POPULAR This Morning chef Phil Vickery and TV chef and cookery school owner Lesley Waters will be cooking up some delicious treats for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Festival Place in Basingstoke.

A Jubilee Feast will take place as part of the shopping centre’s annual Eat Street Food Festival on June 2 and 3, when retailers and Hampshire Fare producers will serve up delicious food and drink samples alongside right royal photo opportunities and Jubilee-themed crafting.

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The TV favourites will be the star attractions on June 2 and 3 as they perform live cooking demonstrations in Festival Place’s Porchester Square.

On Thursday, June 2, Dorset country cookery school owner Lesley Waters – who also appears on This Morning as a regular guest chef – will be demonstrating a range of delicious, Jubilee-themed recipes.

Lesley’s dishes will include a stilton cheese crown, a coronation pineapple and chicken summer salad, the ultimate Union Jack summer tart, a Platinum platter of vodka and blood orange royal smoked salmon, Imperial fillet beef en croute with royal rarebit and horseradish cream, and a Jubilee rhubarb and custard crown.

“I chose these dishes because they represent great British seasonal food with a modern twist, and they really look the part,” said Lesley.

“I love to show people how easy they are to cook and live demonstrations are the thing I most enjoy.”

Passionate about using local, seasonal ingredients, Lesley is looking forward to meeting local producers and finding more about what is available locally.

She added: “I have been to Basingstoke many times for work, and I used to visit ‘back in the day’ as I grew up in Bedfont in Middlesex and it was not that far away.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting food producers and the public, cooking up a storm and celebrating this fantastic event.”

This Morning chef Phil Vickery will be in Portchester Square on Friday, June 3, demonstrating a range of flavourful dishes perfect for the Jubilee celebrations.

He is looking forward to cooking live and interacting with the FP audience.

“It’s so nice to interact with a live audience and have a laugh and a joke – plus you get a lot more time to explain the recipes,” said Phil.

He added: “When I’m cooking live, I really like to do dishes that you will remember once you have left.

“For instance, I cooked recently tomato soup and white chocolate muffins! Yes, I know what you’re thinking…but it really works. All the recipes are affordable, easy to cook and tasty.

“I always try to get the best flavour possible out of what I’m cooking, especially on telly when I make sure that what the presenters are eating is the best I can make it taste! It’s a throwback from my restaurant days, plus you can always improve.”

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The popular TV chef highlight the importance of using local, seasonal ingredients wherever possible.

Phil said: “Using local produce where you can is important – not only has it had to travel a shorter distance, it’s also cheaper in season. Equally, I also realise that this is not always possible, not only seasonally but also with cost as a big factor these days. I do think a good balance can be struck if you shop and cook cleverly.”

As well as the live cooking demonstrations, Festival Place will be flying the flag for the Jubilee with great British decorations, fun activities, and a Teas & Tiaras craft station where visitors can create their own glamorous crowns.

The centre’s wide range of food and beverage outlets will be joining in the fun, with many handing out free samples from their menus.

Festival Place has also partnered with Hampshire Fare to showcase the county’s fantastic produce. Those taking part including sourdough bread specialists Beres Bakes and The Hampshire Brownie Company.

Sian Fisher, events and community manager at Festival Place, said: “We hope this special Jubilee Feast will be an event fit for a queen!.

“Our annual Eat Street festival is one of the highlights of the year, so it seemed right that this year it would become a right royal feast to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

“We look forward to welcoming Phil Vickery and Lesley Waters and seeing them demonstrate their delicious dishes, and our retailers will be bringing out some tasty treats for our visitors to try at a special British high tea table throughout the day.

“It’s the perfect event for the long Jubilee weekend, as there will be plenty for all the family to enjoy – as well as the food and fun Jubilee activities, there will also be the chance to explore our wide range of shops, visit the Vue cinema or experience the fun of Flip Out trampoline park.”

For further information please visit: festivalplace.co.uk.

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