Chris Eden, proudly known as being the first Cornishman to receive a Michelin star for a restaurant in Cornwall, will officially launch the 19th Falmouth Oyster Festival next month.

Opening the festival at 11am on Thursday 8th October, Chris Eden will demonstrate his award winning culinary skills using Falmouth dredged oysters and the day’s catch. Annie Sibert, ‘My Fish Kitchen’, will accompany him on stage for what promises to be a Cornish culinary delight.

Cornish born, Chris Eden’s passion for food and wanting to be a chef started at the tender age of 11 years, cooking with his mum. He trained at St Austell Catering College and after gaining experience in London; he returned to Cornwall and joined The Driftwood Hotel in Portscatho as Head Chef, where he has been for the past 8 years; achieving 3 AA Rosettes and his first Michelin Star in 2012. Chris also represented the southwest and its produce on the BBC’s Great British Menu in 2013, raising funds for Comic Relief.

Chris has a produce-led ethos; his food is seasonally focused and he is obsessive about sourcing the best produce that Cornwall has to offer, working with suppliers to ensure only the finest quality ingredients make it on to the plate.

"I’ve always gone to the Oyster Festival over the years but last year I became part of it by doing a demo and now I love it even more... I feel very honored to be doing the opening slot with Annie this year… I can’t wait,” said Chris.

Annie Sibert set up her cookery school, My Fish Kitchen, in 2008 sharing her knowledge and enjoyment of Cornish fish. Annie has a stand at the festival and would be delighted to answer any fish questions you may have, or you can also listen to Annie on BBC Radio Cornwall with Duncan Warren on a Sunday morning, each month.

More than 40,000 visitors are expected over the four-day festival, which runs from October 8–11. Further daily cookery demonstrations are held during the festival by top chefs and food experts from Cornwall’s hotels and restaurants, inspiring visitors to try their hand at unusual and exciting seafood combinations and indulge in the tastes of native oysters, wines, ales and local produce.