Celebrating our famous tasty rhubarb

It is a vegetable most famous for its use in crumbles and pies.
Newspaper: Express series.
Story: Official launch of the 10th annual food, drink & rhubarb festival in Wakefield.
Ruby Rhubarb with Wakefield Girls School & QEGS (Juniors) pupils (L to R) Ehteshaam Ahmed, Ewan Walsh,  Abbi Riddiogh and Arianna Pascale.
Photo date: 25/01/16
Picture Ref: AB028c0116Newspaper: Express series.
Story: Official launch of the 10th annual food, drink & rhubarb festival in Wakefield.
Ruby Rhubarb with Wakefield Girls School & QEGS (Juniors) pupils (L to R) Ehteshaam Ahmed, Ewan Walsh,  Abbi Riddiogh and Arianna Pascale.
Photo date: 25/01/16
Picture Ref: AB028c0116
Newspaper: Express series. Story: Official launch of the 10th annual food, drink & rhubarb festival in Wakefield. Ruby Rhubarb with Wakefield Girls School & QEGS (Juniors) pupils (L to R) Ehteshaam Ahmed, Ewan Walsh, Abbi Riddiogh and Arianna Pascale. Photo date: 25/01/16 Picture Ref: AB028c0116

But rhubarb grown here has been used in sweet and savoury dishes all over the world for more than a century.

The county once produced 90 per cent of the world’s winter forced crops from sheds in Morley, Wakefield and Rothwell.

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And for the past ten years, the area’s internationally-renowned rhubarb heritage has been celebrated in an annual food and drink festival.

The festival returns to the city centre from February 19 to February 21, and organisers promise it will be the biggest yet.

Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “Excitement is already building as work is going on behind the scenes to make this the biggest and best year yet.

“This year’s festival has even more tasty treats and entertainment planned than ever before and we are delighted to announce our new ‘Family Zone’ on Brook Street. There really is something for all the family to enjoy.”

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The weekend will showcase some of the region’s tastiest rhubarb recipes and most talented chefs, with cookery demonstrations, street foods, walks and tours and a Yorkshire market. There will also be family craft workshops, cookery master-classes, ‘grow your own’ workshops, face painting and circus skills.

More details can be found at www.wakefield.gov.uk/rhubarbfest, by following @MyWakefield on Twitter, or by liking ‘Food, Drink and Rhubarb Festival’ on Facebook.