Ed Balls Appetite is a memoir with a twist: each chapter is a recipe that tells a story. Ed Balls was just three weeks old when he tried his first meal in 1967: pureed roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. From that moment on he was hooked on food. Reflecting on his life in recipes, Ed takes us from his grandma's shepherd's pie to his first trip to a restaurant in the 1970s (and ordering an orange juice as a starter); from the inner workings of Westminster to the pressures of parenting. This is a collection of the meals he loves most, and the memories they bring back. Appetite is a celebration of love, family, and really good food. Chaired by Claire Malcolm, New Writing North Ed Balls is a dad, cook, pianist, economist, broadcaster, writer, chairman, retired dancer and former Cabinet Minister. Book Now Booking Information Priority Booking for Festival Friends opens at 08.00 on Tuesday 19th April. Tickets go on general sale from Thursday 21st April. Please note that a handling charge of 50p per ticket applies to bookings made in person or over the phone. No handling charges apply to online bookings. Hearing loops are available. Carers qualify for free ‘essential companion’ tickets. Wheelchair spaces are limited. In all cases, please call the Box Office on 01434 652477 to book (booking fees will not apply). Booking for this event has now closed.