FoodLovers Britain
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for September, 2008
Championing British Cheese
This month at FLB we’re championing the best in british cheese.
You could explore the possibilites at The Great British Cheese Festival, but if you can’t get there, we’ve picked out some of our favourite FoodLovers Approved cheese making businesses for you to enjoy as we run down our list of favourite specialist cheese shops, cheesemongers and cheese-makers.
Also, you can check out our cheese wafers recipe, perfect cheesy snacks ideal for parties, read more about the so-called ‘ Territorial cheeses’ which are traditionally named after the county they are made in, and our guide to cheeses made with unpasteurised or raw milk – are they safe?
Cookbook of the Month – Thane Prince’s Jams & Chutneys
Our ‘Cook Book’ of the month for September is our review of Thane Prince’s Jams & Chutneys.
September is the traditional time for dealing with summer’s glut in preparation for winter’s leaner months. As Thane Prince points out, it wasn’t so long ago that “preserving nature’s bounty was a necessity rather than an indulgence” so every prudent housewife (and I use the description advisedly) would beaver away bottling, pickling, making jam and so on.
Jams & Chutneys is a charming and useful book, full of sparklingly original recipes, classics and their variations, stylish photographs, hints and helpful tips. Everyone will be charmed by Pears in White Wine with Lemongrass or an unctuous Spiced Pumpkin Butter and with apples coming into season now, who can resist Apple, Plum & Onion Relish.
What’s On – Ludlow Food Festival
With more than 130 of the region’s best food and drink producers, Ludlow Marches Food Festival is considered by many to be the top foodie destination festival on the calendar. With taste workshops, cookery demonstrations, a food fair in Ludlow Castle and food trails on everything from sausages to beer, you can be sure your tastebuds will be challenged.
Look out for FoodLovers Approved businesses and Henrietta Green at Ludlow. She’ll be Championing Cheese- sampling the best cheeses local to Ludlow at 3pm on Saturday at The Olive Theatre.
When: Friday 12 September to Sunday 14 September 2008, starting at 10am
Entry: from £5.50
Contact: info@foodfestival.co.uk
Website: www.foodfestival.co.uk
Featured Food Business – Fish In A Box
A big welcome to Fish In A Box, that has joined the FoodLovers Britain stable of approved food businesses.
The FIAB team are based in Newport, Shropshire and provide a national fresh fish mail order service with FREE delivery in some areas and subsidised delivery costs elsewhere throughout the UK.
We’re not the only ones to recognise the quality of service of Fish In A Box – the company was a winner of the Heart Of England Fine Foods Special Diamond Award 2008; finalist in the The Seafood Authority Independent Retailer of The year award 2007 and a Slow Food UK Bursary Award Winner 2008.
FIAB offer top grade fish from all around Britain’s coast supplied by day boat fishermen in the main, including white-fish, oil rich fish, flat-fish, fresh water fish, smoked fish, shellfish and specialties. The fish is sent in overnight on refrigerated transport to the processing unit where it is prepared to individual specification in temperature controlled conditions and packed for dispatch the same day.
The head fishmonger is the third of his generation in the trade, he knows what to look for and always gives best prices on the freshest fish and seafood. It’s a complete service by knowledgeable staff, and we heartily recommend the Fish In A Box company as representing everything best in British food.
Food Prices – More Bad News
Figures just published by the research company Verdict, show that overall prices of food in supermarkets have risen by more than 8 per cent since January, several times the rate of inflation.
The price of fresh food has risen by 12 per cent since the start of the year, while meat and fish now costs 23 per cent more on average. Chicken and ham have risen by 42 and 45 per cent, while staples like pasta and basmati rice went up over 40 per cent.
Even tinned goods rose 15 per cent, so if you’re follwing Delia’s How To Cheat At Cooking series you’re going to be paying more.
About Farmers Markets
This month we are doing a focus on Farmers Markets, something we at FoodLovers Britain have been promoting since the 1980s when Henrietta Green first approached Ken Livingstone (then chairman of the Greater London Authority) for a grant and was turned down – think what might have been.
In 1997, Bath farmers market, the first in the country, set up its stalls. Henrietta was there reporting on the momentous event for Radio 4’s Food Programme and also took part in the 10th anniversary programme last year.
A member of the various working groups to get countrywide farmers markets established, Henrietta was an original board member for The National Association of Farmers Markets ….and don’t forget she wrote the best-selling Farmers Market Cookbook.
Britain boasts around 550 markets held on a regular basis, that’s about 9500 market days a year, so you’re certain of finding a farmers market near you. Check our site out for more info.
