GOURMET or glutton, the next 10 days will have something for you as the 10th Manchester Food And Drink Festival hits town, bigger and better than ever.

A decade on from its small-scale beginnings, the mega eatfest - sponsored by the Co-operative and in association with the M.E.N. - has a 10-day programme in store and its toe in 10 districts, including Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan, making it the biggest event of its kind in Europe.

A packed schedule of cook-offs awaits as well as countless opportunities to meet the chefs, sample the local cuisine and shop for a bargain down at the producers' market.

And there's a positive cornucopia of conferences and art events to complement the cookery, from foodie beauty treatments and pub quizzes to portrait workshops (yes, you will be required to make your face out of half a pound of carrots and some raw sprouts), masquerade balls, book signings and exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum, Manchester Art Gallery and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Around 40 chefs, including Andrew Nutter, Michelin-starred Michael Caines and Nigel Haworth, plus reigning Chef of the Year Eyck Zimmer, will also stop off at the MFDF Taste, Dine and Learn Pavilion in Albert Square to share their cookery know-how and take questions from the audience.

Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson kicks off proceeds at the pavilion at 1pm today with a no-holds barred Q&A session about everything from the smoking ban (he's against) to the cut and thrust of a life in the kitchen.

Demonstrating

This year's theme for the festival is healthy eating, and many of the chefs will be demonstrating what can be achieved using healthy ingredients. Executive director Phil Jones says that the organisers are highlighting it as a particular issue because of the rising rates of obesity and drop in life expectancy.

The festival's campaign, Make Manchester Healthier... One Step at a Time, encourages visitors to make minor changes to their diet and exercise regimes and the festival has a healthy eating plan online.

"We're also continuing to focus on and highlight our other festival themes: Buy Local, Buy Regional, Fairtrade, supporting skills and training, and Fresh from the Ground,'' says Phil.

"The focal point for the festival this year will be Albert Square and the MFDF Taste, Dine and Learn Pavilion promises to be our most exciting outdoor event yet.

"On St Ann's Square, a local producers market will transform the area into a hive of ever changing activity. There's never really been a better excuse to schlurp and scoff your way through 10 fabulous days."

Click on the links to the right for more information and previews of the fest. For a full programme, visit foodanddrinkfestival.com.

YOU can watch a video report of Oldham's entry to Channel M Breakfast's very own version of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival above.