The Tempest Arms 4th Annual Chutney Festival

Posted on 10/10/2011 by cwildman

The Tempest Arms

Saturday 15th October 2011

The Tempest Arms 4th Annual Chutney Festival  – yes its that time of year again!! – 

 10:30am – 12 noon. Pent up Ambitions; spicy thoughts; We’re all ‘Stirred Up’ – at The Tempest Arms – impress us with your scrumptious, ‘finger-licking’ chutneys and help promote a truly British Tradition.  With tastings; demonstrations and mouthwatering stalls – even entries from Australia & New Zealand – how very international!!  Overall prize – OVERNIGHT LUXURY ACCOMMODATION at one of our 5 Inns –  PLUS – we are thrilled to have received amazing raffle prizes donated personally from the Chairman of Bettys – including a days course at BETTYS COOKERY SCHOOL – proceeds to Marie Curie Cancer Care.  We are looking forward to your entries and a morning of fun!! Please join us!!

Entry forms and labels from hotel reception at the Tempest Arms or call 01282 842450

UPDATE: Chris Varley won again! some fab entries and great compare from Head Judge Julia Marley.

Read My blog from last years Chutney Festival

Posted in Competitions, Eating, Events, Food, Food Competitions, Yorkshire Dales Food | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Secret Tea Cup – Afternoon Tea in The Dales

Posted on 18/08/2011 by cwildman

Having booked months ago for this secret afternoon tea event I had nearly forgotten all about it, on a rainy morning we drove the few miles to the secret location, somewhere near Clapham, the skies were looking slightly brighter, but it was still chucking it down when we arrived.  We hurried into the house out of the rain to be met by our hostess, dressed in a fantastic floral pinnie!

The Secret Teacup

Our hostess had been very busy, the entrance hall and dining room were immaculately set out with a combination of quirky floral chintz and an eclectic mix of best china tea pots, cake stands, cups & saucers….

The Secret Teacup flowers

We were joined by seven other guests for our tea party for nine, as with these events we knew none of our fellow tea drinkers before the event so after brief informal introductions we were offered a cool drink, Yorkshire Dales Garden Cocktail or a rhubarb concoction.  I tried the English Garden Cocktail, delicious & very refreshing and then chatted to the other guests who had traveled from as far as Leeds and other far flung areas of The North.

Onto the main event Tea, Sandwiches (crusties off!) and cake.

A superb selection of teas are available served in that eclectic mix of teapots including Earl Grey, Darjeeling, English Breakfast, Rose Cong Fu (great name), Japanese Cherry, Russian Caravan (another great name!) and Jasmine, other teas, tisanes & coffees are available from The Secret Teacups extensive beverage pantry.  I am no tea expert but enjoyed trying a couple of new brews.

egg mayonnaise sandwich

Delicate Sandwiches (crusties off!) included Homemade Potted Ham with Rocket, Free Range Egg (own freshly laid) Mayonnaise & Cress and Cheese and Homemade Pickle, these were accompanied by Olive & Feta Tartlets and Parmesan & Anchovy Straws, yum….

the secret teacup cake spread

The cakes were simply awesome, Cherry & Almond, Custard Creams (my favourite), Lemon Meringue Tarts, Summer Tea Loaf & superb Scones with jam & cream.

custard creams

Look out for future events, tea tastings & more. For more information and to book see www.secretteacup.co.uk or follow on Twitter @TheSecretTeacup

lemon meringue tarts

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Trout & Chorizo Fishcakes at Kilnsey Park Trout Farm

Posted on 18/08/2011 by cwildman

The excellent Kilnsey Park Trout Farm, smokehouse, fishing, nature trail and tearoom have recently started stocking Yorkshire Chorizo and they have also incorporated the Chorizo into the fishcakes they sell, or should we call them troutcakes! Delicious they are too, I served them simply fried in butter with English girolle mushrooms!

girolle-mushrooms

trout-chorizo-fishcakes

trout-chorizo-fishcakes2

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Chutney Festival – Tempest Arms

Posted on 04/08/2011 by cwildman

The 4th Annual Chutney Festival

at The Tempest Arms Country Inn, Elslack, Skipton

Saturday 15th October 2011 from 10.30am

Chutney Festival Judging

All those pent up Ambitions and Spicy thoughts are being ‘cooked-up’ to produce the best ever chutneys this year – and the Tempest will have some fabulous prizes in store – including a new star prize from a famous Yorkshire Tea Room – here’s a clue – fine teas, coffees, handcrafted cakes & confectionery – you’re going to love it!!

