AN innovative idea aimed at broadening people's taste buds and saving Winchester Cathedral for posterity is being launched in the city this summer.

A series of world cuisine evenings has been arranged for the coming months, offering people the chance to try out food from across the globe.

The evenings are being run by Winchester Cathedral Enterprises and range from an Austrian evening serving savoury strudel and Sachertorte with live music on June 17, to a combination of salsa dancers and food in the Latin American Evening on August 4.

For cookery fans, the August 30 event sees a demonstration and lunch dished up by Winchester Cathedral Enterprises' head chef Ian Bravey, who will be giving a masterclass in how to prepare a summer buffet.

A taste of India will be on offer on September 9, with a selection of traditional Indian starters and main courses on the table, and musical accompaniment coming from a renowned sitar player.

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar, Commodore Adrian Munns OBE, the receiver general of Winchester Cathedral, will be sharing a few anecdotes on Nelson at a black-tie four-course gourmet dinner on October 21.

Meanwhile if traditional Scottish dancing is more your interest, then the Scottish Evening on November 4 should satisfy.

Finally on November 17 an evening of wines has been arranged, with an expert on the subject on hand to show which wines go best with which foods.

For more information and booking, contact Chris Haines on 01962 857251 or e-mail chris.haines@winchester-cathedral.org.uk.