Our cover star this month is James Close, head chef at the Michelin-starred Raby Hunt in County Durham.

The tiny 24-seater restaurant, tucked away in a hamlet six miles from Darlington, is the only eaterie in the North East to hold the stellar award.

So it’s some achievement for the superstar chef/proprietor, who has only been at the kitchen stove of The Raby Hunt for a little over three years.

He tells all about his culinary journey and his all-consuming passion for fantastic food.

Elsewhere, we’ve been chatting to BBC MasterChef: The Professionals finalist James Burton from Wall in Northumberland. James made it to the final four of the cookery show, fronted by Michel Roux Jr, last year.

The forager and private chef tells us about his fascinating life in food.

And talking of TV chefs, we’ve got The Fabulous Baker Brothers, aka Tom and Henry Herbert, back by popular demand at the excellent Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

The lads went down a storm last year with their ‘in-conversation’ chat, Q&A session and fun cookery demo. They’re not to be missed – and we’ve got the details on their forthcoming visit in April.

Now that’s something to put a spring in your step.

Happy eating. 

KATHARINE CAPOCCI, Taste editor

Follow Taste on Twitter: @tastejournal. Email Katharine: Katharine.capocci@ncjmedia.co.uk Tel: 0191 201 6169