HE IS the bad boy celebrity chef who famously made a young Gordon Ramsay cry. But Marco Pierre White was on his best behaviour yesterday for the second Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, in a sun-soaked Sefton Park.

Organisers estimate 30,000 people visited this year’s festival to meet the Hell’s Kitchen star and sample gourmet treats from 60 Liverpool bars and restaurants.

They also enjoyed cooking demonstrations from the city’s talented chefs, live music and a “cook-off” between Radio City’s Simon Ross and staff from Delifonseca.

Michelin star-winning White charmed the crowds who packed into the festival to see him, signing autographs and copies of his books and giving a kiss on the cheek to everyone who asked.

During his appearance, he also gave a masterclass to four budding teenage chefs from Broadgreen High School.

He told the Daily Post it was his first visit to Liverpool – but said he was impressed at the standard of food at the festival.

He said: “I like Liverpool and everyone was very welcoming today.

“I thought the food here was of a very good standard, although I had to stop eating at one stall because everyone wanted their photo taken with me.

“What I liked about the festival was that lots of people who might not be able to afford to go to some of these restaurants on a regular basis were able to come here and try the food they serve.

“Events like this are about inspiring people to want to cook and to want to eat well, and it was nice to see so many here.

“An enormous amount of work has gone into organising the festival and I thought it was a very good day.”

Sponsors for the event – which was double the size of last year’s festival – included organisers SK Events, plus Duke Street eateries Il Forno and Sapporo, The Mersey Partnership, Liverpool One, Love Food Hate Waste and web design agency PH Creative. After a successful festival launch, restaurants and bars around the city are hosting special events and offers for diners all this week.

Today, the theme is £15 per head, Tuesday is “chocolate and cheese” while Wednesday offers the chance to enjoy all the best of the festival at half price. Thursday is organic and locally sourced day, Friday is fish and Saturday is “Let’s Lunch”.

Event organiser Denise Harris said: “Today has been a great success and it just shows people how the food and drink on offer in this city has developed dramatically over the years.”

Cllr Gary Millar, Liverpool City Council’s executive member for enterprise and tourism, said: “Marco’s appearance was a brilliant way to launch the festival. We were delighted he accepted, as it underlines the growing status of the event.

“He was a special cherry on the cake and we’re grateful for the time he gave – not least the pupils from Broadgreen, who will never forget this day.”