‘Hey Rick, would you ever contemplate opening a restaurant here in Henley?’ was a question from a member of the audience in the packed marquee at Phyllis Court on the first day of the Henley Literary Festival. The answer…a resounding YES from the loveable chef who was rewarded with a tumultuous round of cheers!

A very relaxed and chirpy Mr Stein took to the TravelBag Stage, settled into his seat and easily slipped into tales from his new book Rick Stein’s Food Stories: Over 100 New Recipes Inspired by my Travels Around the British Isles and reminiscing on how he came to open his first restaurant which is approaching it’s 50th anniversary after being deemed not fit to run a nightclub by the police.

When asked what some of favourite stories are he said that there are various stories in his book which typifies what he is trying to say such as enjoying Morecambe Bay Potted shrimp and eating kamayan, a communal-style Filipino feast which included pork adobo, from a shipping container on a wet May day in Belfast. The seafood chef also talked about his love of local food provenance, his prep school meals, the importance of the vibrant immigrant cultural culinary influence in the UK, and the journey of the British diner’s more travelled palate and thankfully eating more fish.

The book accompanies a BBC Two TV series of the same name which celebrates his favourite recipes from recent travels around the UK.

And yes Rick, the most important thing is that we’d like to know when you’re opening in Henley!

Signed copies of the book are available from The Bell Bookshop in Bell Street – limited availability.

Where else but in Henley today can you make a Beano comic, learn about mudlarking and hear two experts on women’s health – all before lunch?! Then this afternoon there’s Mick Brown on the West’s relationship with India, Robert Harris on his latest novel, Harriet Walter & Greg Doran on Shakespeare, Gabby Logan on making the most of midlife and Royal expert Robert Hardman in conversation with Katherine Grainger. Then we close day two with Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson in conversation with Bryony Gordon, Anthony Wootton with an inspiring WW2 story, doctors Rachel Clarke & Jim Down, Strictly star Anton du Beke and James Middleton on dogs.

Top image: Scarlet Page/Henley Literary Festival