Not an F word was heard in Sussex recently when Gordon Ramsay shot his New Year TV episode of the F Word with cheesemakers at the High Weald Dairy on Tremains Farm in Horsted Keynes.
Mark and Sarah Hardy, owners of the High Weald Dairy – the leading Sussex cheese-makers, who hand-make a large range of award-winning cheeses – hosted Gordon Ramsay and showed him how to make Halloumi cheese for the programme, which focuses on ‘Greeks versus Moroccans’.
While he was there, Ramsay tasted some of the High Weald classic cheeses, including Saint Giles and Tremains Cheddar and he particularly liked the Smoked Duddleswell. He also signed a copy of World Kitchen, his latest cookery book, for the Hardys saying: ‘A big thank you for teaching me to make the perfect Halloumi’.
“Gordon got the hang of it in no time and seemed to enjoy the process of making Halloumi, which is one of the quickest cheeses to make, being prepared in just four to five hours,” said Mark Hardy, High Weald Dairy’s Master Cheesemaker, who appears in the programme.
Filming went on for four hours and many cups of tea were consumed while Ramsay performed before the cameras. However, Sarah Hardy commented that he had a gentle air and declared him to be “a very charming man – not at all the persona we all think we know and love to hate on TV!”
The High Weald Dairy makes cheeses with organic cow milk from its own farm, as well as goat and sheep milk and has won more awards than you can shake a stick at in the last year. Most recently, it won two golds at the 2009 British Cheese Awards for its organic cow milk Ashdown Foresters and Brother Michael cheeses. Just two weeks later in October, its Saint Giles, a semi-soft organic cow milk cheese with an edible orange rind, won Best English Cheese and Best British Cheese and was placed 5th in the World at this year’s World Cheese Awards.
To find out more, see www.highwealddairy.co.uk. Gordon Ramsay’s F Word will be shown at 9pm on 29th December on Channel 4.
Monday, 21 December 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
SUSSEX FOOD HEROES ANNOUNCED
Finalists for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/10 have been announced by judges following their deliberations held at Harveys Brewery.
Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges said: “Natural PR has done a great job of growing the popularity of the awards, with over 9,000 members of the public voting for more than 300 of their favourite Sussex farmers, food and drink producers, young chefs, food shops, butchers, eateries and farmers markets this year.
“This year, there are 13 finalists from West Sussex, eight from East Sussex and three from Brighton & Hove – so a great spread across the county and the quality is absolutely outstanding, demonstrating how Sussex is leading the local food revolution in Britain.”
The Sussex Food & Drink Awards, run by Natural PR in partnership with A Taste of Sussex and JustBIZ, is based on public voting and is all about promoting and rewarding the best Sussex producers and the outlets which support them.
The finalists are:
Sussex Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners:
Higgidy Ltd, Shoreham, West Sussex
Prosperity Brownies, Lancing, West Sussex
Real Patisserie, Brighton & Hove
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year – sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter:
Dark Star Brewing Company, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Gran Steads Ginger, Mile Oak, East Sussex
Hepworth & Co Brewing Company, Horsham, West Sussex
Sussex Farmer of the Year – sponsored by Knill James:
Simon Bishop, Netherfield Place Farm, Netherfield, East Sussex (who tragically died in a car accident recently)
Lyn & Jenny Jenner, Nut Knowle Farm, Horam, East Sussex
Helen & Rod Marsh, Middle Farm, Firle, East Sussex
Best Sussex Food Shop – sponsored by JustBIZ:
Cheese Please, Lewes, East Sussex
Pallant of Arundel, Arundel, West Sussex
Sussex Produce Company, Steyning, West Sussex
Best Sussex Eating Experience – sponsored by A Taste of Sussex:
Anise, Felbridge Hotel & Spa, East Grinstead, West Sussex
Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
The Coach & Horses, Danehill, West Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year – sponsored by SEEDA:
Meads Village Butcher, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Renhurst Farm Shop, Mark Cross, East Sussex
Westdene Butchers, Westdene, Brighton
Sussex Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by Train to Gain:
Oliver Darby, Temptation, Brighton
Dan Hockaday, The Coach & Horses, Danehill, West Sussex
Bradley Jordan, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding, West Sussex
Best Sussex Farmers Market – sponsored by Natural PR:
Pulborough Farmers Market, West Sussex
Shoreham Farmers Market, West Sussex
Uckfield Farmers Market, East Sussex
Organisers have now opened sales for tickets to attend the ‘Sussex foodie event of the year’ – the Sussex Food & Drink Awards dinner, to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 28th January 2010 with host Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. This black tie event includes a Sussex bubbly and ale reception, sponsored by Harveys; a stunning five-course dinner made from Sussex produce; lots of entertainment; and a lively Oscars-style awards presentation. See www.sussexfoodawards.com or call Natural PR on 01273 857242 for more information.
Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges said: “Natural PR has done a great job of growing the popularity of the awards, with over 9,000 members of the public voting for more than 300 of their favourite Sussex farmers, food and drink producers, young chefs, food shops, butchers, eateries and farmers markets this year.
“This year, there are 13 finalists from West Sussex, eight from East Sussex and three from Brighton & Hove – so a great spread across the county and the quality is absolutely outstanding, demonstrating how Sussex is leading the local food revolution in Britain.”
The Sussex Food & Drink Awards, run by Natural PR in partnership with A Taste of Sussex and JustBIZ, is based on public voting and is all about promoting and rewarding the best Sussex producers and the outlets which support them.
The finalists are:
Sussex Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners:
Higgidy Ltd, Shoreham, West Sussex
Prosperity Brownies, Lancing, West Sussex
Real Patisserie, Brighton & Hove
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year – sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter:
Dark Star Brewing Company, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Gran Steads Ginger, Mile Oak, East Sussex
Hepworth & Co Brewing Company, Horsham, West Sussex
Sussex Farmer of the Year – sponsored by Knill James:
Simon Bishop, Netherfield Place Farm, Netherfield, East Sussex (who tragically died in a car accident recently)
Lyn & Jenny Jenner, Nut Knowle Farm, Horam, East Sussex
Helen & Rod Marsh, Middle Farm, Firle, East Sussex
Best Sussex Food Shop – sponsored by JustBIZ:
Cheese Please, Lewes, East Sussex
Pallant of Arundel, Arundel, West Sussex
Sussex Produce Company, Steyning, West Sussex
Best Sussex Eating Experience – sponsored by A Taste of Sussex:
Anise, Felbridge Hotel & Spa, East Grinstead, West Sussex
Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
The Coach & Horses, Danehill, West Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year – sponsored by SEEDA:
Meads Village Butcher, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Renhurst Farm Shop, Mark Cross, East Sussex
Westdene Butchers, Westdene, Brighton
Sussex Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by Train to Gain:
Oliver Darby, Temptation, Brighton
Dan Hockaday, The Coach & Horses, Danehill, West Sussex
Bradley Jordan, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding, West Sussex
Best Sussex Farmers Market – sponsored by Natural PR:
Pulborough Farmers Market, West Sussex
Shoreham Farmers Market, West Sussex
Uckfield Farmers Market, East Sussex
Organisers have now opened sales for tickets to attend the ‘Sussex foodie event of the year’ – the Sussex Food & Drink Awards dinner, to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 28th January 2010 with host Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. This black tie event includes a Sussex bubbly and ale reception, sponsored by Harveys; a stunning five-course dinner made from Sussex produce; lots of entertainment; and a lively Oscars-style awards presentation. See www.sussexfoodawards.com or call Natural PR on 01273 857242 for more information.
Monday, 9 November 2009
MARGUERITE PATTEN OBE HONOURED BY CITY
Famed food writer, 94-year-old Marguerite Patten OBE, was honoured as a special Brighton & Hove citizen at a tribute lunch hosted by City College Brighton & Hove as part of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival last month.
Following a book signing of her latest – and she declares her last – recipe book ‘Best British Dishes’, 60 dignitaries and guests were served a delicious lunch by catering students at the college’s Gallery Restaurant, using some of Marguerite’s classic dishes, including twice-baked cheese soufflé and crown roast of lamb.
Clive Beddall OBE, chair of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, proposed a toast and said: “Marguerite is the Vera Lynne of the food industry and Britain’s foremost lady cook. She had a profound effect on many of our childhoods – in fact my mother used to say ‘Mrs Patten says you must eat up all your cabbage or you won’t grow up to be tall’ – and she was right!”
Said Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn, Deputy Mayor: “Marguerite turned common sense cooking into an art form and her efforts have done more to help the nation cook well than a whole army of celebrity chefs. Her achievements are extraordinary and we are proud to have her living in our city.”
Marguerite gave some sound advice to the catering students serving lunch and she also spoke to diners, saying: “I don’t approve of the word celebrity because it’s not who we are but what we do that counts. I’m a home economist, trained to help people in their own homes and I helped people to make the most of what was available during the rations of wartime Britain – for example the egg-less fruitcake and the cheese pie.
“However, ‘we’ll eat again’ was our mantra then and I wouldn’t go back to the limited food we had then for the world – though I do think that seasonality is extremely important and fresh, local produce is so much better than eating out of season or flying food all around the world.”
She worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Food during the Second World War and became a household name for her inventive recipes using ration food, touring the country giving cookery demonstrations in factory canteens and hospitals. During her career, she has been a prolific food writer and has published more than 170 books, and sold 17 million copies worldwide.
