THE finest chefs in the county showed off Lancashire’s rich culinary heritage at a showpiece event in London.

The group included Lisa Allen, head chef of Michelin-starred Northcote, Stosie Madi from Parker’s Arms and Steven Smith from the Freemasons at Wiswell.

They prepared a five-course feast for top food writers, critics and industry insiders at the exclusive Ice Tank venue in Covent Garden.

The event, which was supported by Lancashire County Council and Virgin Trains, is part of the county’s Lancashire Day celebrations that will culminate on Sunday, November 27.

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Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “Lancashire is now at the forefront of culinary destinations nationwide. The aim of this event was to put our food and drink on the map.

“We’re so very confident, we invited leading food writers and influencers to taste the very best of our region and help spread the word about our world class food and drink.”

Food and drink is worth around £734million to Lancashire’s visitor economy, which has grown by £129m over the last six years.

The menu featured a wealth of Lancastrian producers from traditional Morecambe Bay shrimps and Lytham cockles, Goosnargh duck, artisan goat’s cheese from Capra Products, Ormskirk potatoes, salt marsh lamb from Cockerham, Brockhall Village apples, honey from Crossmoor Farm, raw milk butter from Gazegill Organics and Burnley’s latest artisan gin distiller, Batch Brew.

Burnley-based CoolKit Ltd provided refrigerated transport to ensure all the ingredients arrived in top condition.

The unique meal included a gourmet coffee course from Lancaster’s oldest and most admired coffee importers Atkinson’s. The feast ended with a Lancashire cheese board supplied by Dewlay and Mrs Kirkham’s.