Chef Rick Stein gives Oswestry audience a tasty treat

Organised by the town's Booka Bookshop, the 70-year-old was guest of honour at the town's Wynnstay Hotel, and was on the nationwide tour of promoting his new book, also called The Road to Mexico.

The event was the highlight of the bookshop's autumn calendar and all 240 tickets sold out within one-and-a-half days.

Rick revealed it was not the first time he had visited the town - back in the 70s, as a young mobile DJ, he played at a society wedding where members of the Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull and T-Rex were present and the dining room the following morning looked like something from Belshazzar's feast.

Since first appearing on television in 1985 on Floyd on France, Rick has forged a successful career as a presenter and writer and has made himself a household name. And while he is no longer accompanied by his trusty four legged companion Chalky, he ensures that viewers and readers are taken on a trip to tantalise the tastebuds.

The chef, entrepreneur and food lover took the sell-out audience on a culinary journey from California to Mexico while talking about his new book and accompanying BBC TV series.

Having first visited California and Mexico in the late 1960s, where he was in his early 20s, he returned with a film crew to see how the countries, and food, have changed and said that travelling along the route in a pale blue Ford Mustang was 'heaven'.

A somewhat damp and chilly evening in north Shropshire was transformed in to one of heat and dust as he brought his unrivalled enthusiasm and trusted expertise the county.

Chaired by Caroline Lang from Moreton School, the informal chat had Rick tell of his favourite dishes, his journeys through various countries and the food he has tasted along the way.

Asked what his recipe for a cold November evening in Oswestry would be, he said: "It would have to be either chargrilled beef taco with spring onions and salsa verde or fish chowder. They are both pretty special dishes to have."

And he praised the region's local produce, saying that during his most recent time in the States he had experienced a new phenomenon, 'Locovores' or people who will only buy and eat local food. And he sees it as a trend which could make its way across the Atlantic.

"It is very popular in California right now and I can see it coming to the UK," he said. "The local produce in this area is wonderful. From my first visit I remembered what a beautiful part of the country it is and has so much to offer. It is so special and a bit of a secret to those of us from elsewhere."

Now the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, and owner of four restaurants in Padstow, a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, and fish and chip shops in Porthleven and Newquay, all in Cornwall, England, it is fair to say that Rick has his finger in many pies.

Darren Williams, a site manager from West Felton, near Oswestry, was bought tickets for the talk by his wife Marie.

He said: "I love Rick Stein, his books and TV shows are so inspiring. I love cooking seafood and like the way he takes inspiration from his travels and the things he sees. His recipes are simple to follow yet taste amazing."

The talk concluded with Rick paying tribute to fellow chef Antonio Carluccio, whose death at the age of 80 was announced yesterday, followed by a question and answer session where people asked whether he used a microwave, did he cook properly when he was alone and what he thinks of the obesity problem the country is currently facing.