Heston Blumenthal, the Michelin star chef and member of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), will be the star attraction at the forthcoming Manchester International Festival.

Blumenthal, whose scientific approach to gastronomy has won him international acclaim, has devised three exclusive dishes in collaboration with SenseLab.

The dishes will be prepared by a team of chefs from The Fat Duck, Blumenthal’s three Michelin-starred restaurant, and will be sold exclusively at the Festival Pavilion.

Visitors to the Festival will be able to view Blumenthal’s preparation methods first hand, and hear from the chefs who have prepared and cooked the dishes.

This is a unique opportunity for the community to taste the delicious and innovative cuisine of the multi-award winning chef at an affordable price.

Visitors to the festival will also be able to sample culinary delights from a number of Manchester’s best chefs at Manchester Dines, a free event which will take place on the first weekend of the festival, from 30 June to 1 July.

Situated next to the Festival Pavilion, which will be serving Blumenthal’s creations, Manchester Dines will host four sittings of 250 guests across the two days, with a host and chefs on hand to explain the cultural significance of their dishes.

Bookings can be made for up to four visitors. The Festival will take place from 28 June to 15 July 2007 at the Festival Pavilion, Manchester.

BHA Members can book their tickets online at www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com.