MARINATED cucumber, carpaccio of watermelon and one day old curd will form part of an elegant menu for the opening event of this year’s Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

Celebrity chefs including Michael Caines, Andrew Nutter and Bolton’s own Paul Heathcote have put together the menu for a special gala dinner — which will be held in the Celebrity Chef Marquee on Friday August 28.

Two hundred lucky guests will get the chance to enjoy the five-course meal from the-Michelin starred chefs in the heart of the town centre.

The marquee will see the tent transformed into a sophisticated venue in which the chefs will present their unique menu.

To start, food fans will be offered carpaccio of watermelon with honeydew ‘caviar’ and heritage tomato consommé, courtesy of chefs at The Whites Hotel.

The fish course will follow, with Michael Caines and cooks from George’s Worsley serving up smoked salmon mousse, marinated cucumber and honey soy vinaigrette.

For mains, lucky guests will enjoy a cannon on Penny’s lamb on a bed of wilted kalte, carrot puree and lambo roll — lovingly crafted by Russell Brown and the team at the Worsley Marriot.

Before dessert will come a cheese course, created by Mike Harrison and former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson which includes grilled baby courgette with one day old curd, peach and salt and pepper roasted nuts.

To finish it all off, the flamboyant Andrew Nutter will be presenting a birthday dessert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival.

Chef star Michael Caines said he WAS particularly excited about the gala dinner aspect of this year’s festival.

He said: “What is really exciting about this year is that I get to create a course for the gala dinner on the Friday night along with a number of other chefs.

“I am going to be doing a cold fish starter which will be a salmon mousse with honey soy.

“I’m really looking forward to opening up the show and doing the demonstrations as always. Having done it a few times before and knowing what fun it is I can’t wait to return.”

Tickets for the gala dinner are priced at £60 and available from boltonfoodandrinkfestival.com, or via Bolton Octagon Theatre on 01204 520661.

The box office is open 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday.