THE spectacular late 19th century Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre provided an atmospheric and spacious setting for this year’s Golden Fork Awards, the climax of the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards. And there was a great success for the West Country with the New Forest-based Lyburn Cheese winning the Golden Fork for…
THE deadline has been extended for farmers in Exmoor, Somerset and North Devon to get crucial advice to access the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024. Registration closes on Monday 7th November, and the workshops will be running until December. The new date gives farmers a bit more time to sign up for a programme to help…
THE National Trust is looking forvolunteers to help care for the traditional orchards in some of its West Dorset properties, including at Shedbush Farm, St Gabriel’s Farm and West Bexington. These orchards, designated as priority habitats, are rich in biodiversity, including rare and endangered species. However, they are at risk of decline and need dedicated…
LANGHAM Wine Estate this year celebrates 15 years of the vineyard at Crawthorne Farm, near Dorchester. The anniversary was marked with a party for friends of the winery and vineyard, and the release of an outstanding new still wine. Managing director Justin Langham said: “I take immense pride in evolving what was once my father’s…
THE World Cheese Awards, now in the 36th year, will take place in Portugal for the first time. The 2024 awards will be held in Viseu, from 14th to 17th November. The awards open for entries on Thursday 13th June, and close on Monday 16th September. John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine…
CELEBRATE Somerset this year on Somerset Day, Saturday 11th May – and join in the community-based Big Somerset Picnic, with events across the weekend on 11th and Sunday 12th. As well as the opportunity to enjoy great food and drink, the aim of this year’s Big Picnic is to bring people together and improve opportunities…
YOU probably know that rice is grown in Europe – mainly in Italy. Carnaroli, arborio and vialone are three varieties of rice which are used for risotto and are readily available in good food shops and supermarkets. You might think that was “European rice” – but in fact European rice is something different, grown in…
PEOPLE who love goat’s milk cheese will need no introduction to Tor, one of the many fine cheeses made by Roger Longman of White Lake Cheese, based at Bagborough close to the Royal Bath & West showground near Shepton Mallet. Already a three-star Great Taste Award-winner, the ash-covered, pyramid-shaped Tor has just won the Best…
THE highlight of this year’s inaugural Bath & West Food and Drink Festival, at the show ground near Shepton Mallet over the weekend 23rd and 24th March, will be the British Cheese Awards. About 600 British cheeses will be judged on Friday 22nd, in the 20th annual edition of the awards, one of the largest…
THE south west’s farmers, producers and food purveyors will be celebrated at a major new event in the regional food calendar, the Bath & West Food and Drink Festival at the Royal Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet on 23rd and 24th March. On Friday 22nd, the site will also host the British Cheese…