The North's only representative in the search for The Restaurants Association of Ireland's Foodie Destination of the Year received a massive shot in the arm recently with ringing endorsements from a multi award winning Michelin starred chef and a Coronation Street favourite.

FAMILY and friends celebrated the eventful life of TV chef Keith Floyd at a humanist funeral yesterday, but his celebrity peers were notable by their absence.

Ten aspiring chefs are preparing to battle it out in the kitchen as the new series of Hell’s Kitchen gets under way tonight.

Marco Pierre White led a group of celebrity chefs today in forming a new venture to supply their branded products to supermarkets.