I am thrilled to re-publish the article about us in the Telegraph magazine, first published on the 5th June. We were photographed at the Real Food Festival in London by a great guy called Julian Lass who has the most amazing photos of his time in Africa. The only downside for me was when he asked me to duck out of view so he could just have a photo of Pam. Cheeky I thought,but on reflection, definitely the right call!
Archive for the ‘Food Gifts’ CategoryBritishfinefoods in the TelegraphThursday, July 1st, 2010Foodie gifts for Father’s DaySaturday, June 12th, 2010So you’ve remembered Mother’s Day, and you’ve tackled the tricky hurdle of St. Valentine’s Day. What’s the next big opportunity for emotional blackmail of the year? Well, the World Cup of course. But apart from that, Father’s Day is fast approaching on the 20th June. I had a birthday recently and had the usual conversation with family & friends about what present I would like. Given that I am happily married and safely housed, there is little I actually need. I am also told by female friends that buying for men is impossible. Clothing- no, it’s like being dressed by your mother. Sporting equipment- It’s a lovely gesture to buy us the latest bit of golf kit but if it’s our hobby, we’d rather choose the item ourself and tell you EXACTLY what we want. So, let me make it very easy. Never a truer phrase has been coined than “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. We like food, we dream of food, we even lay claim to an entire mode of cuisine in summer time with the barbecue being man territory. We are thrilled with the prospect that somebody has thought of the fundamental requirements for life (shelter, food, water), has realised that we are housed and unlikely to die of thirst, and has identified food as the one area where they can improve our quality of life. Living in the developed world, we are fortunate that we can access sustenance relatively easily. What we want, what we really want is tasty food and the odd glass of wine. So, speaking on behalf of men everywhere, when you want to treat us to a gift or spoil us rotten, please give us food- tasty stuff that we wouldn’t buy on our weekly run to the supermarket. Treat us to a cheeseboard we haven’t enjoyed before, Enrich our lives with a selection of meaty British Salami treats, Or for other ideas, click here: http://www.britishfinefoods.com/occasions/fathers_day_june_20th.phtml Country Living Spring FairWednesday, March 31st, 2010For the last week, Pam and I have been preparing for the start of the show season. This will now see us attending food shows and food events every couple of weeks from now until Christmas. Next week I will publish a list of these events so that you can come and meet us, and more importantly, taste some of our fantastic products. It doesn’t seem five minutes since we put the cold counter away for Christmas, and so it was with some dread that we packed up and went to the Business Design Centre in Islington for the Country Living Spring Fair. To state the obvious any event organised by Country Living is bound to be slick and well organised, but it was a joy to attend with some fantastic stands there catering for all sorts of gifts. My personal favourite was a company selling outdoor swings inscribed with messages, the best of which was “swing and think happy thoughts” I take it this message is meant in the purest way and any double entendre is entirely unintentional! Anyway, with this being our first event of the year, it was great to be reminded of the reaction of the visitors to our smoked salmon and cheeses. Our range for this show was the following: Isle of Wight Blue Cheese- This very special blue cheese is made by Rich Hodgson in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. Made with pasteurised Guerney cows’ milk, and is the creamiest blue I’ve ever had. Whatever you do, do not sit down with this cheese anywhere near a bottle of Montbazillac or Sauternes, or you may find yourself still there several hours later. We then had two soft cheeses for people to try as comparison: the exceptional Tunworth – an unpasteurised cows’ milk cheese made with tradional re.nnet which was Supreme Champion at the British Cheese Awards in 2006, and the lovely Goldilocks – a pasteurised cows’ milk cheese from Jersey milkmade with vegetarian rennet. Next, we had our bestseller, the legendary Lancashire bomb from Andrew Shorrock. This is the ultimate cheese on toast cheese, and is one of the inspirations behind the business. This was the first time we had tried Andrew’s newest innovation, the Lancashire Bomb with Worcestershire Sauce. It was fantastic and proved nearly as popular as the original so this will be on the site in the next few days too! The Lancashire bomb is proving so popular that we have created a cheese gift section on the site especially to accommodate your demand for it. Away from cheese, we also took the remarkable Really Garlicky & Cracked Black Pepper Bacon from Ramsay of Carluke. Not only does this make great bacon butties, but it is also a great cheat ingredient in a carbonara… Finally, we also had the ever popular Salar Flaky Smoked Salmon. Quite simply, this is the best hot smoked salmon I’ve ever tasted. With a firm yet moist texture, and a smoky flavour to drive the neighbourhood cats insane, this is one of those products that is so good it needs nothing added to it. Simply serve with a salad or scrambled eggs for a luxurious breakfast. I hope to meet you at one of the food shows we attend this year! The politics that is loveWednesday, January 27th, 2010The end of January- that time of year which strikes fear into the heart of every red-blooded male. Not because your tax return must be completed but because it marks the approach of Valentine’s Day! This card company inspired day which as a teenager gave a definitive guide to your impact on the opposite sex (no cards bad, ten cards- you are THE man) now causes mild anxiety in every grown male. Not because man is worried about the number of Valentine’s Day cards received but rather because there is a delicate balancing act to be performed. There are rules, you see. Unwritten ones granted but failure to adhere to the rules will land the unsuspecting male in a steaming pile of trouble. On the one hand a man cannot ignore Valentine’s Day on the grounds that it is commercially inspired, and “why should I have to express my feelings for you on a day that is dictated by a greetings card company? I love you every day and want to express this in my own way” simply does not cut the mustard. Even if both man and woman agree on this one, deciding to flaunt convention and just plain ignoring Valentine’s Day will leave the man in King Canute territory- vainly standing in front of a relentless tide while his partner sees her friends and colleagues on the receiving end of plentiful expressions of love. Bold but foolish. On the other hand, spending £50-£60 on a dozen roses which a week before or after will cost a fraction of the price will often be greeted with initial gratitude followed by a laughing “So how much were you fleeced for this year?”… My solution is this. Give something you will both enjoy that can be shared together but without the fear of being fleeced. We’ve pulled together a small selection of our favourites for a cosy night in, or gifts that you can enjoy together. Simply follow the link below and avoid being King Canute (bold but foolish) or with the sour taste of being fleeced… |