Tickets up for grabs for Taste of Birmingham

Over 15 restaurants including la Beccase, Purnells, The Oriental and Filini will be offering worldwide cuisine from around the region meanwhile local producers including Flights Orchard Organic in Herefordshire, Freedom Beer in Staffordshire and Fudge Heaven in Worcestershire will be pitching their ideas and what they have to offer at the show. Neil Rami, chief executive at Marketing Birmingham, commented on the event: "Following Birmingham's recent success in the Michelin guide, we feel it is important to build on what the city's good at. We are working closely with restaurants and chefs in the city and throughout the Midlands to ensure Taste of Birmingham showcases the region's growing culinary offer." Michelin starred chef Glynn Purnell, star of BBC's Great British Menu and owner of Purnells restaurant said: "As a proud Brummie, I think it's vital that a food festival in Birmingham properly reflects the cuisine of the city and wider region. Marketing Birmingham has listened to what people want and will deliver. "The city and Midlands as a whole is now a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cooking. You don't have to look far to find great food and drink locally, and there is a real demand for it." Louise Pickford from Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF) added: "As the regional food group, Heart of England Fine Foods is delighted to be involved with Taste of Birmingham to give visitors a real flavour of the excellent produce from Birmingham and the surrounding Shire counties. We will showcase quality local food cooked by some of the region's best chefs." Tickets can be purchased online at www.visitbirmingham.com and in Birmingham's Tourism Centres at the Rotunda and New Street. Standard tickets are £10 in advance, £12 on the day. All children under 16 years have free entry.