AUTUMN is here and isn’t it a beauty? Misty mornings, leaves turning from ochre to crimson and, of course, in Malton there’s food.

While some people lament the end of summer, what I adore about this time of year is the superb opportunities it offers the larder: wild mushrooms, apples and blackberries and, of course, wild game.

Perhaps delayed gratification isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it does give me a thrill (after a long wait) to enjoy the first roast grouse of the year. And then there’s partridge with a quince tarte tartin or a buttery risotto with porcini mushrooms. Forgive me, I’m day dreaming.

Back in Malton, added to the autumn bounty is an exciting and helpful crop of good publicity. Just last week I noticed Malton in the Great British Breaks section of The Sunday Times travel section.

There was a super article in The Independent about “How Malton Became Yorkshire’s Food Capital” and several more stories in publications, as well as on TV with BBC One’s Escape To The Perfect Town.

Each one name checked many of the town’s best artisan producers and food shops. The Talbot was named in the 100 Best Hotels list in The Sunday Times with Sam and Georgie Pearman having recently finished decorating the rooms.

They also tell me that The Talbot will now be part of the successful Mr & Mrs Smith brand. An exciting development and one which should bring lots of new visitors to the town.

Never before have the eyes of the county and the country been more focused on our beloved town and with people’s expectations and standards rising ever more, we must also rise to meet them.

The next couple of months are looking good in Malton with our Monthly Food Market on Saturday, November 9, and the run up to our massive two-day Christmas Market on December 7 and 8.

The October Monthly Food Market was a really busy one and I’m excited to report that YO Bakehouse had one of their busiest days ever in their award-winning café and bakery. Amazing. Onward and upwards.

Roost Café and Roastery are also making big and exciting changes - expanding their café in both size and opening hours. More than ever you will be able to enjoy their artisan brews in Talbot Yard and see their roasting process in a new unit next door to Malton Cookery School.

Expanding businesses in Malton brings me to another point; a project that is coming down the line is Middlecave Yard, a new home for artisan production which should bring three bigger food production units to town.

It is crucial that as businesses grow there is scope for them to expand into bigger premises keeping them in the centre of town.

Malton makes things, we’re a town of “makers” and with all these new food products and the recent opening of new handmade soap company, Cosy Cottage Soap, it’s essential we give these amazing artisans an opportunity to stay in town even when they expand and need bigger places to make their award winning products. Autumn has much to offer. So, get inspired, get cooking and get to Malton.

For more information about the Monthly Food Market on Saturday, November 9, or the Christmas Market on December 7 and 8, go to visitmalton.com