THE inaugural Great Cornish Seafood Weekend will take place on October 26 and 27 at the Great Cornish Food Store in Truro.

A celebration of seafood, Cornwall’s fishing industry and all those who work in it, the two-day event will feature live demonstrations, talks, tasting stations, a seafood bar, sea shanties and a host of children's activities.

Guest chefs include Pete Murt, head chef at Rick Stein’s flagship The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Pete’s seafood journey began in 2000, when he became a kitchen porter at Rick Stein’s St Petroc’s Bistro at the age of 16. After travelling in East Asia, Pete returned to Padstow to become only the fourth head chef in The Seafood Restaurant’s 40-year history.

Also on the line-up is Stephane Delourme, former head chef and group chef at Rick Stein Restaurants, who will demonstrate the art of shucking and cooking oysters using different flavours; acclaimed fishmonger Annie Seabourne of My Fish Kitchen, showing how to cook, pick and eat crab; and Jeffrey Robinson, one of the first chefs in the world to receive a Green Michelin Star, who is opening a cookery school in his hometown of St Ives.

The Great Cornish Seafood Weekend is a collaboration between the Great Cornish Food Store and the Cornish Fish Producers’ Association (CFPO), which represents more than 160 member vessels.

CFPO chief executive Chris Ranford is among the weekend’s speakers and will focus his session on the fishing industry’s vital economic role, which employs around 8,000 people west of the River Tamar and landing more than 50 different species of fish every year.

“The Great Cornish Seafood Weekend is a great opportunity to celebrate how crucial the seafood sector is to our economy and how we are home to one of the most diverse, sustainable fleets in Europe,” said Chris.

Ruth Huxley, director of the Great Cornish Food Store, added: “We want to shine a light on our brilliant fishing industry, the lifeblood of so many of our coastal communities. When we asked people what food they most associated with Cornwall, more stated seafood rather than any other type of food.

“We are really looking forward to showcasing the huge variety available from our waters, and encouraging people to explore lesser-known species and different ways of using them.”

Cornwall Wildlife Trust will also be in attendance to promote its Good Seafood Guide, the go-to for advice on sustainable fish choice; while Falmouth singer-songwriter Toby Webb and fiddle and double bass duo Months Advance will entertain visitors with folk music and sea shanties.

The store’s outside space will be transformed into a children’s play area, with mobile rock pooling and fishy face painting.

For further information and to book chef demo tickets, visit www.greatcornishfood.co.uk