East Midlands Food and Drink Festival

4th-5th October 2008, Brooksby Hall near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire

The regional food and drink festival will spread over 50,000 sq ft of covered marquee space at the site, will feature over 200 exhibitors from around the region, and is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors this year.

Details: www.eastmidlandsfoodfestival.co.uk/

National Chef of the Year Final

6th - 8th October 2008, The Restaurant Show, Earl's Court, London

The World Chocolate Masters

6th October 2008, The Restaurant Show

The World Chocolate Masters is the premier global event for chocolatiers, patissiers and pastry chefs. The search for the worlds greatest exponent of chocolate work begins now with a series of National Selections to be held throughout all corners of the earth and ending with a World final in October 2009. The theme of this years competition is 'Haute Couture', and the winner will go on to represent the UK in the World Finals which are being held in Paris in 2009.

Details: www.worldchocolatemasters.com/en/159

Knorr National Chef of the Year 2008

7th October 2008, Earls Court, London

The unmissable final of the biennial Knorr National Chef of the Year competition will see eight finalists vie for the title and the £10,000 prize.

Details: www.unileverfoodsolutions.com

Compass Junior and Senior Chef of the Year

8th October 2008, Earls Court, London

This highly contested event for junior and senior chefs will showcase the depth of culinary talent within the Compass Group.

Details: www.compass-group.co.uk

Apple Weekend

11-12 October 2008, Waterperry Gardens, Thames Valley

Celebrate the new season with Waterperry’s Apple Weekend. See and taste up to 50 different apple varieties and get your mystery apple crops identified by our experts. There’ll also be tours of the orchards, a country crafts and food fair in the plant centre, special apple-themed meals in the Pear Tree Teashop and information and advice about growing fruit in your garden. Booking required for Teashop meals, by calling 01844 338087.

Details: www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

RIPH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety

13 – 17 October 2008, Broughton Hall Business Park, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 3AE

Advanced food safety course aimed at managers in catering or food manufacturing. An in-depth course for those already qualified to Level 3.

Details: www.vwa.co.uk

NZ-UK Culinary Challenge: Deadline for entries

15th October 2008

These papers should be posted to Craft Guild of Chefs/NZ-UK Culinary Challenge, Meadow Court, Faygate Lane, Faygate, West Sussex RH12 4SJ or emailed to elaine@mcculloughmoore.co.uk

Details: www.craftguildofchefs.org/competition-ar…

Food & Wine Pairing With Adrian Garforth

16th October 2008, The Green Door Bar & Grill, London

Over the course of this gourmand’s delight, Green Door will be pairing six mouth-watering dishes with half a dozen of the world’s finest wines.

Details: www.greendoorsteakhouse.co.uk

Llangollen Food Festival

18th-19th October 2008, Royal International Pavilion, Llangollen, North Wales

Take a master class in preparing oysters or taste local sausages. For those with a sweet tooth, local chef Dai Davies will be preparing desserts, or you can try making a chocolate sculpture.

Details: www.llangollenfoodfestival.co.uk

Tim How's

20th October 2008, Vintners’ Hall in London

Tim How, the retiring CEO of Majestic Wine Warehouses and recently named "Man of the Year" (Drinks Business Awards 2008) will take to the stage on Monday 20th October at the 13th Vintners’ Company WSET Annual Lecture to impart some of his retailing wisdom. How’s lecture, entitled "Twenty years at the sharp end of the industry...what’s in-store for the next twenty?" is taking place at the Vintners’ Hall in London at 6.30pm and will be followed by supper. This event is by invitation only, though should you wish to attend this inspirational, not-to-be missed evening, please contact Elizabeth O’Callaghan at the WSET eocallaghan@wset.co.uk

British Game Dinner

22nd october 2008, Cafe Spice Namaste

Chef Cyrus Todiwala M.B.E. presents a four course dinner featuring the best of British Game at Cafe Spice Namste.

Details: www.cafespice.co.uk

Mutton Master Class

24th October 2008, Cafe Spice Namaste

Cyrus and Mey Selections host a Mutton Master Class at Cafe Spice Namaste showcasing one of the world's rarest meats.

Details: www.events.springboarduk.net/masterclass

The NW Fine Food Lovers Festival

25th-26th October 2008, Tatton Park

More than 100 hundred producers of fine food exhibiting the likes of Cheshire Cheese, Christmas puddings, exotic mushrooms, Eccles cakes, sausages and even a Sarsaparilla bar to tempt you. 10am -5pm; admission £5.50.

Details: www.foodloverfestivals.co.uk

The New Forest Food Festival

25th October- 1st November 2008, New Forest

Saturday October 25th is the first day of The New Forest Food Festival, a week-long food extravaganza celebrating the many gastronomic delights to be found in the New Forest. Hospitality businesses in the entire New Forest area will focus on food and either be linked to or involved with the local food industry: growers and producers to shops and hotels - everyone is involved.

Details: www.newforestfoodfest.co.uk

Borough Market Celebrates Apple Day

26th October 2008, Borough Market, London

Borough Market, the Lions part theatre company and Southwark Cathedral are uniting this year to celebrate Apple Day on Sunday 26th October 2008. There will be a huge array of autumn produce at Borough Market's celebration of Apple Day: Cheeses, Meats, Breads, irresistible Cakes and Pies, Cider, Calvados, Apple Juice... mountains of apples of every imaginable variety and many more autumnal treats. Traders will be at Borough Market from 11.00am to 5.00pm. The Market will be full of music and festivities celebrating apples and autumn throughout the day.

Details: www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Combined Services Culinary Challenge

28-30 October 2008, Sandown Park

Combined Services Culinary Challenge (CSCC) aims to provide caterers, chefs and stewards with a competition that further develops their culinary skills, nurtures pride in professional achievement and builds team spirit for the benefit of the Armed Forces as a whole.

Details: www.dewberryredpoint.co.uk/dr/html/confe…

Welsh Farmer's Search

Competition open until 10th November 2008, Wales

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has announced a nationwide search for the face of Welsh Lamb. HCC is inviting farmers from all over Wales to enter the competition, the winner will be selected according to his or her knowledge of and passion for Welsh Lamb! Farmers can enter the competition, on the Welsh Lamb website

Details: www.eatwelshlamb.com