If you would like to enter contact Anne at the Tempest Arms on 01282 842450 for an entry form or see website for more info www.tempestarms.co.uk 

Read my previous experience at last years Chutney Festival here

Tempest Arms Chutney Festival 

Posted in Competitions, Yorkshire Dales Food | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Malmaison, Leeds Loves Food

Posted on 08/07/2011 by cwildman

After the final scorching day of Leeds Loves Food in Millennium Square, I was invited to sample some of Andy Lawson’s (Head Chef of Malmaison, Leeds) dishes as  seen in the Leeds Loves Food food theatre demo earlier in the day, despite nerves Andy performed brilliantly and gave a very informed and professional demonstration amongst the heat & crowds of the midday sun.

Yorkshire Lass Cocktail Malmaison Leeds

Myself and a few other guests were greeted at Malmaison on Swinegate, Leeds and seated in the pleasantly air-conditioned bar for cocktails, we tried the Head bartenders recent cocktail competition entry “Yorkshire Lass” a fragrant Yorkshire cocktail with flavours of Lavender, blueberries and Hedgerows, the cocktail included muddled blueberries, Chase Herefordshire Potato Vodka & Sloe Gin from Yorkshire’s SloeMotion.

 Moving on to the food, to start…

smoked haddock creamed leeks and poached egg

Smoked haddock & creamed leek tart with poached egg, lightly smoked haddock & runny poached eggs are a perfect mix of flavours and were devoured whilst we debated “How to cook the perfect poached egg“! Paired with Chablis, Grand vin de Bourgogne.

to follow…

yorkshire chicken Yellison Farm Goats cheese and crispy ham

Yorkshire free range chicken, Yellison Farm goats cheese, sauté potatoes, walnuts, oven crisp ham, lemon & thyme vinaigrette.  Of course I approve of anything that includes my favourite goats cheese, even if they did try and eat my van!  beautifully moist chicken complimented with the soft cheese and the crunch of the walnuts and ham.  Paired with Gewürztraminer with notes of Turkish Delight (thanks chef), rose water and elderflower.

to end…

malmaison cheese board

cheese selection from the trolley, British & Continental cheeses with walnut bread, oat cakes and chutney.  An impressive selection of local and Continental cheese, exuberantly described & served, complimented with a favourite rich & peppery Austrian Friendly Grüner Veltliner (aka Gru-Vee horrible nickname)!

As we were invited as guests to sample Malmaison, Leeds during Leeds Loves Food I cannot attest to the value although the cheese plate at £8.50 has to be tried, I only sampled four from the trolley,  Epoisses de Bourgogne, Langres, Fourme d’Ambert & Saint Nectaire, but you could be greedy and have more!  Nice atmosphere, good food & wine, try it for yourself….

Malmaison, 1 Swinegate, Leeds

View the Full Malmaison Leeds Menu 

Posted in cheese, chefs, Eating, Eggs, Food, Leeds, Reviews, Yorkshire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bacon Ipsum – A meatier Lorem Ipsum generator

Posted on 07/07/2011 by cwildman

Bacon Ipsum

bacon ipsum

I just love this, tickles my warped sense of humour and fits nicely with a foodie butcher blog!

Instead of the boring Lorem Ipsum content generator why not try “Bacon Ipsum” the same Latin content interspersed with meat words, cuts, joints and dishes, simple but brilliant.  results look like this….

Shankle labore ut, commodo pastrami elit laboris eu sint incididunt salami fugiat swine ut corned beef. Elit nisi do pork chop, andouille irure cillum shankle bacon. Tempor elit cow, sausage mollit beef flank fugiat boudin do labore commodo anim velit pastrami. Spare ribs boudin qui shank. Sint brisket veniam chicken, tail ribeye corned beef jowl ut short ribs esse. Dolor irure non ex, tongue flank excepteur duis ham hock shoulder tempor pork meatloaf. Tempor ea excepteur elit aute. 

