Ryan Riley, founder of Sunderland’s Life Kitchen, and Masterchef finalist Pookie Tredell were among the celebrity chefs showing off their skills in a series of demonstrations for crowds.
Organisers have predicted more than 10,000 people will have visited the two-day event by the time it wraps up on Sunday (August 7).
Check out our photos from the festival’s first day at the coast – see if you can spot anyone you recognise!
![Rikky Henderson, from Chester-le-Street, feeds his son, 15-month-old Theo, some mac and cheese.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjI0YzU2YTJiLTkyZDQtNDI2Zi1hOTQ2LWMzYTZjMTJjNmNiNTo1ZmJlMzUzOC1lZTc2LTQ0ZTMtODkzMC0yMDJkMjVhZTFlNzA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Tucking in
Rikky Henderson, from Chester-le-Street, feeds his son, 15-month-old Theo, some mac and cheese. Photo: IAN McCLELLAND
![Organisers expected numbers of visitors to pass 10,000 over the two-day event.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjRhMDcxZjk5LTFhNzctNDM3Yy1hNTYzLTlkNzg0NTkzOTIxZDo0ZDc3ZWQ3NS02NzFkLTRkZmEtOTJlYS1lMGE4NDg2YzhhMDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Crowd control
Organisers expected numbers of visitors to pass 10,000 over the two-day event. Photo: IAN McCLELLAND
![Helen and Paul Wellburn from Consett enjoyed fish and chips in the sunshine.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjIwNjVjNTA4LThlM2YtNDIyMC1iOGYxLTFkMTUyZDJmMmJiMTpjNDZmZjExYi0xZGVjLTQ0MTItOTBjNi02OGIzMGEyOGM5NTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Cod wars
Helen and Paul Wellburn from Consett enjoyed fish and chips in the sunshine. Photo: IAN McCLELLAND
![Tim Bray with sons Jacob and James, from Darlington, enjoyed the fine ales on sale.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQyNmU3ZDljLWEyN2EtNDdlMS05ODQ4LWJjYTE1NjAxM2NmODpkMzg5ZDcyMi03MzY5LTQyMGItYjM2MC0xNGY3ZmQ3NjM3N2Q=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Cheers
Tim Bray with sons Jacob and James, from Darlington, enjoyed the fine ales on sale. Photo: IAN McCLELLAND