A CELEBRATION of the region’s finest food and drink saw Hampshire as the dish of the day at Sparsholt College’s Taste of Hampshire last Saturday.

This event boasted some of the best of the county’s produce for visitors to sample and experience, and demonstrations from no less than ten leading chefs to inspire.

Organiser Philip Holroyd- Smith said: “Taste of Hampshire aims to encourage people to truly experience locally-produced food, to understand its provenance and to be inspired to support this county’s producers.”

Set in the college’s beautiful Library Gardens to a soundtrack of live music, doors opened from 10am, with the professional chefs donning their aprons from 10.30am.

Chefs who made an appearance included Andy Mackenzie and Olly Rouse (Lainston House), Keren Atkinson (The White Horse, Otterbourne), Damian Brown (Chesil Rectory), James Durrant (The Plough), Luke Matthews (Chewton Glen), James Golding (The Pig), Luke Holder (Hartnett Holder & Co.) and Davina Tibbetts (Create & Cook).

With appetites whetted, there were opportunities to sample and buy local food, wine and ale.

Producers attending on the day showcased the best of local cheeses and meats, preserves and chutneys and cordials and fruit juices.

New for this year, was ‘The Great Hampshire Cake-Off’ – the quest to find Hampshire’s best baker.