Stallholder numbers were up on last year with 50 (there were 30 last year) and, by late afternoon, organisers said they were on track for a 10,000-strong crowd – double the number who attended the Bicentennial Park event last year.

A number of stallholders had either sold out of food or come pretty close to it, Taste Tamworth Festival organiser Catherine Burton said.

Ms Burton said Myall Springs Organic Beef and Lamb (Rangari) nearly sold out of sausages, Simply Cupcakes (Tamworth) did sell out and Get Pickled (Tamworth) plus Pat’s Lebanese Catering (Tamworth) both also were close to selling out.

“I think the traders were very happy,” she said.

Both the traders and park visitors were happy with the revised layout which allowed for more shade to be utilised, Ms Burton said.

Master Chef celebrity chef Hayden Quinn, with Ford’s Butchery owner Paul Avery, had a packed tent of people mesmerised as they showed them the best way to cook a steak.

Everywhere you looked, families were either sitting eating or walking around tasting wine or food – and the exotic food smells floating on the breeze were heavenly.

“The Great Bake-Off with the Country Women’s Association had 20 entries,” Ms Burton said.

“It was the inaugural one – for 20 entries that shows people are very interested in cooking from scratch.”

Lyndall Dykes’s one-day cheese-making workshops are happening later this week, on April 11, 12 and 13. To secure your place call 6763 0600. 

The 10-day Tamworth Taste Festival, which kicked off with the sold-out pop-up wine bar on Friday night in the laneway next to Tamworth Memorial Town Hall, also features the Farm Gate Trail, with 20 producers involved.

Tickets to the five-course The Long Lunch on April 13 in Bicentennial Park are still available online, at the 

Tamworth Visitor Information Centre or at the Capitol Theatre.

Go to www.tastetamworth.com.au