Famous Italian Celeb name for Malton Weaner

It was love at first sight when Antonio Carluccio paid a visit to the food loving town of Malton, North Yorkshire and discovered a rare breed piglet, destined for stardom.

The legendary Italian cook and champion of authentic regional food came to share his passion with some of the stallholders taking part in the town’s first Food Lovers indoor Market on 5 November. These included Lucy and James Haxton who have run their own rare breed pig farm, Yorkshire Meats, in nearby Habton for the past 11 years. On the farm Antonio had no hesitation is selecting his favourite piglet, naming her Sophia Loren after the famous Italian film star.

Like her seductive name sake, the eight week old Oxford Sandy and Black piglet was dubbed a beauty by Antonio, and named in honour of his Italian roots.

“I thought she looked beautiful and warm, just like Sophia, so that is her name now,” said Antonio.

The godfather of Italian gastronomy was a guest of the We Love Malton marketing team and also visited some of the traditional, independent fresh food shops, delis, restaurants and pubs located in and around Malton’s historic Market Place

He was also presented with a seasonal Food Lovers Cake by Councillor Jason Fitzgerald-Smith, the Mayor of Malton, specially created by Sophie Legard, Director of the award winning Malton Relish Deli.

Antonio says: “I am really impressed by the passion for the local food culture in Malton and the work that is going on to promote regional produce here. The annual Malton Food Lovers Festival that attracts some 10,000 people is a tremendous achievement and I wanted to add my support for the first new indoor food market here which will give a year round boost for the producers that contribute so much to keeping the local food culture alive.”

The Malton Food Lovers Market will feature specially invited producers and offer an array of superb festive treats to try and buy. A series of Meet the Producer talks take place throughout the day in the Tasting Studio. There’s also a chance to meet Stephanie Moon, star of BBC2’s Great British Menu. Rare breed meats, hams, honeys chutneys, fruits and vegetables, baked goods and much more will all be on show on November 5 in the Milton Rooms in the town, from 9am-2pm.

The Malton Food Lovers Market and Festivals are organised by the Malton Amenity CIC, a Community Interest Company. Its principal sponsors are Fitzwilliam Malton Estate and the Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust.

For more information visit: www.welovemalton.co.uk

• Malton Amenity CIC is a Community Interest Company established for the benefit of the community in Malton, Norton and the surrounding area. The CIC provides free parking in Malton town centre as well as organising the highly successful Malton Food Lovers Festival and the new Malton Food Lovers Market.
• Fitzwilliam Malton Estate supports a wide number of business initiatives and community activities and has done so for many years. The Estate also provides, at a nominal or nil rent, community facilities such as the Milton Rooms, public parks, allotments, canoe club boathouse, fishing and music rehearsal spaces.
• Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust makes grants to a variety of community organisations and local charities.