Feasting on foot
I was delighted to be a Corporate Friend of the Food Festival this year. Having not attended with the children before it was equally as exciting to feed their foodie enthusiasm. Deciding to take the Taste Trail was an interesting option.
Crowded and chaotic the main route of the festival was tricky with kiddies and I don't think i've come across so many foodies in one place before! Everything from Ceps to Champagne, smoked cheese to edible diamonds and surf to turf - something for everybody but where does a food fan start?
Salami and pasta didn't quite captivate us as much as the Bluebird Bakery where we all fell for the scrummy Fruit and Nut loaves, stuffed with your 5-aday we can't wait to toast it and smother it in butter!!!! The savoury danish and foccacia left us drooling too.
Other stall which left us with memorable flavours were the smoked cheddar at Lincolnshire Poacher Cheeses - lovely chap who took the trouble to explain all things cheesey to the kids!
Onwards along Champagne Street - should have got the train so I could have enjoyed a flute or two..... The next best thing in my book are diamonds and I was fascinated by the edible ones I found along with scrummy chocolate covered Cake Pops. Produced by MCSP Design Ltd a Pickering based firm who manufacture edible cake decorations, these fab little gems are certainly a jewel in any cake decorators crown.
Vampires? No not in York - too much garlic there! I am so intrigued by these magical little bulbs.... or in the case of Baby Elephant Garlic, no so little! Healthful, flavourful and versatile - simply wonderful. I wasdelighted to see The Garlic Farm from the Isle of Wight were present - we are looking forward to visiting them whilst on holiday next year on the island.
Smoking houses were present too - these fabulous kippers were from The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse (as visited by the wonderful Hairy Bikers) - I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow! Served lightly poached with a bit of brown bread and butter - just to die for!!
Salmon - my favourite fish - the king in my opinion, was present too. Filletted in front of your eyes and divided into chunky steaks you couldn't wish for fresher or better looking fish!
Wolds Cookies from Driffield know their oats and presented us with some fabbie samples and we voted the milk choc chip our favourite!
Many people don't like mushrooms - my daughter being one of them - however, the rest of my household love tucking into these tender morsals. You can follow this company on Twitter@AutumnHarvest1
Sensational selection of fresh and dried and so good answering awkward questions like "why are those mushrooms yellow?" I can't wait to get my next mushroom risotto cooking!
Hampers of Yorkshire were exciting - a fairly new company who are using locally produced products - can't wait for Christmas, had a sneaky peak at their website and there are a couple of their ideas on my Santa list! Talking of Santa - Christmas just wouldn't be same without gingerbread and where better to get a kit from The Gingerbread House company - they even do children's parties, how cool is that!
Chilli is one of those amazing ingredients which can either enhance or overpower - and everyone's palette is different. The One Stop Hot Shop was on our list of must visit places. My son, who has quite a taste for hot stuff, had a bit of a mind blowing experience! Starting at the cooler end of the scale he quickly worked up to the Smiling Assassin - a ketchup style sauce which would work brilliantly with a sticky chicken style dish - with a kick. Not satisfied with steam seeping out of this ears he ramped it up to the hotest of the range, known as Smart Arse! The picture is of him trying to get cool air into his mouth! Let's hope the name is not revisited by the poor little chap tomorrow!
Next the Taste Trail - we loved exploring the different foodie shops who were offering tasters and discounts - we didn't manage all of them (my map reading let us down despite them being in close proximity!!)
Top spots for us were the fabulous Fudge Kitchen (too yummy for words!) A soft fondent style recipe which apparently dates back to 1830. Thank the Lord it survived!! The Yoga Tea at the Hebden Tea Company reminded me of Christmas and has a stong sense of cinnamon - refreshing, reviving, relaxing and rediculously yummy! Fourboyz Dessert Cafe served the most scrumptious Mango gelato icecream. Not to mention the the cruncy taster of Fish and Chips at The Cross Keys. Final call of the day was Rafi's Spice Box - divine curry mixes (which can be ordered online and frozen) and spice blends for your curry of choice made in front of you. I was delighted that the children got to identify and learn about the different spices - the lady was sweet with them - didn't ask her name but if you are that Spice Girl and you are reading this, thank you.
The most sublime oils and vinegars we discovered as we tasted outside VomFass - the rasberry balsamic was just heaven and I could dive in and swim several laps of a vat! However, the must have for me was the Mango Balsamic with Chilli Oil and when I dashed into the shop and announced to the lady I simply needed some and I was going to drizzle it over my vanilla icecream the shop fell into stunned silence! I cannot wait to get my icecream maker rumbling and ripple this sublime liquid through it. (No, I am not pregnant but just know it will be superb!)
The thing I enjoyed most about the day was the welcome and the time the "trail providers" were prepared to give was generous - there was never the feeling of "oh not another browser!" To everyone who welcomed us and fed us today - we have very full tummies and have had the best day ever. See you next Food Fest.
