THOUSANDS of foodies will be flocking to Llangollen's popular annual food festival this weekend.

Rated as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK, it has provided a successful platform for innovative new food and drink from the area.

There to greet the gastronomes tomorrow and Sunday will be a host of top chefs, including Graham Tinsley and Dai Chef.

This year festival-goers will find out that Wales’ most famous and saddest love song has inspired a new beer.

The song Myfanwy tells the tragic story of the unrequited love of a penniless young poet called Hywel ab Einion for a beautiful young noblewoman who lived in Dinas Bran castle high above Llangollen in the 14th century.

The new brew, appropriately a bitter, which can be tasted for the first time at the festival, is called Heartbreak Hill as a tribute to Hywel’s spurned passion.

It’s the brainchild of Ynyr Evans, the head brewer at Llangollen Brewery.

A new exhibitor this year is Sicilian cook Marina Midolo, 51, who makes taste bud-teasing cakes, desserts and savouries.

Her company, Marina’s Italian Cookery, is one of four new producers being allowed to set up shop free of charge in a special section for newcomers at the festival.

Marina is based in near Ruthin, where she lives with husband Peter.

A Thai food producer which has tripled in size in 11 years is to launch a brand new chicken satay starter at the festival.

The starter from Authentic Thai Cuisine, based in Llanferres, has been developed to add to its array of frozen curries, noodle dishes and sauces as part of a plan to encourage customers to make a banquet out of its products.

The business, which was launched by Saisuree Harvey 11 years ago while she was employed as a full-time nursery nurse in Wrexham, currently produces more than 300 curries, 80 noodle dishes and up to 50 side dishes every week which it supplies to farm shops and food outlets across North Wales – three times the amount produced in its first two years.

Meanwhile, a former teacher who runs a company making skincare products from goats' milk has developed a new eco-friendly food wrapping made from cotton coated with beeswax.

Carol Allen, 60, who set up Llanvalley Natural Products eight years ago, will officially unveil the innovative wrapping at this year’s festival.

According to Carol, she was inspired to develop the new wrapping out of a desire to eliminate plastic waste from the environment.

The anti-bacterial qualities of beeswax make it ideal for food and the wrappings are reusable because they can be washed in warm water.

Carol will also be selling her range of other products which include soaps, shampoo bars, various balms and bath soaks.

Llangollen Food Festival committee member Phil Davies said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy."

The festival will be held at The Llangollen Pavillion, between 10am-5pm both days.