Range of the Issue – Cole

THE SPICE

OF LIFE

Cole & Mason Suribachi Mortar & Pestle RRP: £32.24

Harts Price: £25.79

Add style to your table and flavour to your food with Cole & Mason

Cole & Mason Granite 14cm Pestle & Mortar RRP: £32.99 Harts Price: £14.95

HERBS AND SPICES

Cole & Mason’s superb range of kitchenware will satisfy the demands of those who like to use only the freshest ingredients and there’s a fabulous choice of mortar and pestles for grinding herbs and spices.

Having garnered more than a century of knowledge, Cole & Mason know a thing or two about kitchen products. A pacesetter in producing salt and pepper mills, the

English firm has applied its expertise to develop a new range of products for storing and using herbs and spices. From grinders to pourers, spice racks to shakers, each item shares the top-quality design and superior performance that characterises the

Cole & Mason brand.

Cole & Mason Kingsley Herb & Spice Mill Gift Set RRP: £34.99 Harts Price: £28.00

Cole & Mason Herb & Spice Carousel with 16 Filled Jars

A great housewarming gift or present for serious cooks, this comes complete with a range of herbs and spices. The sturdy base and body ensure a smooth rotating action. RRP: £69.99 Harts Price: £55.99

Cole & Mason Ceramic Salt Pig RRP: £21.49 Harts Price: £17.19

Cole & Mason Oil and Vinegar Flow Control Gift Set RRP: £42.99 Harts Price: £20.95

OIL AND VINEGAR

Elegant and accurate, Cole & Mason pourers are perfect for a range of sauces. An ingenious drip return system stops annoying dribbles, so the bottles can be used at the table to add a little extra dressing without the worry of spillage.

HARTS TEAM TIP

To make a flavoured oil, toast preserved chillies, garlic and/ or a herb of your choice in around 125ml of a neutral oil until it becomes aromatic. Remove from the heat and leave it to cool to room temperature. Jon

Control the flow by rotating the top of the pourer. The flow control system allows you to adjust the dispense speed for accurate decanting. Cole & Mason Oil &

Vinegar Mister

RRP: £16.99

Harts Price: £13.59

Cole & Mason Henley Stainless Steel Oil & Vinegar Pourer RRP: £24.99

Harts Price: £19.99

SALT AND PEPPER

Keep your seasoning and spices handy with Cole & Mason’s large selection of salt and pepper mills.

Cole & Mason Regent Stemless

Mills Concrete Gift Set RRP: £58.99

Harts Price: £47.19

RAVE REVIEWS

These are the best salt and pepper mills I’ve owned. Very stylish and practical to use. Plus, the delivery was prompt and I loved the use of the environmentally-friendly packaging inside the box. All in all, I’m a very happy customer! Miss M To see more of what our customers have to say about us, visit wwwhartsofstur.com /reviews.

Cole & Mason Penrose 210mm Electronic Precision Inverta Mill RRP: £53.74

Harts Price: £29.95

Cole & Mason Inverta Flip Mills Gift Set

This clever mill sits upside down to avoid mess on your table. The easy grinding mechanism has a lifetime guarantee and is also suitable for herbs, chillies and more. RRP: £27.99

Harts Price: £19.94

Cole & Mason Derwent Gourmet Precision Copper Gift Set RRP: £79.99 Harts Price: £39.95 Cole & Mason Kew Electronic 2 in 1 Mill RRP: £42.99

Harts Price: £34.39

Stellar Cast 28cm Grill Pan RRP: £35.00

Harts Price: £24.95

CAST IRON Guarantee

Food isn’t the only thing that benefits from seasoning – the pans you cook with do too, as head chef Lou Condie explains. “I’m a big fan of cast-iron pans and have 2 special ones just for steak no one else is allowed to touch!” says Lou, co-founder of Bliss Food Co in Swanage.

“Seasoning cast-iron pans is important – it has nothing to do with salt and pepper but instead involves applying many layers of oil. These are then baked on to the pan through a process called polymerisation. This maintains the naturally non-stick coating and sears meat, fish or vegetables with a unique finish.”

Lou says her locally sourced fillet steaks receive many compliments and attributes this not just to the quality of the meat, but also to the way she cares for the pan she cooks it in.

“You get to a smoking point which tastes like chargrilled, but it’s from a pan! The smoke just seeps up through the meat, adding flavour – there’s nothing quite like it.”

Here Lou explains her seasoning method.

YOU’LL NEED: A quality unsaturated oil. Unsaturated oils are more reactive than saturated oils, making it easier for them to form a protective layer on the metal and “polymerise”. Pure, organic flaxseed oil is commonly thought of as the best, grapeseed is another option. A soft cloth or some paper towels Aluminium foil If you have a new pan – steel wool If you have an old pan – a stiff brush

1 Invest in a quality pan. Most new cast-iron pans can be purchased “preseasoned”, and this is a great base layer to begin with. However, it is still recommended to add layers yourself. 2 Fill a sink with hot water. Most importantly, do not add soap! 3 Wet the brush or your steel wool and

scrub the entire pan down – every inch! The top, bottom, sides, handle – all of it! 4 If your pan is an older version and has spots of rust, be sure to scrub down to the bare metal. 5 Dry the pan well. If you need to, you can place it over a medium heat on your stove to dry it out. 6 Once the pan is dry (and cooled) take a little flaxseed or grapeseed oil and rub it in with your soft cloth or paper towel. Aim to coat the entire pan with a thin layer of oil across and into all parts. Make sure any excess is wiped away. The pan should look nearly dry once you’ve completed this step. 7 Once your pan is beautifully covered in oil, place it upside down inside your oven. Pop some aluminium foil on the bottom rack to catch any drips and bake for 1 hour at 230C. 8 Once the pan has completely cooled off, remove from the oven. 9 Then, repeat the oil layering and baking process at least 3-5 more times. The effort will be worth it. You should now have a glossy, naturally non-stick, black seasoning on your cast-iron pan!

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR PAN

Lou advises: • Always preheat the pan before use –cast iron takes longer to heat and you want that distribution of temperature right before you add food. • Avoid frequent cooking of foods that are high in acidity like tomato sauces – over time they can break down the pan’s seasoning. • When cleaning your pan, the no soap rule is fine, and a very small amount of completely natural soap will also work but is not necessary. Be brave – simply use hot water and retain the integrity of your seasoning! • Always rinse and dry completely. If you aren’t using your pan more-or-less daily, pop unsaturated oil on it and leave it to sink in.

Lou opened Bliss Food Co with friend and business Partner Sally Poole in 2017. The eatery specialises in homemade, locally sourced dishes with meat, fish, veggie and vegan options, www.blissfood.co.uk.

THE LIST

Sorbo Pack of 2 Metal Scourers RRP: £1.25 Harts Price: £0.94 If You Care Recycled Aluminium Foil RRP: £4.95 Harts Price: £3.95

Valet Pot Brush with Stiff Plant Fibre Bristles RRP: £4.50 Harts Price: £3.50

KitchenCraft Cast Iron Grill Press RRP: £16.49 Harts Price: £14.95

Chasseur Cast Iron Matt Black Square Smooth Base Grill Pan with Fold Away Wire Handle RRP: £53.00 Harts Price: £47.70

KitchenCraft Deluxe Cast Iron 23cm Square Grill Pan

Suitable for use on all hob types, including induction, this ribbed grill pan comes with a 15-year guarantee. RRP: £18.79 Harts Price: £16.95

Lodge Blacklock 12” Square Grill Pan

This large skillet is made from lightweight cast iron and tripleseasoned for a natural and non-stick finish. The walls of the pan are sloped, allowing easier access for your spatula. RRP: £164.95 Harts Price: £148.95 Denby Cast Iron Pavilion 25cm Griddle Pan

Harts Price: £75.00

Stellar Cast Iron 28cm Grill Pan This cast-iron pan maintains and distributes high heat superbly, resulting in excellent grilling performance. Suitable for all hob types, it has stay-cool handles and comes with a Stellar lifetime warranty. RRP: £35.00 Harts Price: £24.95

Lodge Blacklock 10 x 20” Double Burner Griddle

For fans of a cooked breakfast, this is hard to beat. Perfect for use on a stovetop, the griddle fits over two hob plates, and the large handles allow it to be lifted easily. RRP: £164.95 Harts Price: £148.95 Judge Cast Iron 22 x 22cm Grill Pan RRP: £34.00

Harts Price: £20.40

KitchenCraft World of Flavours Mexican Cast Iron Fajita Sizzler RRP: £25.49 Harts Price: £22.95

THE HISTORY OF HARTS

Our family business for more than 100 years

At the age of 17 Walter Hart, an apprentice blacksmith, joined the Royal Field Artillery as a farrier. In 1919 he was demobilised from the army and established his own blacksmith business in Sturminster Newton, just a brief canter away from where we are today.

