Meet The Chefs & Authors

A jewel in the crown of Malton’s Food Lovers Festival is the chef demo stage which attracts culinary talent from across the region and beyond!

Hosted by the team from YorkMix Radio and organised by Gilly Robinson, from Malton’s cookery school, The Cook’s Place, the demo tent is free to attend and runs throughout the weekend of the festival. The demo stage also hosts incredible foodie authors, who have kindly been organised by local business Kemps Bookshop.

Find out more about the hosts here.

Demo Stage Opening Times

  • Saturday 24th May: first demo - 10am / last demo - 5pm

  • Sunday 25th May: first demo - 10am / last demo - 4pm

  • Monday 26th May: first demo - 10am/ last demo - 3pm

(Please note: timings and line-up may be subject to change)

Learn more about the chefs and authors who will be at the 2025 Malton Food Lovers Festival below:

 

Saturday 24th May

  • Owner & Head Chef - Forty-Six, Malton

    More Info Coming Soon

  • Great British Bake Off 2021 & owner of We Are Freyas

    More Info Coming Soon

    Find Out More: https://www.instagram.com/freyacox_/

  • Cook | Author | Restaurateur

    Anna Hedworth, recently named one of CODE Hospitality's 50 Women of the Year 2023, is the chef-proprietor of two award-winning Newcastle upon Tyne establishments: Cook House and Long Friday. Cook House has won accolades from Michelin, the Observer, the Times, Guardian, the Good Food Guide and many more.

    You can purchase your own signed copy of “Service”, Anna’s new book, from Kemps Bookshop at the Food Lovers Festival.

    Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/cookhouse_anna/

  • Head Chef - Castle Howard

    Nathan Richardson-Kelly is a Yorkshire born and bred chef with a passion for Yorkshire produce and producers. He has previously worked at the Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome, and Mannion and Co, before joining Castle Howard in 2021, where he currently works as Executive Head Chef. At home in Helmsley Nathan rears his own ducks and chickens.

    Find out more: castlehoward.co.uk

  • Masterchef UK semi-finalist 2022 & Food Writer

    More Info Coming Soon

    Find Out More: https://www.instagram.com/yummy_bydesign/

  • Food Historian (PhD) | Author “Leftovers”

    Eleanor Barnett holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has recently been awarded a Leverhulme research fellowship. Her work uses food as a lens through which to access the daily lives of ordinary people as well as wider cultural, economic, political and religious historical processes. As @historyeats on Instagram, she posts daily food history stories, paintings and objects from across the world to a wide audience, and she is a regular contributor to radio and other public-facing media. Leftovers is her first non-fiction title.

    You can purchase your own signed copy of “Leftovers”, Eleanor’s new book, from Kemps Bookshop at the Food Lovers Festival.

    Find out more: www.eleanorebarnett.com

  • Executive Head Chef - The Black Swan Oldstead

    Callum Leslie has over 10 years’ experience in professional kitchens, with humble beginnings as a kitchen porter at his local restaurant and now heading the Michelin-starred kitchen of The Black Swan at Oldstead at just 27 years old. 

    An enviable CV showcasing eight Michelin stars in total, Callum’s first chef role begun in Simon Gueller’s proclaimed Box Tree Restaurant in Ilkley, honing his skills under previous Head Chef Lawrence Yates. His next move saw a relocation to Cambridge, where he spent a year at Daniel Clifford’s two-Michelin starred Midsummer House and a pivotal turning point in his career. A stint at Marcus Wareing’s eponymous Knightsbridge establishment, also holding two stars at the time, was closely followed by eighteen months in the kitchens of Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham; a year of which was spent heading the pastry section as Chef de Partie.

    Heading back to his Yorkshire roots in 2019, Callum assumed the role of Junior Sous at The Black Swan at Oldstead, before a promotion to Senior Sous in early 2020 and was subsequently appointed Head Chef in late 2021. In 2024 Callum was named Executive Chef, overseeing The Black Swan at Oldstead and Abbey Inn Byland alongside Head Chefs Alice Power and Charlie Smith.

Sunday 25th May

  • Foraging Author

    John Shahabeddin AKA @thegrizzlyforager has a community of 230k on Instagram and 90k on Facebook, with his most viral videos amassing millions of views. John spends his time (when not busy with his day job as a professional photographer) foraging with his two young children, and sharing his expertise with others through courses. John has been taking his children foraging with him since they could walk and his family-friendly approach to foraging has captured his audiences’ attention as he makes it truly accessible to total beginners and to the whole family.

    You can purchase your own signed copy of “The Grizzly Forager’s Guide to Family Foraging”, John’s new book, from Kemps Bookshop at the Food Lovers Festival.

    Find out more: https://www.thegrizzlyforager.co.uk/

  • MasterChef:The Professionals 2024 finalist & Great British Menu 2024 competitor, respectively

    Renowned chefs George Birtwell (MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 Finalist) and Samira Effa (Great British Menu 2024 competitor) have combined their talents to form The Epicurean Duo. With a shared passion for innovative fine dining, they bring restaurant-quality cuisine, artistry and storytelling to intimate dining experiences, creating unforgettable moments for their guests.

