Rabbit Faggots – The Bull @ Broughton, Skipton

Posted on 30/07/2009 by cwildman

I’d just like to say “the Rabbit Faggots at the Bull @ Broughton are really quite excellent”!

Rabbit Faggots

Rabbit Faggots

Following on from my previous post about Nigel Haworth’s latest pub enterprise we have just been for lunch and had excellent Wild Rabbit Faggots with Roast Courgette Purée, Tomato Juices £5.50 as a starter followed by the 100% Chargrilled Minced Hellifield Highland Beef Steak, English Muffin, Real Chips cooked in Dripping, Mustard Mayo, Tomato Relish and Pickles £9.75.

Other dishes tried in our luncheon party included the excellent Loose Birds Free-Range Chicken Coarse Liver Pâté, Golden Raisins, Cumberland Sauce, Toasted Homemade Bread £5.50

a very large plateful of Whitby Scampi in Beer Batter, Fresh Broad Beans and Peas (very green, seasonal, fresh and very delicious), Real Chips in Dripping, Lemon and Black Pepper Mayonnaise £14.50

and Limestone Country Beef Ribeye 8oz served with Real Chips cooked in Dripping, Garrick Farm Flat Mushroom,
Willowdene Watercress and Battered Onion Rings £17.50

The Bull always looks busy at opening times and if possible I would go late rather than early to avoid a wait, saying that the staff are very personable and attentive and it really is no hardship having a quick drink whilst waiting for your table, choose from the excellent local selection of hand pulled Timothy Taylors, Copper Dragon or Hetton Pale Ale along with Peroni on draught, a comprehensive wine list is also available.

More info on the The Bull @ Broughton, Skipton, North Yorkshire website

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Local Food Hero !?

Posted on 24/07/2009 by cwildman
Local Food Hero

Local Food Hero

Wow just had a telephone call from the BBC and Paganum has been nominated in the Market Kitchen Local Food Hero competition for 2009 and you can vote for us until the 7th August 2009 by visiting the Local Food Hero Website and clicking on the vote now button.  Please do vote for us and leave any comments about our service and product.

What is the competition criteria?

LOCAL
We’re looking for…
• Supporters of the community; who champion food with a strong connection to the local area. For example, this could mean employing staff who live nearby; providing training tie-ups with colleges; celebrating regional culinary traditions; sourcing of local ingredients, and offering a key service to local residents.
• Businesses that best reflect the strengths and diversity of their regions:

FOOD
We’re looking for…
• renowned taste
• Quality produce
• Friendly customer service
• An awareness of seasonality, animal welfare and ethical issues
• Respect for the land and how it is farmed.

Heroes might include a range of businesses, such as the coffee shop selling delicious home-made cakes; the local fishmonger; a deli offering a range of local produce; or the butcher selling meat from locally reared animals.

Cheers
Chris

Please Vote for Paganum in the Local Food Hero 2009 competition

Posted in Food, mail order meat, Yorkshire Dales Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Yellison Farm Goats Cheese

Posted on 14/07/2009 by cwildman

Stephen Akrigg and Harry Metcalfe of Yellison Farm, Carleton, Skipton produce excellent Cheese, have just been on a farm visit and watched Harry preparing a fresh batch.  They were also testing some new shapes for the cheese in homemade plasticine! I tried the semi hard hand rolled log, that was the cheese not the plasticine and it is without doubt quite delicious.  The soft semi hard cheese is hand rolled in logs and rounds for savouries, hoping to try a few recipes soon, maybe starting with a simple red onion & goat cheese tart?

They also produce “Crowdie” a soft spreadable cheese ideal for desserts and dips that comes in tubs and again it is a delicious soft cheese, very mild with a Philadelphia texture.

You can buy Yellison Farm Goat Cheese from Verdes Deli in Skipton or try it locally at The Angel, Hetton or The Bull @ Broughton.

Yellison website or follow Yellison Goat Cheese on Twitter.

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Natoora Continental Food

Posted on 14/07/2009 by cwildman

Natoora, French & Italian food delivered to your door, Natoora describe themselves thus  “A unique range of superlative fresh food and groceries, including fruits and vegetables from the markets of Milan and Paris, delivered to your home”

They were kind enough to offer me a trial selection and this was delivered promptly in chilled packaging wrap and cool blocks, not as eco friendly as the Paganum sheeps wool packaging solution but still very effective.

I tried a selection of cured meats including Jambon de Bayonne, Mortadella Di Bologna Felsineo, Breasola Punta Anca IGP, Prosciutto Cotto and Prosciutto di Parma.  Our favourites were the excellent Mortadella and superb Breasola I must have a go at making my own Breasola!

On the cheese front we tried the classic unpasteurised Brie de Meaux which was particularly smelly and full of natural grass flavours, just how I like it! and a huge piece of Parmigiano Reggiano (0.67kg) which has been superb, buying a bigger lump helps it keep and is a fantastic must have ingredient and keeps for weeks if not months.