I was delighted to be a Corporate Friend of the Food Festival this year. Having not attended with the children before it was equally as exciting to feed their foodie enthusiasm. Deciding to take the Taste Trail was an interesting option.
Crowded and chaotic the main route of the festival was tricky with kiddies and I don't think i've come across so many foodies in one place before! Everything from Ceps to Champagne, smoked cheese to edible diamonds and surf to turf - something for everybody but where does a food fan start?
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| At my Cooking Shows I often ask my guests what their favourite food is, mine is simply cheese! The kids indulged in making chocolate lollie pops with York Cocoa House whilst I sampled some of the Festivals favourite Yorkshire cheese including Monks Folly (produced by Shepherds Purse Cheeses). Looking like a goats cheese it is actually made with pasturised cow's milk and has the most sensational creamy texture with an delicate edible rind. The young fresh flavour changes as the cheese matures apparently, but it has to be said it wouldn't have the chance in my house! |
Salami and pasta didn't quite captivate us as much as the Bluebird Bakery where we all fell for the scrummy Fruit and Nut loaves, stuffed with your 5-aday we can't wait to toast it and smother it in butter!!!! The savoury danish and foccacia left us drooling too.
Other stall which left us with memorable flavours were the smoked cheddar at Lincolnshire Poacher Cheeses - lovely chap who took the trouble to explain all things cheesey to the kids!
Onwards along Champagne Street - should have got the train so I could have enjoyed a flute or two..... The next best thing in my book are diamonds and I was fascinated by the edible ones I found along with scrummy chocolate covered Cake Pops. Produced by MCSP Design Ltd a Pickering based firm who manufacture edible cake decorations, these fab little gems are certainly a jewel in any cake decorators crown.
Vampires? No not in York - too much garlic there! I am so intrigued by these magical little bulbs.... or in the case of Baby Elephant Garlic, no so little! Healthful, flavourful and versatile - simply wonderful. I wasdelighted to see The Garlic Farm from the Isle of Wight were present - we are looking forward to visiting them whilst on holiday next year on the island.
Smoking houses were present too - these fabulous kippers were from The Port of Lancaster Smokehouse (as visited by the wonderful Hairy Bikers) - I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow! Served lightly poached with a bit of brown bread and butter - just to die for!!
Salmon - my favourite fish - the king in my opinion, was present too. Filletted in front of your eyes and divided into chunky steaks you couldn't wish for fresher or better looking fish!
Wolds Cookies from Driffield know their oats and presented us with some fabbie samples and we voted the milk choc chip our favourite!
Many people don't like mushrooms - my daughter being one of them - however, the rest of my household love tucking into these tender morsals. You can follow this company on Twitter@AutumnHarvest1 Sensational selection of fresh and dried and so good answering awkward questions like "why are those mushrooms yellow?" I can't wait to get my next mushroom risotto cooking!
Hampers of Yorkshire were exciting - a fairly new company who are using locally produced products - can't wait for Christmas, had a sneaky peak at their website and there are a couple of their ideas on my Santa list! Talking of Santa - Christmas just wouldn't be same without gingerbread and where better to get a kit from The Gingerbread House company - they even do children's parties, how cool is that!
Chilli is one of those amazing ingredients which can either enhance or overpower - and everyone's palette is different. The One Stop Hot Shop was on our list of must visit places. My son, who has quite a taste for hot stuff, had a bit of a mind blowing experience! Starting at the cooler end of the scale he quickly worked up to the Smiling Assassin - a ketchup style sauce which would work brilliantly with a sticky chicken style dish - with a kick. Not satisfied with steam seeping out of this ears he ramped it up to the hotest of the range, known as Smart Arse! The picture is of him trying to get cool air into his mouth! Let's hope the name is not revisited by the poor little chap tomorrow!Next the Taste Trail - we loved exploring the different foodie shops who were offering tasters and discounts - we didn't manage all of them (my map reading let us down despite them being in close proximity!!)
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| The Fudge Kitchen's Raspberry fudge - soooooooo good! |
The most sublime oils and vinegars we discovered as we tasted outside VomFass - the rasberry balsamic was just heaven and I could dive in and swim several laps of a vat! However, the must have for me was the Mango Balsamic with Chilli Oil and when I dashed into the shop and announced to the lady I simply needed some and I was going to drizzle it over my vanilla icecream the shop fell into stunned silence! I cannot wait to get my icecream maker rumbling and ripple this sublime liquid through it. (No, I am not pregnant but just know it will be superb!)
The thing I enjoyed most about the day was the welcome and the time the "trail providers" were prepared to give was generous - there was never the feeling of "oh not another browser!" To everyone who welcomed us and fed us today - we have very full tummies and have had the best day ever. See you next Food Fest.
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| A good days shopping! |