    George, head chef of its events division at TB Hospitality under Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks, combines technical precision with creativity to craft refined dishes. His journey spans renowned establishments such as The Black Swan at Oldstead, Northcote, Ynyshir, and TRUEfoods, where he honed his skills in development and innovation.

    Samira, known for her bold, globally inspired flavours, has worked in acclaimed kitchens including 21212 in Edinburgh, Alimentum in Cambridge, and Bohemia in Jersey. She draws on her Nigerian and Iranian heritage to create unique, memorable flavours and dining experiences.

    Together, they blend innovation, expertise and a shared love for provenance to create something truly special.

    Find Out More: https://www.theepicureanduo.com/

  • Great British Bake Off 2023

    Great British Bake Off 2023 alum Rowan Claughton, known for his extravagant bakes and Northern warmth during the 2023 instalment of the show, is now a food writer and content creator working to bring deliciously outrageous and accessible recipes to the masses.

    Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/rowanclaughton/

  • Food Writer & Cook

    Originally from London, Dominic Franks now lives in Lincolnshire where he is a food writer for Lincolnshire Life Magazine, is regularly featured on BBC Radio Lincolnshire as their go-to food expert, and has been feeding the internet with his blog Dom In The Kitchen since 2010. Dominic's love for food started young, drawing inspiration from Delia Smith, his mum (who will tell you that she taught him everything he knows), his Jewish heritage, and the cultural melting pot of his London upbringing.

    You can purchase your own signed copy of “Upside Down Cooking”, Dominic’s new book, from Kemps Bookshop at the Food Lovers Festival.

    Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/dominthekitchen/

  • Gardener & Forager Chef

    Harvey Maher is a 24-year-old chef with a passion for using locally sourced ingredients, foraging, and fermentation to create unique, flavourful dishes. He is dedicated to sustainability and seasonality, always looking to showcase the best of what nature has to offer.

    Find out more: @yorkshireplot2plate 

    or @fifthflavouryork 

Monday 26th May

  • Head Chef & Co-Owner at Homestead Kitchen & Cottage Goathland

    More Info Coming Soon

  • Head Chef at Tykes Restaurant at Sandburn Hall Hotel

    More Info Coming Soon

  • Head Chef Chris Hobson at The View Restaurant, Scarborough

    Passion, Experience, and a Commitment to Local Excellence With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chris Hobson has worked his way up from a humble pot washer to an award-winning chef, gaining a wealth of knowledge and expertise along the way. Formally trained at Yorkshire Coast College, Chris has honed his craft in some of the finest hotels and restaurants, including a prestigious 2 Rosette fine dining establishment. His career has taken him to unique culinary settings—including a boat—where he continued to refine his skills and develop his signature style. His dedication to his craft and commitment to quality have earned him significant recognition, including an award at the Scarborough News Business Excellence Awards in 2021 and a finalist spot for Best Use of Local Produce in the 2024 Deliciously Yorkshire Taste Awards.

    Now, in 2025, Chris is set to embark on his most exciting venture yet—opening The View Restaurant in Scarborough, with the incredible support of hotel owners Matt and Tyf. At The View, Chris will bring his ethos to life, working closely with local suppliers to ensure his dishes are fresh, seasonal, and sustainable, celebrating the outstanding quality of Yorkshire’s produce. His deep respect for the region’s farmers, fishermen, and artisan producers will be reflected in every dish, offering guests a true taste of Yorkshire’s rich culinary landscape. Passionate, innovative, and committed to excellence, Chris Hobson is ready to create an unforgettable dining experience at The View, where great food and stunning scenery come together in perfect harmony.

    Find out more: www.delmonthotel.co.uk/restaurant

Meet the Hosts

The chef and author demos couldn’t run without the fabulous team that works tirelessly in the background to organise, prepare and host them. Find out more below:

Kemps is Malton’s award winning independent bookshop with a pretty good gift selection too. Our aim is to create a place people love to come and browse or shop or just enjoy an event .

We are so lucky with our position in the Market Place with so many other amazing indie retailers around us and our aim, along with all the other businesses, is to create a special reason to visit Malton.

Everyone should enjoy their trip to Kemps, take away a moment to remember, a pile of books and a reason to return.

The Cook’s Place is Malton’s popular cookery school run by the brilliant Gilly Robinson, specialising in courses from seafood to baking and more. There’s a fabulous variety of classes and events to be enjoyed by cooks and food enthusiasts of all skill levels alike.

Hosting events in partnership with other local businesses in Malton such as Kemps, The Cook’s Place is certainly one of Malton’s treasures, not to be missed!

YorkMix is York's number one multimedia platform. We run York's local news and entertainment website, YorkMix.com which reaches over 500,000 local users a month and YorkMix Radio, home to some of the area's favourite radio presenters! We pride ourselves on promoting local events which is why we feel privileged to be involved with Visit Malton and the Food Lovers Festival - providing a host for the main stage and broadcasting live from the festival all weekend.