FORMER BBC Fusion celebrity chef Aazam Ahmad took time out of the hectic Nantwich Food and Drink Festival build up to show South Cheshire youngsters how to cook some of his favourite dishes on Thursday.

Aazam, a famous face on Manchester's renowned Curry Mile at Rusholme, talked to members of the Disorder Youth Club at Acton Church about food preparation and gave hints and tips on cooking some of his original recipes.

Known as the Indian Food Guru, the 37-year-old is a regular guest on ITV's Grub's Up and is an instantly recognisable voice as one of the region's leading authorities on Asian cuisine.

He said: 'The group seemed very interested in food and one of them in particular said he wanted to be a chef when he grew up. He was very interested in what I was doing.

'I made chicken with basmati rice in a glass pan so they could see the process of how it cooks. I also showed them how I make swordfish with mango and paw paw fruits, salmon and vegetable pakoras and strawberry gateaux.'

Youth worker Sarah Newcombe said: 'Aazam was fantastic and we all thor-oughly enjoyed it, including the church vicar and his wife, who seemed very impressed with the food. We would definitely love to have him back.' Aazam specialises in English and French cuisine and takes inspiration from his Indian parents for the Asian styles in his cooking.

He is a great supporter of the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival and has been involved with it for the past five years, rating it as one of the country's better food and drink exhibitions.

He added: 'The festival seems to get better every year and much credit must go to Philip Riding who puts a lot of work into organising it. It is really establishing its name on the food circuit now.

'I got a superb response over the weekend and I thoroughly enjoy it.'