tickets £4.50, visitsouthwest.co.uk/foodfestival.
The Festival of Eat! NewcastleGateshead (6-15 April) is a first for this area. They plan 'the appearance of a guerrilla restaurant at a secret location'. Details NewcastleGateshead.com. Also at Jesmonde Dene House restaurant in the area, there's a series of showcase meals from 8-16 April by chefs ranging from Paul Heathcote and Paul Rankin, to one of the Hairy Bikers. jesmonddenehouse.co.uk.
Michael Caines appears again at the Chester Food and Drink Festival on 7-8 April. Over 100 retailers and growers from the area will be in the big marquee (chesterfestivals.co.uk, 01244 320722).
Two castles in spectacular settings are hosting food events - Leeds Castle in Kent will showcase early season produce with over 70 exhibitors (12-13 May, tickets cost £14, valid for entry to the castle for a year, under fours go free). They're adding a huge adventure playground for bigger children this year and views from a tethered helium balloon for those who haven't drunk too much of the castle's own wine. Saturday Kitchen's James Martin is headlining the third Ryedale Festival at Castle Howard (27-28 May) with the emphasis on Yorkshire produce; Martin was brought up on the estate. Tickets £7.50, castlehoward.co.uk, 01653 648333.
The 'Taste of' festivals are always worth a visit because there's great food to eat and lots to learn. Taste of Edinburgh is 7-10 June; Dublin 14-17 June; London's Regent's Park 21-24 June - bigger than ever with over 50 top restaurateurs including the Galvins, Tom Aikens, Jamie Oliver, Scotts and Fino. Bath 28 June-1 July and Birmingham 5-8 July. Details: channel4.com/tastefestivals, 0870 166 0441.
