CONTINENTAL cuisine is on its way to the Ribble Valley as a seven-day food festival fuses the best of East Lancashire and Portugal.

The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, near Chipping, is inviting guests to sample a taste of Portugal from Monday, May 13, to Sunday, May 19, when Joao Pereira, executive chef of the Hotel do Caramulo, will be joining Gary Buxton, head chef at the Gibbon Bridge Hotel, to exchange tips and ideas.

Festival events will include a Portuguese wine tasting, linking the wines and ports of Portugal with traditional Lancashire cheese and a special Portuguese themed dinner designed by Joao Pereira.

Gary, who has been at the hotel for two years, said he was looking forward to working with his Portuguese counterpart and also to visiting the Hotel do Caramulo in June for a Taste of Lancashire week where he will be creating some typically English dishes relating primarily to Portugal.

The hotel nestles in the Caramulo mountains, overlooking the breathtaking scenery of the Besteiros Valley. Local specialities include salt-cod baked in a traditional maize bread.

Chef Joao highlights several dishes which are typical of the region and served at the hotel. These include veal a dao-lafoes, arroz de pato, a rice dish with roast duck topped with sausages and herbs and polvo a lagareiro, grilled octopus served with small roasted potatoes with onions, topped with olive oil and garlic.

Gibbon Bridge proprietor Janet Simpson, who will also be making the journey to the Hotel do Caramulo, said: "I am looking forward to promoting the Ribble Valley and Lancashire as well in a variety of typically English dishes from a full English breakfast to a bread and butter pudding."

Anyone who would like to sample the delights of the Taste of Portugal festival can contact the Gibbon Bridge Hotel on 01995 61456 for more information.