INTERACTIVE culinary experiences were on the main menu at a food and drink festival in Clumber Park.
Kids were invited to learn the art of pizza, bread, ice cream and butter making while celebrity chefs gave a show on how to cook classy for cheap.
The Great Taste Festival, which attracted thousands of guests to the county from far and wide, had hundreds of stalls and a baking competition, all accompanied by a stream of live music throughout Saturday, with more to follow tomorrow.
Zebra, kangaroo and buffalo pies were on sale, with exotic cheeses, award winning oils and cakes of plentiful flavours and colours among the products available.
Jessica Vernon, 8, and her brother Alex, 4, had a go at creating their very own pizzas from scratch.
Jessica, who likes a cheese and sweetcorn topping, said: "I like to cook at home and it's really fun to make pizza. I like trying new foods, and have had some nice sausages today."
Alex topped his pizza with peppers and pepperoni.
Mum Louise said the family, from Mansfield Woodhouse, were enjoying the day.
"It's a lovely event and somewhere nice to bring the kids for a day out," she said.
Meanwhile in the cookery theatre, Michelin-starred celebrity chef John Burton-Race was giving guests a taste of his cooking, as he prepared a cheap yet gourmet three-course meal.
The Masterchef and Great British Menu star said: "It's about being flash with food but we have all got a house to run and other bills to pay.
"So I've had a play around and made some tasty and arty dishes without the expense. I know I can be a poncy chef but i can cook simple food, which can be brilliant if done well."
He made a lamb dish with seasonal herbs followed by a lemon dosset with blackberry compote, made with fruit donated by the National Trust, who run Clumber Park.
Among the food exhibitors were Newark-based cafe Gannets, who have recently expanded into the private catering business.
They were selling their famous carrot cake and some flavoured meringues - with pistachio a favourite with shoppers on the day.
"It's something a bit different," said owner Kate Stevens, 47.
"People seem to like our stall and it's a great place to come for a show like this - it gives lots of local independent businesses a platform."
Borderfields Rapeseed Oil was also selling like hot cakes.
The UK's biggest rapeseed oil firm, based in Bilsthorpe, are growing rapidly as an alternative oil, and had new oils with garlic, basil and chili infusions on sale.
Director Philip Lilley enthused: "It's something you can grow round the corner, so there's no need to import from the Mediterranean.
"One seed can grow a five-foot-tall plant, which I think is incredible."
Bev Channell, the festival's event director, added: "We wanted to create an event like this in Nottingham so that people can understand where their food comes from. It's not just a show, it's interactive.
"I have an 11-year-old daughter and for her to have an understanding of food is important to me so that's why I wanted to create the event."
