THE consultant editor of the Good Food Guide will speak at a food festival literary dinner.

Elizabeth Carter will be joined by restaurant critic Jay Rayner at the York Food festival event, in the Dean Court Hotel, in the city, on Friday, September 28.

They will discuss the pleasure of being paid to eat at the country's leading restaurants, and the pain of food that does not come up to scratch.

York has five restaurants included in the 2008 guide -J Baker's, Melton's, Melton's Too, Middlethorpe Hall and the Tasting Room.

Betty's tea rooms, the city's farmers' market and the York festival of food and drink are also praised.

Miss Carter said: "I like York. I am envious of it having not one, but two Betty's, and wish all comparable places in Britain could have such a range of food, independent restaurants and access to great Yorkshire produce.

"If there were to be a foodie county of Britain, I think Yorkshire would be it."

The literary dinner will start at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets are £29.50, available by calling 01904-625082.