THE second St Albans Food and Drink Festival is set for a spectacular conclusion this weekend. A glittering gala dinner and awards ceremony takes place at Sopwell House on Friday night, featuring a five course banquet created exclusively for the event. Af

THE second St Albans Food and Drink Festival is set for a spectacular conclusion this weekend.

A glittering gala dinner and awards ceremony takes place at Sopwell House on Friday night, featuring a five course banquet created exclusively for the event.

After dinner, guests will have the chance to win a host of fantastic prizes in a special raffle, or bid to snatch a luxury weekend in Tuscany in the auction, before celebrity chef Aldo Zilli presents the first-ever SAFDF Awards.

St Albans residents have been voting in their droves, but the votes have now all been counted and the winners will be revealed and presented with their coveted trophies.

Tickets are still available from the festival box office on 01727 844488/

Over the weekend will be a host of foodie events in St Albans city centre, including a special wine festival in the Town Hall, with nine wine importers each showing around 12 wines. Admission is just �3 for five tasters.

An outdoor street festival provides the perfect end to the celebrations, with chefs and gastronomic talent from across the city bringing a 'Taste of St Albans' to the people with demonstrations and samples all day Sunday.

Highlights include Faisal Maniar from The Albany on George Street demonstrating how to create your own vanilla ice cream with honeycomb; Michelin trained chef Romaine Lacaille, from The Portland Arms, cooking up a chicken supreme stuffed with tapenade, served with roast new potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes; Mokoko head barman Roberto Fiorillo, one of Hertfordshire's most talented

Mixologists, giving a cocktail master class and demonstrating his bar skills; and chef duo Alex Elliot and Nick Smith from The Peahen cooking sea bass and rock samphire served with clams tossed with Spanish chorizo, topped with a white wine foam.

Restaurants and bars from across the city will also be providing tasters, samplers and different takes on their usual menus, and an array of local producers will be selling their wares on St Peter's Street.

For more details on what's happening across St Albans this weekend, visit our website at www.hertsad24.co.uk