Also included were some dry goods including, long spaghetti, our family favourite linguine, Vialone Nano Novello rice, celery crackers perfect with blue cheese and some delicious Fairtrade Alter Eco Organic milk chocolate with hazelnuts.

The meat available is more local coming from Jack O Shea’s, Tuscan Farmers Sausage & Grass Fed Black Angus Burgers were both proper meat and excellent quality, the Tuscan farmers sausage are particularly authentic coarse continental style sausage, you either love em or hate em!

All in all a great selection of continental grub supplied efficiently by mail order, well worth a try. www.natoora.co.uk

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Yorkshire Show – Food

Posted on 14/07/2009 by cwildman

The Great Yorkshire Show is the North’s leading agricultural event and takes place from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 July 2009 on the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground on the edge of the spa town of Harrogate.

Great Yorkshire Show

Great Yorkshire Show

Lots of foodie events at the show including top chefs Rosemary Shrager, Stephanie Moon & Bruce Elsworth in the Game Cookery theatre, bread making, smoothie making,  a cheese show and cheese making demonstrations and of course the vast food hall containing many of the best local suppliers and producers including stands from the Yorkshire food group – Deliciously Yorkshire.

The Great Yorkshire Show will also see the launch of Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen, an essential guide to the very best of local produce and recipes from local food heroes and celebrity chefs, beautiful photography and food highlights for planning an appetising day out – all in one easy-to-use full colour book.  Available at the show at a special introductory price of £6.50, Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen is available through farm shops, independent delis and local bookshops, as well as online at www.deliciouslyorkshire.co.uk It retails at £9.99.

Yorkshire Kitchen local produce directory

Yorkshire's Own Kitchen - local produce directory


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Malham Show Farmers Market

Posted on 09/07/2009 by cwildman

Malham Show in the shadow of Malham Cove will be held on Saturday 29th August 2009.  Events run all day and main ring events from 12 noon. A traditional Agricultural and Horticultural show now running for over 100 years.  Events and attractions include, Brass Band, Cattle, Sheep, Horse Jumping, Hunter Classes, Heavy Horses, tug of war, Children’s sports, Egg throwing, Classic cars, Vintage Tractors, Farmers Market, Craft tent, food & drink.

The Farmers Market will include Yorkshire Dales Meat, cakes, plants, granola, preserves, bread and more, if you are a local food producer and would like to be included in Malham Show Farmers Market please get in touch, contacts on the website.

Link to Malham Show Website

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Leeds Loves Food “a food lovers festival”

Posted on 02/07/2009 by cwildman

Leeds Loves Food “a food lovers festival” runs from the 2nd until the 5th July 2009, events include,  live cookery demos in Millennium Square with James Martin and chefs form top Leeds Eateries Harvey Nics, Casa Mia, City Cafe & Alea.  Food tastings, chocolate trail, promotional offers and giveaways at various venues.

Leeds Loves Food Festival

Leeds Loves Food Festival

Details of the Leeds Loves Food Twitter Food Review Competition

“Leeds Loves Food – and we know that you do too, so why not let the world know? We’re holding a competition for the best restaurant micro-reviews. To enter, all you have to do is write your review in less than 140 characters and text it to Twitter with “#LLF” at the beginning of your text.” More details on LeedsLovesFood.

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Champagne Tasting with Joe Fattorini

Posted on 02/07/2009 by cwildman

More from the Grassington Festival…

After an entertaining evening with Blowers – Henry Blofeld “My dear old thing” earlier in the week Tuesday evening  brought Champagne Tasting with Joe Fattorini at the Fountaine Inn, Linton.

Joe Fattorini Champagne Tasting

Joe Fattorini Champagne Tasting

With a similar format to the Beer Tasting Evening Joe Fattorini who is one of the world’s leading wine experts introduced “Champagne” and his talk included some history, methods of production, grape varieties and a few good stories, we tasted 6 Champagnes from a variety of houses.

The six Champagnes we tasted were :-

  1. The Mystery Wine and not strictly a Champagne but the English equivalent Primrose Hill from Chapel Down, Tenterden, Kent and very good it was! Colour = delicate hue of summer roses, light aroma, spritzy feel and full palate, flavours of redcurrants, creamy strawberries & a hint of rosehip.  Available from Booths @ £16.99
  2. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV, Golden colour, aromas of bread, yeast. £33.58
  3. Bollinger Special Cuvee NV, one of my favourites and our guides favourite Champagne house, intense & aromatic. £34.01
  4. Nicolas Feuillatte Rose NV, from a cooperative with an onion skin salmon pink colour, tastes of alpine stawberries and a light bodied balance, blended style. Available from Oddbins £35.99
  5. Perrier Jouet Blason Rose NV, more restrained but complex nose and a bit more peppery, liqorice, strawberries and redcurrants. £39.78
  6. Bollinger Rose NV, red cherry & raspberries, complex, this newly launched champagne was exclusive to Selfridges now available elsewhere. £41.40

    What did we learn?
    Some of Joe’s musings included – Champagne is traditionally grown on Limestone areas as are Sancerre and Chablis, the same Limestone geography of the Champagne region emerges under the channel in Kent giving the English the favourable possibilities of replicating Champagne growing possibilities along with climate change adding to the effect.

