ANYONE with eyes bigger than their belly can feast both in Gwent this weekend at the sixth Abergavenny Food Festival

Wales' most successful food festival is a chance for foodies to admire the work of old masters while catching up with the young Turks.

As festival director Martin Orbach said: "We are privileged once more to share the company of some of the most celebrated and articulate names in the culinary world, who join us to share their skill, passion and knowledge."

The Market Hall is the hub of the weekend's activities, which will stretch across Cross Street, Neville Street, and the hall's rear car park.

It houses the demonstration kitchen in which chefs including James Sommerin, Domenico Scarpetta, Ian Jackson, Stephen Terry and many more will be showing their skills.

The castle offers a chance to relax and find out more about coffee, beers, lamb and cheeses, or to taste fine foods.

And there are special talks throughout the weekend at the Borough Theatre, the Angel Hotel, the Melville Theatre and a host of other venues.

Local legend Franco Taruschio, the original chef at The Walnut Tree, holds a masterclass in Italian cooking, and London restaurant luminary Mark Hix explains why he's wild about wild mushrooms.

For the sweeter tooth, ice-cream enthusiast Robin Weir talks about how his speciality was made 400 years ago, and chocolate evangelist Sara Jayne-Stanes waxes lyrical about Britain's favourite treat.

One of the biggest - and longest - names in food, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, delivers his Meat Manifesto in the Borough Theatre on Sunday at noon, and also takes part in the Raw exhibition of photographs from his River Cottage Meat book.

There are also appearances from restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Antarctic chef Gerard Baker, Aga expert Amy Willcocks, Francophile John Burton Race, cartoonist and rock guitarist Peter Belgvad, and many more.

Call 01873 850805.