FOODIES were out in force and licking their lips as one of the biggest events in the culinary calendar kicked off.

Visitors eager to meet an array of celebrity chefs flocked to the BBC Good Food Show which opened at the NEC yesterday.

Glitz, glamour and gadgets were all on the menu after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver formally opened the show. Organisers expect 100,000 visitors to have wandered among countless stalls, tasting everything from cakes, biscuits, spices, cheeses, meats and bread, by the time the show closes on Sunday.

Apart from the food, the biggest draw is expected to be the TV celebrity chefs line-up including Gordon Ramsay, the Hairy Bikers and James Martin.

The star of ITV One’s Hells Kitchen, Marco Pierre White, gave some advice for budding local chefs.

Marco said: “You should always do your best and let’s not forget that a lot of chefs who have got to the top are very fortunate.

“They were given the opportunities at a very young age and not everybody’s given those opportunities in life.

“But always keep your head down, work hard at your job, be respectful and you will get to the top.”

Philip Taylor, of Port of Lancaster Kippers, donned a fisherman’s overalls and brought an authentic cold smoking box for the first time to the show.

Mr Taylor said: “People love to see how kippers are naturally smoked in oak and beech.”

Account worker Alison Grady, aged 40, from Solihull, and her mother Peggy Henry, aged 72, said they were particularly drawn to Mr Taylor’s stall by the smell of succulent kippers.

Ms Grady said: “We come here every year and don’t see much fish but this is a fantastic stand.”

Another stall which had people whipping out their camera phones was Holly Catton of Holly’s Cupcakes.

Ms Catton said: “This is the first time we’ve exhibited here. We are selling everything to decorate cakes to show how good they can look.”