As Walter’s reputation and the business grew, one of his sons, Bill, joined the family business in 1941 and helped his father shoe horses, mend cart wheels and carry out other general repair work. In 1945 Walter’s second son, Eddie, finished his National Service in the RAF and joined the burgeoning family firm.

In 1949 the business outgrew the small workshop, and new premises were constructed on the fringes of a marshy area of town called Butts Pond. We still call this home to this day. Two wonderful blacksmith shops and forges, costing the princely sum of £800, were erected. Sadly, neither are still standing, but you can still see on display, in our store, one of the original anvils and shoeing tools used by Walter all those years ago. Around the time of the new forges, a decision was made to branch out. As Eddie was never that fond of horses, he started retailing agricultural ironmongery, and manufacturing basic farm implements.

By 1973, with farrier work in decline, the manufacturing side of the business had taken off and a brand new factory was built to support this success. Harts was well regarded through the UK farming community, most famous perhaps for its yard scrapers and feed trailers, and exhibited at all the major county shows. Eddie had created a major manufacturing business, and chose to refuse offers from leading national companies to buy him out. He saw the greater value, like today’s generation, in seeing the family business continue.

Eddie’s son Philip joined the business in 1979 and set about transforming the retail shop from an agricultural supplier into a modern, country department store. The local hardware shop had burnt down and closed, and this was the launch pad for the retail arm of the business. The old forge buildings were demolished, and a purpose-built shop and offices were erected. With the business growing, the store was extended in 1984 and again in 1991.

Philip always had his eye on the next big thing and, with that in mind, Harts took its first tentative steps into mail order in the early nineties. Some early success gave us the encouragement we needed, and our first trading website was launched in 1995 - one of the first operational and trading sites anywhere in the country (we had a feature written about us in the Daily Telegraph at the time).

BELOW: An early picture of Walter Hart, the founder of Harts of Stur. The original anvil and shoeing tools are on display in-store.

ABOVE: A Harts and Sons truck loaded up and ready for another delivery.

BELOW: Harts exhibited at all the major country and agricultural shows in the UK. This shows their stand at the Royal Bath and West Show sometime during the 1970s. BELOW: Slightly closer to home, this picture was taken at the Shaftesbury and Gillingham Show, again, sometime in the 1970s.

Continued growth saw yet another expansion of the retail premises in Sturminster Newton in 2003. The online side of the business had proved successful but was being driven forward without a proper direction for a while until Philip’s two sons left university, and joined the family firm in 2006. Johnathan and Graham were able to bring a much greater understanding of the modern, technological world and provided the next generational drive to push forward rapidly with our online presence. The right staff and ingredients were in place, and with hard work and perseverance, as well as quick lessons learned, the internet business has grown very rapidly, becoming a well-respected, national award-winning enterprise.

Our 60,000 square foot despatch centre was completed in 2010 and a new suite of sales offices shortly after in 2013, both purpose-built to give our mail order customers the same level of service and efficiency that our store customers have enjoyed for so many years.

LEFT: Kitchen magazine is not Harts first foray into publishing. This 1992 brochure advertised the range of farm equipment they manufactured.

ABOVE: A screenshot of our first website in 1995.

Since then we have continued to grow as a business to become a leading independent retailer, recognised with a number of local and national awards. The store now encompasses many more departments, including Garden, Tools, Electrics, Camping, DIY, Giftwares, Housewares, Storage, Clothing, Bathroom and of course Kitchen, and is a wonderfully relaxing environment to shop and work in. Our online presence has increased significantly too and a new, innovative and modern website was launched in 2018.

In 2019 we celebrated our 100th anniversary with a series of in-store events and promotions themed around family and food. After 40 years in the business, Philip decided it was also a fitting time to relinquish his custodianship of the business. Philip’s son, Graham, has taken on the role of MD with his other son, Johnathan, becoming finance director. In 2021, work completed on an ambitious redevelopment of our store and garden department, with the addition of a coffee shop.

ABOVE: The newly completed garden department offers a light and airy shopping environment.