Restaurateur Bob Arora, of Sachins, will be drawing the crowds when he hands out his legendary onion bhajis and veggie tikkas at our Taste festival. Katharine Capocci reports

RESTAURATEUR Bob Arora, of top Indian eaterie Sachins in Newcastle, is all set to spice up our Taste at the Metrocentre food and drink festival.

He will be handing out his popular onion bhajis and veggie tikkas, made from Indian cheese and potatoes, to whet the appetite of the watching crowds.

Bob is always a big attraction at our Taste festivals and he will be taking part in cookery demonstrations on both days of the event, planned for the weekend of October 1 and 2.

This is the third Taste festival to be held at the shopping mall. The Metrocentre, which is celebrating its 25th birthday this year, is also sponsoring the event.

It's the ninth Taste festival to date in support of our “buy, use, eat local” campaign. It's the third time Bob has demonstrated at our events and he says: “I cannot wait and all the guys from the restaurant are excited too.

“We're looking forward to good crowds and a great vibe.

“I will be doing classic curry dishes with a local flavour, using chicken from Northumberland, fish caught locally and also potatoes from Northumberland.”

Up to 40 of the region's best local food and drink producers and suppliers will be taking stalls at the event.

Festival-goers will be able to taste a few samples along the way and see a series of chef demos during a weekend devoted to all things food and drink.

Some of the best names in local food will once again come together for the event, which is being held in Town Square (the area outside the House of Fraser store).

Renowned for its fine Punjabi cuisine, and popular with the North East's glitterati, Sachins has a reputation for being one of Newcastle's finest restaurants.

For more information on the Taste at the Metrocentre festival, or to book a stand, contact Lesley Hampson on 0191 201 6435 or email lesley.hampson@ncjmedia.co.uk

METROCENTRE 25

IT’S hard to believe but Metrocentre reaches its milestone 25th birthday this year.

Metrocentre is celebrating the birthday in style by giving shoppers the chance to win a host of Larger than Life prizes with a coveted “What’s in the bag?” prize up for grabs each month.

Each month an installation commemorating the birthday takes place. Each competition is based at the new installation - eye-catching silver statues that are 25% larger than life. Since April, lucky shoppers have already won an executive box to see Take That, a VIP day out for 10 people to Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse, executive season tickets for both Newcastle and Sunderland Football Clubs and a bundle of Apple products worth over £3,000.

The next prize up for grabs is a trip to the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix for four people with flights, four-star accommodation, tickets and spending money thrown in.

To enter simply visit the latest 25th installation located on the first-floor yellow mall, next to Metrocentre Qube. And the big prize up for grabs during October is a £500 shopping spree every month for a year - a total of £6,000!

October is Metrocentre’s official birthday month and on Friday October 14, the centre’s birthday, we will celebrate in style with a huge firework display from 6pm to 9pm.