Narberth hosted its now famous food festival at the weekend, bringing thousands of food-lovers to the town for tasty treats, an impressive line-up of international culinary talent, over 50 specialist food stalls and a variety of street-entertainment. From Italy came world-renowned chef Mino Maggi, a favourite of Rick Stein's, who runs a cookery school and hotel with his Pembrokeshire-born wife Carole. The couple wowed large audiences with a delightful mix of traditional dishes using ingredients from the Puglia region. Welsh television's favourite chef, Dudley Newbery, was cooking Italian food too - using Welsh produce - having just returned from filming in Italy. Top Welsh chef Gareth Johns, of the Wynnstay Arms, Machynlleth, created some fine Welsh dishes using local produce. "Feedback from stallholders has been very encouraging," said festival treasurer, Peter Preece. "We extended the festival this year and many stall- holders commented on the friendly atmosphere and  family focus of the festival. We put in extra cover to cope with the inclement weather and business was brisk throughout the weekend." An estimated 5,500 braved autumnal weather conditions to attend the festival, which was held on the Town Moor under a large marquee and extended into Narberth School. A singing nun (on a motorised piano), blues band, an array of singing chefs, and two exotic Punjabi stilt-walkers kept visitors entertained throughout the weekend. Local chefs John Rowlands from the Harbourmaster Restaurant, Milford Haven, and  Rob Schoppe, of Ultracomida, cooked up some fresh dishes for their packed audiences in the food theatre. Now in its 10th year, the festival organisers also put on a special food education day for local schools prior to the main festival where youngsters from three local schools had the opportunity to learn about local produce and the miles some foodstuffs travel from the farm to the plate to help inform them about their own food choices. They then had lots of fun making their own pasta, bread and sausages and also tried adding fresh fruit to ice-cream, tasting smoked trout and had Malaysian and Chinese dishes cooked freshly by visiting international students from Pembrokeshire College. World-renowned Italian chef Mino Maggi from Puglia taught groups of children how to make a simple pasta and vegetable dish unique to his Italian home, using wholegrain semolina, extra virgin olive oil and water, and freshly-chopped seasonal vegetables, before inviting the children to taste it. "I was really surprised at how many children enjoyed the wholegrain pasta," said Mino's wife, Carole, who is originally from Haverfordwest. "They all enjoyed a little taste of Italy!" The education day brought together local businesses, food education experts, local cooks, catering students and over a hundred school children for an action-packed day of cookery workshops aimed at putting fun back into food education and cooking. "We want children to be excited and stimulated by food as well as learning about healthy eating and the education day is proving a popular event," said  festival chairman, Jacqui Palit. "It was gratifying to see the children working with the professionals and particularly their openness to trying different food stuffs." Sponsors are being sought for the 2008 food festival. Anyone interested in becoming involved is invited to contact the committee via the festival website http://www.narberthfoodfestival.co.uk ">www.narberthfoodfestival.co.uk ;