Exeter based company LittlePod are hosting a unique event at Bickleigh Castle on October 17th and 18th, to celebrate the first ever National Real Vanilla day.

As well as having the chance to meet top chefs and celebrities the weekend offers a range of distinctive and fun activities including tea tasting, book signings, cookery demos and evening dinners with guest speakers.

Guests who will be doing demos and workshops over the weekend include the Vanilla Queen, Patricia Rain (who will be coming from California to open the event), the Exploding Bakery bakers (Exeter based Bakery), Charlotte White (the burlesque baker of Restoration Cakes), Emma Ring (Of Hills and Parks Delicatessen) and Frances Cooley (of Clifton Cakes, Bristol).

Various chefs such as Stephane Delorme (Executive chef of Rick Stein’s restaurant in Padstow), Manju Mahli (TV chef), Steve Ashworth (South West Chef of the year) and Dave Buchanan (chef to the rich and famous) will also be showing how to use vanilla in variety of dishes.

The event is very much a family orientated event with The Fun Kitchen offering children’s cookery classes on the Saturday, with each child receiving a free vanilla pod. There is also a LittlePod Bake Off where entrants can bring in a cake and be in with the chance of winning a hamper worth £100.

To stay at the castle for the weekend there is a special price of £175 which will get you B&B, two lunches and two three course dinners. Day tickets are also available from £25. Children attend the event for free. Dinners are also being held each evening with exclusive talks from Dr Vik Mohan of Blue Ventures and Dr Made Setiawan (Vanilla Farmer).

There are limited tickets for this event so please book early to avoid disappointment.