Marguerite Patten recently became involved in the School Food Trust helping create after-school cookery clubs for parents and pupils. Her pioneering approach to healthy eating has prompted campaigning chef Jamie Oliver to seek her advice on his campaign for healthier school lunches.
The final big public event for the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is this weekend – The Great Big Brighton & Hove Picnic on Hove Lawns, from midday to 4pm on Saturday 26th September. Local people are being urged to come down and celebrate the best of British traditions by joining a huge picnic on the seafront.
You can just turn up and buy your picnic from the delicious hot and cold food on offer at the ‘Sussex... & the Rest of the World Market’ – or bring along your tartan rug and hamper and enjoy your own in what promises to be a fun community event. There will also be a picnic sharing table, for people who feel like sharing their favourite picnic dish and bring along enough for others too; and children can bring along a cake and enter a cake making and decoration competition with a chance to win a teddy bear.
The festival is also be promoting the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/10, celebrating the county’s wonderful producers, with public voting at www.sussexfoodawards.com; and supporting the Sussex Breakfast scheme, encouraging local restaurants and hotels to serve local produce.
Find out about more about the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival events at www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk
Following a book signing of her latest – and she declares her last – recipe book ‘Best British Dishes’, 60 dignitaries and guests were served a delicious lunch by catering students at the college’s Gallery Restaurant, using some of Marguerite’s classic dishes, including twice-baked cheese soufflé and crown roast of lamb.
Clive Beddall OBE, chair of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, proposed a toast and said: “Marguerite is the Vera Lynne of the food industry and Britain’s foremost lady cook. She had a profound effect on many of our childhoods – in fact my mother used to say ‘Mrs Patten says you must eat up all your cabbage or you won’t grow up to be tall’ – and she was right!”
Said Cllr Garry Peltzer Dunn, Deputy Mayor: “Marguerite turned common sense cooking into an art form and her efforts have done more to help the nation cook well than a whole army of celebrity chefs. Her achievements are extraordinary and we are proud to have her living in our city.”
Marguerite gave some sound advice to the catering students serving lunch and she also spoke to diners, saying: “I don’t approve of the word celebrity because it’s not who we are but what we do that counts. I’m a home economist, trained to help people in their own homes and I helped people to make the most of what was available during the rations of wartime Britain – for example the egg-less fruitcake and the cheese pie.
“However, ‘we’ll eat again’ was our mantra then and I wouldn’t go back to the limited food we had then for the world – though I do think that seasonality is extremely important and fresh, local produce is so much better than eating out of season or flying food all around the world.”
She worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Food during the Second World War and became a household name for her inventive recipes using ration food, touring the country giving cookery demonstrations in factory canteens and hospitals. During her career, she has been a prolific food writer and has published more than 170 books, and sold 17 million copies worldwide.
Marguerite Patten recently became involved in the School Food Trust helping create after-school cookery clubs for parents and pupils. Her pioneering approach to healthy eating has prompted campaigning chef Jamie Oliver to seek her advice on his campaign for healthier school lunches.
The final big public event for the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is this weekend – The Great Big Brighton & Hove Picnic on Hove Lawns, from midday to 4pm on Saturday 26th September. Local people are being urged to come down and celebrate the best of British traditions by joining a huge picnic on the seafront.
You can just turn up and buy your picnic from the delicious hot and cold food on offer at the ‘Sussex... & the Rest of the World Market’ – or bring along your tartan rug and hamper and enjoy your own in what promises to be a fun community event. There will also be a picnic sharing table, for people who feel like sharing their favourite picnic dish and bring along enough for others too; and children can bring along a cake and enter a cake making and decoration competition with a chance to win a teddy bear.
The festival is also be promoting the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/10, celebrating the county’s wonderful producers, with public voting at www.sussexfoodawards.com; and supporting the Sussex Breakfast scheme, encouraging local restaurants and hotels to serve local produce.
Find out about more about the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival events at www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk
£60M ATTRACTION PUTS THE O IN BRIGHTON
£6 MILLION ATTRACTION PUTS THE ‘O’ IN BRIGHTON
Brighton & Hove has the opportunity to attract a spectacular £6 million tourist attraction onto Brighton’s seafront.
Local business Paramount Attractions is proposing to build a unique 60-metre observation wheel, called the ‘Brighton O’, on the lower seafront adjacent to the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.
Designed specifically for Brighton, it will be the first of its kind in the western hemisphere – a contemporary, spokeless wheel with 32 glass pods gliding around an elegant circular frame. It will provide breath-taking, panoramic views of the sea and surrounding architecture and landmarks and provide a commentary and guided tour of the heritage of Brighton & Hove.