    Champagne is made from 3 main grape varieties but a few houses use others, the main grape varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and the lesser known grapes include Pinot Blanc, Arbanne & Petit Meslier.  Only one Champagne House “Moutard” use all six grape varieties in its  ‘Cuvée aux 6 Cepages’.

    It is said that the more expensive Champagnes have more bubbles and the older the Champagne the slower the bubbles, books have even been written just on the topic of Champagne bubbles and its true!

    The magic letters of wine when tasting and describing are B L I C, that is
    Balance
    Length
    Intensity
    Complexity

    Most good wines taste of 2 or 3 things, very good wine may taste of 4 or 5 things and excellent wine can taste of 10 things!

    Food and Champagne matching suggestions :-
    Champagne is brilliant with Lamb or even with a curry!

    Joe had lots more to say and explain on the subject of Champagne and it is well worth attending one of his events or presentations, Joe recommends further reading on the subject in the following books:-

    Uncorked: The Science of Champagne
    The Healing Power of Champagne: History, Traditions, Biology and Diet
    World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

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

    Beer Tasting with Jane Peyton – Grassington Festival

    Posted on 25/06/2009 by cwildman

    Grassington Festival 2009 here in the Yorkshire Dales is now well under way with a varied choice of events from the arts, entertainment and even some food and drink events.  Last nights event was “Beer Tasting with Jane Peyton” at the Craven Arms, Appletreewick out the back in the beautiful Cruck Barn.  Jane is originally a local lass from Skipton but now living in London, Jane is an author, beer & wine tasting tutor, events producer and public speaker.

    What did we learn?
    How to taste beer of course and a little about beer ingredients and flavour, colour, aroma, taste, feel and head.  We tasted and marked 6 beers and tried to guess if they originated from the North or South! the bees and results are shown below.

    Jane was an excellent tutor and speaker and kept us amused throughout with gems of information and beer anecdotes, great fun and very informative.

    The main ingredients of beer are water, hops, malted cereal and yeast.

    Beer was the third alcoholic beverage to be invented, the simpler process of making Mead and Wine coming along first. The word Honeymoon is about beer! from the suggestion that to aid fertility you should drink Honey Beer for a month after your wedding.
    The UK is the 5th biggest beer drinking nation by capita and whilst we import 99% of wine we produce 92% of our own beer!

    Food and beer matching suggestions :-
    Traditional Porter and Oyster or chocolate e.g. Fullers London Porter and chocolate, really brings out the flavour in good quality chocolate.
    Smoked beer and bbq food, Chinese black bean sauce dishes and smoked food in general.
    Fruity beer and cheese e.g. Brakspear Triple and Blue Wensleydale.

    The six beers we tasted  :-

    1. Hetton Pale Ale, Dark Horse Brewery, Hetton, Yorkshire Dales, ABV 4.4%
    2. Sand Rock from Ventnor in the Isle of Wight, a smoked ale, ABV 5.6%
    3. Combine Harvest, Batemans, Lincolnshire, a multigrained beer of malted oats, malted rye, and malted wheat, ABV 4.7%
    4. Grozet, Craigmill brewery, a fruity gooseberry ale with a hint of honey,  Scotland, ABV 5.0%
    5. Triple, Brakspear, Oxfordshire, ABV 7.2% a triple fermented, triple hopped strong beer with a hint of Fruity Bubblegum, HubbaBubba maybe!
    6. London Porter, Fullers, Smooth, rich, and strong, ABV 5.4%

    and the scores on the doors, not everyone appreciated the smoked beer therefore coming in at 6th place, some very close scoring put many of the beers on a par but the winner was the Brakspear Triple with that hint of bubblegum!  looking forward to next years event already and I do have the Grassington Festival Champagne tasting still to look forward to and I won a prize – dinner for 2 at the Craven Arms so I will be back again soon!

    Posted in beer, Events, Yorkshire Dales Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

    More Pies – Drake & Macefield this time!

    Posted on 17/06/2009 by cwildman

    Drake & Macefield Butchers in Skipton & Settle produce my favourite Sausage Roll, they are very popular and always run out when I arrive so tried the pork pie and I spotted one last lonely Steak & Kidney pudding, had to try that as well and they were both excellent.  You must try the Steak Pudding, full of steak and some nice chunks of kidney, enrobed in a rich meaty gravy and a light herb suet crust, steam over a pan of water for 20 minutes and make some rich gravy to go with it, fantastic!

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