Local Food Heroes Blog
Local Food in Leicester & Leicestershire
Tuesday, 13 05 08 - 16:56
Open Farm Sunday - 1st June 2008
Open Farm Sunday on 1st June 2008 is a chance for the whole family to see first hand how their food is produced.
A variety of farms around the County are taking part; each will hold a number of differing events on the day including farm walks, machinery, mini farmers' market, a bale maze, heavy horse show, falconry, and much more.
Full details of each farm's events are listed on the Open Farm Sunday website. Please check the site before attending an event as pre-booking is required at some venues.
Leicestershire farms taking part, with links to the Farm Sunday website, are:
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Monday, 12 05 08 - 20:04
East Langton Farm Shop - Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May
Langton Farm Shop at East Langton will be holding farm walks and a barbeque on Bank Holiday Monday the 26th May. Walks will begin at about 10am with a barbeque at lunchtime this looks like being a great day out.
Saturday, 10 05 08 - 17:20
I'll Never Be a Proper Blogger
How do they do it? Guys like Stonehead I mean. He manages to run a smallholding and still blog a couple of times most days. I'm just not that organised or disciplined for that matter.
Take this week for example. On Tuesday evening we collected half a pig from Don Hutton. On Tuesday evening we dry cured the loin and put the leg to brine. That went fine.
On Wednesday we made sausage and faggots, and if it could go wrong, it did. On Thursday we hot smoked some Polish sausage and trout. This is the second test of the new smoker that my nephew Mick has been helping me build. Things went pretty well considering, it will need a few changes, but nothing major.
Now all this would be far more interesting in glorious technicolor but did I think to take photos – did I heck as like. Like I say, I'll never be a proper blogger!
Tommorrow, we're having a sampling session with the sausage and trout – I'm looking forward to trying the 'Chilli Willies' (tomato and chilli) from a recipe on the Sausagemaking.org Forum.
Other items this week, that have caught my eye include:
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Saturday, 10 05 08 - 13:56
Burbage Common Open Day - Sat & Sun, 17/18 May
*Next Event*
From the website www.bcaf.net:
Burbage Common, off Leicester Road, Hinckley
...On Saturday there will be local artist and craft stalls with lots of activities to take part in. Also the farmers market will be coming along and there will be activities based around the food cycle, from where it comes, how it is grown, to composting. In addition some of local Countryside groups will be there.
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Thursday, 01 05 08 - 16:28
New Farm Producer & Asparagus
I was trolling around after dropping Pauline in Hinckley as I often do and came across these signs.
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Saturday, 26 04 08 - 16:40
Leicester Riverside Festival - 7th & 8th June 2008
Leicester’s Riverside Festival at Bede Park and The Mile Straight, Western Boulevard, Leicester takes place on Saturday and Sunday the 7th and 8th of June.
Last year over 14,000 people enjoyed this event which will include street arts, traditional craft demonstrations, world food, real ale, art & crafts workshops and much much more.
For further details see the Leicester City Council Website .
Saturday, 26 04 08 - 16:23
Exton Street Market - Monday, 26th May 2008
Spring Bank Holiday Monday will see Exton, in Rutland, come alive with 200 stalls and over 600 people at their annual Street Market.
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Saturday, 26 04 08 - 16:17
Braunston May Fayre - 5 May 2008, 10am - 6pm
Braunston-in-Rutland's May Fayre will include, among its many attractions, a traditional Farmers' Market
For further information contact smith937@btinternet.com
Friday, 25 04 08 - 20:57
The Leicestershire Show - 4th & 5th May 2008
The Leicestershire Show will take place at Melton Mowbray Airfield on the 4th & 5th May 2008.
For further details see www.leicestershireshow.co.uk
Tuesday, 22 04 08 - 16:51
New Local Food Listings
Since I've changed to Google mapping in the directory, it gives me far more flexibility to list suppliers. I can now start to provide listings for Rutland, for example.
There will obviously be a period of ' playing catch-up' while I research and visit new producers; made more difficult because of the distances involved.
Any suggestions for new listings will be most appreciated. Particularly those smaller farms etc who sell direct but don't have a web presence or advertising.
I've added new listings today for 'from the country larder' a producer of jams, chutneys, preserves, pickles and mustards in Rutland and for the River Nene Organic Vegetables suppliers in the County.
Tuesday, 22 04 08 - 16:40
Sainsbury's - Jamie Oliver
Now, I accept that Jamie Oliver is that famous he can just be referred to as Jamie or JO, just like Delia really. He is apparently the most iconic British chef. Don't mention that next time you see Gordon Ramsey! He's only got 10 (and counting) Michelin stars!
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Saturday, 19 04 08 - 13:00
Bells Brewery News
Jon and Helen at Bells Brewery dropped me an email today saying:
"Just to let you know, we stopped selling foods at our shop in Ullesthorpe a couple of weeks ago. The demand for our range of beers and home brewing was much greater! - we have increased the beer range to over 350 British bottled beers, which is the biggest selection in the UK. Our brewery is still going strong and will be producing a bigger range of beers of all types.
We have also opened a second shop in Broughton Astley, which sells the same range of bottled and draught beers and all the range are available on line for delivery throughout the UK."
That's 350 British Bottled beers – amazing. The selection includes many of the smaller local breweries; Dowbridge, Tunnel, Parish and Langton to name a few.
Bells is based on the same site as Ullesthorpe Garden Centre and the shop in Broughton Astley is at 52D Main St.
Tuesday, 15 04 08 - 17:38
New Producer - Brambles Desserts
It's always good to find producers that make things out of locally sourced food. I have to say that it's becoming easier as the 'local food movement' gathers momentum. Hopefully some of the farm-shops who persist in selling mass manufactured non-local products under their own label will take note – people more and more want to know where the ingredients come from and choose to buy local!
Climbs down off soap-box
It's great to find that Hazel at Brambles Desserts, right in the North of the County uses local eggs, fruit and yoghurt whenever possible in her baking.
See Brambles Desserts directory listing for full details.
Monday, 14 04 08 - 17:27
Northfield Farm Spring Fair, 26th April 2008 10am to 4pm
Northfield Farm at Cold Overton will be holding a Spring Fair on 26 April 2008 between 10am and 4pm.
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Saturday, 05 04 08 - 15:48
Pork Pie War's
The Melton Mowbray Pork Pie is one step nearer been given Protected Geographical Status (PGI) following a 10 year fight.
The BBC reports that, "As long as no other European member state objects before 4 October, the pork pies will be protected for good."
This will mean that only pork pies using a traditional recipe and made in the region of Melton Mowbray can use the Melton Mowbray name. Although the region specified is actually vast - stated to be 1,800 square miles of the East Midlands.
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Local Food Heroes is owned and run by Phil Young and is part of Thurlaston Online. The site lists food producers in Leicester & Leicestershire and is funded by the owner. No charge is made to the producers listed for their entry on the site.