Apologies if this doesn’t make you smile but I thought “so random, but so perfect”!

Bacon Ipsum – A meatier alternative to Lorem Ipsum 

Posted in bacon, Beef, burgers, butcher, charcuterie, Chorizo, Lamb, Mutton, Pies, Pork, Sausages, Steak | Leave a comment

Broughton Game Fair & The Dalesman Awards

Posted on 26/06/2011 by cwildman

Had a splendid Sunday and very warm Day at Broughton Game Fair on Sunday the 26th June, after the constant rain all week the field was a bit soft but held up well in the heatwave on the day.  Lots and lots going on throughout the day from a WWII Spitfire flypast, to The Mellings dog & duck display, as recently see on The Dales, David Aynesworth up to his usual antics on the Bird man challenge complete with coloured smoke this year! Falconry, dressage, shire horses, drays and all.

Lots of side shows and exhibitors including my friends from Yellison Farm Goat’s, terrier racing, poultry show, bushcraft demo and of course CRO in evidence everywhere, stands, rope bridges, caving and rescue techniques (The main supporting charity of the event Clapham based Cave Resue Organisation).

The Dalesman Awards were presented shortly after the Spitfire flypast and before we enjoyed a delicious Angel Inn, Hetton Luncheon from Bruce Elsworth.

The Dalesman Awards 2011

  • Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award – presented to Andrew Mear High, Corn Mill & Lets Live Green, Skipton
  • Artistic and Cultural Achievment Award – Swaledale Festival
  • Yorkshireman/Woman of the Year Award – Alan Hinkes OBE, Mountaineer

Congratulations to all and many thanks to The Dalesman & Welcome to Yorkshire for the invitation & hospitality..

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Copper Dragon Bistro, Skipton, Dinner Service

Posted on 26/06/2011 by cwildman

I’v mentioned the merits & surprises of dining on an industrial estate before and Copper Dragon Bistro never fails to surprise, we tried the evening service for the first time last night, packed as usual and after a couple of pints of Copper Dragon Challenger IPA we dined on crab risotto, delicious flavours and cooked just so! Liver & Onions, Thai Fishcakes, Locally sourced Sirloin Steak, Smoked Haddock, Hake on samphire and more…

Check out the Copper Dragon Bistro Kitchen WebCam here

Copper Dragon Bistro, Snaygill Industrial Estate, Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yokrshire, BD23 2QR 01756-704560 Booking Advisable.

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Old Wine but maybe too old? Is it any good?

Posted on 24/06/2011 by cwildman

Look what I found in dad’s cellar! an eclectic mix of vintage bottles of wine & champagne some just the single bottle and others several? but maybe these are just too long in the tooth and may not have even been that good in the first place? I’m not sure and need some advice, all have been kept on sides in a constant temperature wine cellar probably since purchase….  any ideas anyone?  Do I drink em? or is there a market to sell em?

chateau caroline 1970

chateau caroline 1970

barolo riserva speciale 1974

barolo riserva speciale 1974

chateau haut-puylazat 1972

chateau haut-puylazat 1972

marquesde murrieta 1973

marquesde murrieta 1973

Moet & Chandon 1964 Dry Imperial

Moet & Chandon 1964 Dry Imperial

spanna del piemonte 1974

spanna del piemonte 1974

barbera d'alba vendemmia 1974

barbera d'alba vendemmia 1974

 

 

 

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Yorkshire Chorizo en Cocotte

Posted on 14/06/2011 by cwildman

A super tasty simple dish, basically Oeufs en Cocotte with a little wilted spinach and Yorkshire Chorizo

Yorkshire Chorizo en cocotte

First boil some water. Break an egg into each ramekin, season with a little salt & pepper, add a knob of butter on top of each yolk. Place the dishes in the baking tin, pop on the centre shelf of the oven and pour enough boiling water into the tin to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Now let the eggs bake for 15 minutes if you like them soft and runny, or 18 minutes if you like them more set….delicious..

Posted in Chorizo, Eggs, Recipes | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment