JAMES Duckett, from The Old Custom House in Barnstaple, goes head to head in a cook off with Mark Dodson, of the Masons Arms at Knowstone, during a food festival this weekend.

The two North Devon chefs will be among familiar TV faces who grace the stage at the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink.

The festival features a Cookery Theatre equipped with two cooking areas allowing a couple of chefs to work at the same time, each preparing a separate two course meal. This head-to-head format injects a bit of fun into the festival as the chefs 'compete' to demonstrate their skills while inspiring onlookers with their passion for cooking, love of fresh South CounWest produce and enjoyment of good food cooked well.

Mark Dodson of the Masons Arms at Knowstone is something of a celebrity having secured a Michelin Star for his cooking at the Masons Arms and having previously presided over the kitchen at Michel Roux's famous three starred restaurant, The Waterside Inn at Bray.

James Duckett, meanwhile, started his career as a junior chef at a small Michelin starred restaurant near Bordeaux. He then moved to work under the legendary Albert Roux and later, Michel Roux at the two Michelin star Le Gavroche. James Duckett At The Old Custom House was named Best Restaurant in the 2009 North Devon Food and Drink Awards.

You can see James and Mark together with Michael Caines, who precedes them on stage with his own cookery demonstration on Saturday morning (April 10).

Michael will get the festival underway at 10am and will stay on stage to engage in some friendly banter with James and Mark as they come under the spotlight at 10.30am.

If you fancy a foodie day out you can get the Tarka line train from Barnstaple. (There's a train due to depart from Barnstaple at 08:43am arriving in Exeter just in time to get to the Castle courtyard to see Michael Caines and then James and Mark).

Tickets for the festival are £6 for a day ticket and they may be bought at the festival site on the day or in advance by calling the ticket hotline on 01392 667080 or online (see the Festival website www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk).

● North Devon products also feature at the festival including Chiman's Authentic India Spice Blend; Higher Hacknell Organic Meat; and real ales from Clearwater Brewery.

The festival runs from Friday, April 9 to Sunday, April 11 providing foodies with three sumptuous days of all that is delicious about the South West.