Funding is in place now and construction can start right away subject to temporary planning permission.
Said Jeffrey Sanders, Director of Paramount Attractions: “We believe in Brighton and Hove and we have £6m in place to build and operate a leisure attraction that will give people another very powerful reason to spend time in the city.
“It will open up unseen views to residents, create full-time employment and provide a direct boost to local business. It will be a unique structure, built by one of the world’s leading attraction specialists, and will be affordable to visit."
The project will regenerate the immediate area, significantly helping the seafront traders, who have suffered over the last few seasons with the bad weather and the project team have already received positive feedback from local businesses who recognise the benefit of neighbouring such a high-profile and appealing attraction.
Continued Jeff Sanders: “The project will also invest in landscaping the lower seafront around the structure and create attractive pedestrian walkways. But, most excitingly, we can provide a view of the city from the sky and we are working with local historical groups to make sure that the city’s heritage is preserved and shared as part of this project.”
Early estimates indicate that the attraction will be visited by around 250,000 visitors, including new visitors to the city, boosting the tourism industry and local economy, especially in the current economic climate.
Locally-based Paramount Attractions is part of a group of leisure companies that operate along the south coast from Eastbourne to the Isle of Wight and has commissioned an all-Brighton team to manage the project, including Stiles Harold Williams, Turner Associates Architects, structural engineering firm Hemsley Orrell Partnership; and PR firm Natural PR to manage a comprehensive public consultation.
People can keep abreast of the project’s progress and share their views at: www.brightono.com
Brighton & Hove has the opportunity to attract a spectacular £6 million tourist attraction onto Brighton’s seafront.
Local business Paramount Attractions is proposing to build a unique 60-metre observation wheel, called the ‘Brighton O’, on the lower seafront adjacent to the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.
Designed specifically for Brighton, it will be the first of its kind in the western hemisphere – a contemporary, spokeless wheel with 32 glass pods gliding around an elegant circular frame. It will provide breath-taking, panoramic views of the sea and surrounding architecture and landmarks and provide a commentary and guided tour of the heritage of Brighton & Hove.
Funding is in place now and construction can start right away subject to temporary planning permission.
Said Jeffrey Sanders, Director of Paramount Attractions: “We believe in Brighton and Hove and we have £6m in place to build and operate a leisure attraction that will give people another very powerful reason to spend time in the city.
“It will open up unseen views to residents, create full-time employment and provide a direct boost to local business. It will be a unique structure, built by one of the world’s leading attraction specialists, and will be affordable to visit."
The project will regenerate the immediate area, significantly helping the seafront traders, who have suffered over the last few seasons with the bad weather and the project team have already received positive feedback from local businesses who recognise the benefit of neighbouring such a high-profile and appealing attraction.
Continued Jeff Sanders: “The project will also invest in landscaping the lower seafront around the structure and create attractive pedestrian walkways. But, most excitingly, we can provide a view of the city from the sky and we are working with local historical groups to make sure that the city’s heritage is preserved and shared as part of this project.”
Early estimates indicate that the attraction will be visited by around 250,000 visitors, including new visitors to the city, boosting the tourism industry and local economy, especially in the current economic climate.
Locally-based Paramount Attractions is part of a group of leisure companies that operate along the south coast from Eastbourne to the Isle of Wight and has commissioned an all-Brighton team to manage the project, including Stiles Harold Williams, Turner Associates Architects, structural engineering firm Hemsley Orrell Partnership; and PR firm Natural PR to manage a comprehensive public consultation.
People can keep abreast of the project’s progress and share their views at: www.brightono.com
Monday, 27 July 2009
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Sussex Food & Drink Awards is open for voting!
We kicked off the opening of the South of England Show this week with the launch of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/10 and the consumer launch of the Sussex Breakfast accreditation scheme for hotels and restaurants this week and it was a big hit.
The show launched with the message 'Eat Local' which supports everything we're trying to do to encourage people to support their local economy and keep down the 'food miles' right now. We also had some terrific promotional staff in giant veg and bacon and eggs costumes for the launch photo call, which worked a treat.
The Sussex Food & Drink Awards are based on public voting - and anyone who votes online at http://www.sussexfoodawards.com/ gets entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to the 'Sussex foodie event of the year' - the awards dinner in January 2010.
The show launched with the message 'Eat Local' which supports everything we're trying to do to encourage people to support their local economy and keep down the 'food miles' right now. We also had some terrific promotional staff in giant veg and bacon and eggs costumes for the launch photo call, which worked a treat.
The Sussex Food & Drink Awards are based on public voting - and anyone who votes online at http://www.sussexfoodawards.com/ gets entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to the 'Sussex foodie event of the year' - the awards dinner in January 2010.
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