IT'S your big chance to ask Great British Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain what she thinks of the show going to Channel 4. Or you could be cooler than that and ask her about her recent forays in Bangladesh in The Chronicles of Nadiya.
 
How about, instead, you shut your cakehole and enjoy the picturesque surroundings of Sefton Park as she holds court on the subject of Bath buns?
 
Nadiya may have baked the cake for the Queen on her big 9-0, but now she has really arrived: she's only the Saturday star attraction at this weekend's Liverpool Food & Drink Festival.
 
Maybe the winner of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here is more your thing. Then save yoursef for Sunday when best selling author and chef Gino D’Acampo will be hosting cookery demonstrations and face a grilling, in the figurative sense, from comedian Johnny Bongo.
 
Now in its ninth year, the LF&DF drew more than 45,000 visitors in 2015.  
 
Gino DAcampoGino D'Acampo
This year festival-goers will enjoy a new event format, say organisers, with the site divided into a series of defined zones, grouping together producers, brands and food genres that complement each other, such as bangers and craft beers, as well as stand-alone favourites including street food, chocolate and spirits.
 
But there are all the usual highlights too, such as Queuing For An Ostrich Burger and, in market area, buying one of those mysterious rubber shealths for skinning garlic, which you will never once use, and exchanging ribald innuendos with Barry from Shaw Meats.
 
A creatureA creature
Soon to open on Castle Street, Izakaya will be hosting the pop-up restaurant this year, setting up fully functioning dining room complete with waiting on staff, within a marquee.
 
A cocktail competition will see bartenders from across the city going head to head to create unique cocktails using Matugga Rum as the key ingredient. Competing bars confirmed for the competition include include Red Door, Salt
Dog Slims, The Alchemist, 23 Fleet Street, Smugglers Cove, Moloko, Sound Food and Drink, Some Place and Brass Monkey. 
 
More than 60 of Liverpool's bars and restaurants will be firing up the butane gas bottles to create one of the liveliest and largest food courts in the North, including Almost Famous, Chicha - Peruvian Steet Kitchen, Tavern Co. and The Chancery Restaurant, Bar and Deli which opens in October. 
 
In the Spirit Theatre visitors can learn about the long and fascinating history of gin, bourbon, vodka and rum, with masterclasses hosted by Snow Queen Vodka, Slingsby and Pinkster Gin, Bourbon Bro’s and Matugga Rum.
 
 
Additional zones will include a Kids Village where junior foodies will have a range of activities to keep them entertained, from arts and crafts to food-based fun. The Market is one of the most popular areas of the festival - in its avenues visitors can buy ingredients including fresh produce, as well as books and kitchen gadgets.  
 
Jonny Bongo said: “I’m a huge fan of the food and drink festival. We’ve previously ran a Pub Quiz in Sefton Park during festival weekend, and it was great to be invited back this year to interview Gino.

He’s a bit of a legend isn’t he - I love him on Celebrity Juice. I’m still working out what questions I’m going to be asking him, but I’m certain it’s going to be loads of fun!”

 
*Liverpool Food & Drink Festival,  Saturday/Sunday September 17/18. 10.30am- 7pm, Saturday and 10.30am - 5.30pm Sunday. Advanced Adult Day Pass £6.00 (£7.50 on the day)
Adult Weekend Pass £10 (£12 on the day). Children Under 14 – FREE
 
For further information and tickets visit www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk