great food, dining out, eating in,
places to stay & visit
summer09
herefordshire magazine
WIN!
Ice cream dreams
flavours festival tickets
5 Festival walks
Cooking with Gino D'Acampo
2009 Awards Shortlist
45 days out
food
drink
cover recipe page 25
summer recipes events
stay
PricÂŁlÂŁss
www.tasteliving.co.uk
TH_COVER.SUMM09.indd 1
2/6/09 17:18:10
Hef_IFC.indd 1
2/6/09 18:47:17
contents
editor’s letter Welcome to your second edition of Taste Herefordshire Magazine. In this issue we look forward to the Flavours of Herefordshire Awards 2009 in October, closely followed by the increasingly popular Food Festival, matching dozens of producers with thousands of visitors at Herefordshire Race Course. This year’s special guest is TV favourite Gino D’Acampo, star of Ready, Steady Cook, famed for making cooking fun and accessible. He’s featured on page 16. Gino will be sharing recipes, ideas and his enthusiasm for cooking with Herefordshiresourced ingredients. Also, on page 27 you’ll find an invaluable listing of ‘Visit Herefordshire’ members. Whether you’re lucky enough to live in Herefordshire or are similarly fortunate in visiting, this listing will show you where you can enjoy eating out in award-winning pubs, hotels, restaurants and teashops; buy local produce or just have a great time in the county.
www.visitherefordshire.co.uk
ingredients 2 News University of the Great Outdoors, champion cider, Mill Race, The Wild Life
2
6 Walking Festival Stride out across the county with some great walks and company
8 Award winners from 2008 A review of Flavour 2008 award winners and happy festival visitors
12 Guide to Vineyards A tour of the vines and wines of Herefordshire
16 Flavours 2009 Celebrity chef Gino d’Acampo, star of this year’s Flavours event
18 Recipes A delicious selection of Herefordshire recipes
23 Meet the producer Award winning ice makers
24 Competition Win tickets to this year’s Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival
27 county’s best
16 18
NEXT ISSUE
Published October
2009
the Pick up a copy at shire rd fo re He of s ur Flavo l iva st Food Fe October 24th and
25th
Members of www.visitherefordshire.co.uk tourism group
30 Events Plan your Summer fun with our exclusive guide to what’s on and how to get involved
32 Final Cut
Bruce McMichael, Editor
Alexandra James of Broadfield Court, winner of the ‘Outstanding Achievemtn’ prize at the 2008 Flavours of Herefordshire Awards
www.tasteliving.co.uk TH_IFC-1.SUMM09.indd 3
2/6/09 18:29:44
drink
HEREFORDSHIRE
Wine
Join Taste on a tour of the County’s finest vineyards and discover the magical alchemy of sun and soil to be found in our regional wines.
I
f you are surprised at the idea of Herefordshire’s wines representing quality and diversity then make a visit one of the County’s vineyards or go to the Hop Pocket Wine Store in Bishops Frome. You’ll soon discover that English wine can be excellent and there is plenty of choice. Although, the last two summers have resulted in lower yields and some higher prices, these wines have some delightfully crisp floral tastes and bags of character. What’s more, they are grown right on our doorstep. So, don’t behave like John Cleese’s character in the TV comedy show Fawlty Towers, when he pompously calls out to one customer: “I’m so glad you are a wine connoisseur, some of our other customers wouldn’t know the difference between a Claret and a Bordeaux in France”. Pop down to see Paddy Shave at Bishops Frome and ask to see his extensive stock of regional wines. (NB. He’ll also tell you that Claret is the most common style of wine exported from Bordeaux!). As he says: “The quality of Herefordshire wine improves year on year and there has never been a better time to taste and buy. It’s great for casual eating, picnic or dinner parties.” Just up the road at Pauntley Court, Jeanie Falconer runs the Frome Valley Vineyard where they produce some lovely, gentle wines from grapes designed to be grown in a slightly damper climate than some other wine growing countries. What you get instead of high alcohol content, is a soft delicacy, subtlety and fragrance. Try Jeanie’s off dry Huxelrebe with its nutty, zesty bouquet or Madeleine Angevine with it’s crisp fruitiness. They are also stocked at the Galanthus Art Gallery, Wormbridge and the Clockhouse Restaurant in Tetbury. Close to the village of Bodenham look out for the turning to Broadfield Court.
12
Hef - 12, 13 - brm - tm.indd 2
Left: At the Hop Pocket Top: Ready for harvest Right: Ripe for drinking
Crisp and dry The first vines were planted here as far back as 1971 and in a good year they can produce up to 50.000 bottles of wine, which includes a deliciously crisp, dry and citrousy Seyvel Blanc, Reichensteiner and a classy sparkling wine, which is a match for anything in the price bracket and ideal for weddings, celebrations or just drinking for pure pleasure. Broadfield Court also boasts an award winning kitchen, beautiful gardens and helpful tasting area. (See also page 32). Closer to Hereford there are vineyard’s at Tarrington and Bartestree which show the individuality of vine production. At Tarrington Court, Catherine Jago and her family lovingly tend just 50 vines on the slopes at the back of their beautiful gardens. The pressed grapes supply enough juice to fill 400 bottles and is kept for family and friends use alone. At Sparchall farm, Edward Watkins has recently planted out a hectare of vines, which includes the red varieties Rondo and Regent. Edward is looking to produce high quality wine as part of his determination to diversify production on the family farm. The Four Foxes vineyard, in Bartestree, is contracted to growing vines for other English wine producers. They and are no longer bottling their own, which is a great shame. However on the other side of Hereford in the village of Madley another farmer Phil Pennigton of Lulham Court has diversified into wine production. Phil produces a great range of wines. They were served at last year’s Flavours of Herefordshire Awards dinner, and can be purchased at Madley Post Pffice and Hop Pocket Wines.
www.tasteliving.co.uk 2/6/09 11:38:49
drink Clockwise from left: Sir Richard Mynors of Treago Castle, Dennis Savage with his Vineyard at Coddington, Jeanie Falconer at Frome Valley Vineyard, The Jaco’s family vineyard
Heading south A little to the south of here is Treago Castle at St Weonards where Sir Richard Mynors grows vines in the family’s walled garden and where his polly tunnels house Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. This allows Sir Richard to produce some deep fruity reds from varieties more usually associated with France and Australia. Sir Richard also experiments with blending in a quintessentially eccentric English manner and I went away having sampled a remarkably vibrant rosè. Any more and I would have had to stay the night in one of his spectacularly sited holiday homes with a view of the castle! Back on the road towards Ross-on-Wye and in the village of Upton Bishop is the Beeches Vineyard at the back of Beeches House. They regularly win awards at the Southwest Vineyards Association Tasting Awards and the house and gardens are a delight. Just up the road from here sits the elegant Pengathley Manor, which also produces its own wine. Their grapes come from an enchanting walled garden and nearby fields. The wine is an especially fresh, dry fruity white wine from a blend of Reichstiener and Syvel Blanc grapes.
Alchemy One of the County’s most charming small vineyards is at Coddington, just north of Ledbury. Anne and Dennis Savage look after a small 2-acre vineyard on the slopes behind their beautiful garden. Dennis is unusual in having all has own equipment for making wine so it really does go straight from the vineyard to the press. They also run a small shop and tasting area, which you can visit by appointment. I really like their Bacchus wine with its almost herby flavours. It’s just perfect with a portion of locally grown asparagus. For something a little more unusual try a bottle of their 2006 desert wine. Dennis admits that “at the end of the hot summer of 2006 our vats were overflowing and the grapes left on the vine developed botrytis and turned into sugar packed raisons still on the vine”. The resulting wine was so packed with concentrated sugars that they were able to produce a fine, sweet, golden coloured desert wine. A real example of how sun and soil came together to create a piece of magical alchemy.
For more information Coddington Vineyard
Frome Valley Vineyard
Ledbury HR8 1JJ Tel (01531) 640668 www.coddingtonvineyard.com
Bishops Frome, WR6 5BJ Tel (01885) 490768 www.fromewine.co.uk
Lulham Court Vineyard
Pengethley Manor
Madley HR2 9QJ Tel (01981) 251107 www.lulhamcourtvineyard.co.uk
Ross on Wye HR9 6LL Tel (01989) 730238 www.pengethleymanor.co.uk
Treago Vineyard
Hop Pocket Wine Company
St. Weonards HR2 8QB Tel (01981) 580208
Bishops Frome Tel (01531) 640592 www.hoppocketwine.co.uk
Broadfield Court Bodenham HR1 3LG Tel (01568) 797859 www.broadfieldcourt.co.uk
www.tasteliving.co.uk Hef - 12, 13 - brm - tm.indd 3
Sparchall Vineyard Tarrington HR1 4EY Tel (01432) 850800
13
2/6/09 11:39:08
competition
WIN! Visit Herefordshire is kindly offering 5 pairs of adult day tickets to this year’s Flavours of Herefordshire food festival, for either Saturday, 24th October or Sunday, 25th October
www.visitherefordshire.com
To be in whith a chance of winning tickets, please answer the following question: Celebrity TV chef Gino d’Acampo will be cooking some fantastic dishes at this year’s festival. Born in Italy, in which city did he grow up*? [ ] Venice [ ] Rome [ ] Naples Closing Date: Friday, 31st July
www.visitherefordshire.com
Hef - 23, 25 - brm - tm.indd 2
PRIZE DRAW Name
Address
Address your entry to: Flavours of Herefordshire Competition, Taste Herefordshire, 18 Princess Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 1LP [ ] Tick here if you do not wish to receive a FREE monthly e-mail Newsletter about the region’s local food and drink. *Have you read his story on page 16?
2/6/09 17:19:05
food
farm shops Your exclusive guide to the best farm food Butford Organics
Legges of Bromyard
Seasonal fruit and vegetables, eggs and cider. Bowley Lane, Bodenham, Herefordshire HR1 3LG Tel (01568) 797195 www.butfordorganics.co.uk
Home reared meat and locally sourced dairy, fruit and vegetables, fish counter and bakery. Legges of Bromyard, Tenbury Road, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4LW Tel (01885) 482417 www.leggesofbromyard.com
Court Farm and Leisure Home grown fresh produce, cakes, biscuits, eggs, meats, wines and ciders, or pick your own fruit and vegetables. Court Farm, Tillington, Herefordshire, HR4 8LG Tel (01432) 760271 www.courtfarmleisure.co.uk
Little Verzons Fruit Farm
September Organic Farm Shop
Wide range of local and national foods. Plus fruits and vegetables picked daily, fresh from the farm. Brecon Road, Staunton On Wye, Hereford HR4 7NE Tel (01981) 500 125 www.oakchurch.net
Organic farm shop selling meat, eggs and yoghurt. New House Farm, Almeley, HR3 6LJ Tel (01544) 327849
Pengethley Farm Shop
Organic fruit and vegetables, bread, cheese, preserves and juices. Hereford Road, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2PZ Tel (01531) 670816 www.littleverzonsfarm.co.uk
Frasers of Turnaston Home reared beef, pork and lamb and other produce including bread and ice-cream. Poston Mill Caravan Park, Peterchurch, Hereford HR2 0SF Tel (01981) 550033 www.turnastone.com
Oakchurch Farm Shop and Garden Centre
Free-range eggs, fruit and vegetables, pork, beef, poultry, bread, milk, butter cheese and yoghurt. Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6LN. Tel (01989 730430
Marston Meats Farm Shop
Quarry Farm Shop
Quality local meat, poultry and home made pork pies. Marston Court, Pembridge, Leominster Herefordshire HR6 9JA Tel (01544) 388328
Home reared beef, pork and lamb. Luston, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0AW Tel (01568) 613 156 www.quarryfarmshop.co.uk
Pan Fried Duck with Asparagus and Toasted Sesame Soy Dressing Serves 4 4 duck breasts 2 bundles of Hereford asparagus, trimmed Cooked noodles, to serve Dressing 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds 5 tbsp Japanese soy sauce 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped 4 tbsp rapeseed oil
Home produced and locally sourced vegetables, milk, bread, cheese, jams, dry cured bacon, home made sausages and burgers, beef, lamb, pork and free range chicken. Townsend Farm, Pembridge, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9HB Tel (01544) 388527 www.townsend-farm.co.uk
Upper Holme Farm Shop Locally produced foods include fresh meat, eggs and dairy, fruit and vegetables and preserves. Home Marsh, Lyonshall, Herefordshire, HR5 3JU Tel (01544) 340294 www.upperholme.lyonshall.net
GREAT FOOD, DINING OUT, EATING IN,
2 tbsp Japanese cooking wine 2cm ginger, peeled and grated 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 lemon, juiced 1 Score the skin on the duck breasts in a criss-cross, making sure that you don’t go through to the flesh. 2 Place the duck, skin side down in a heavy based cold frying pan, place on a medium heat and cook slowly for approximately 5 minutes or until the skin is crisp and golden brown. Turn the duck and cook for a further 3 - 4 minutes. Remove from the pan and allow the duck breasts to rest for 2 minutes.
www.tasteliving.co.uk Hef - 23, 25 - brm - tm.indd 3
Townsend Farm Shop
PLACES TO STAY & VISIT
3 Bring a sauce pan summer09 of salted water to the herefordshire magazine boil, add the trimmed Ice cream asparagus and cook for WIN! dreams flavours 5 Festival festival walks 4 -5 minutes. For the tickets dressing, whisk all of the Cooking with Gino D'Acampo ingredients together. 2009 Awards Shortlist 4 To serve, divide the asparagus between days out four warmed serving summer recipes plates, slice each PRIC£L£SS duck breast into three and place on top of the asparagus. Place the cooked noodles to the side of the duck and spoon over the dressing to finish.
over c45 recipe FOOD
DRINK
EVENTS
cover recipe page 25
STAY
www.tasteliving.co.uk
TH_COVER.SUMM09.indd 1
2/6/09 17:18:10
25
2/6/09 17:21:03
final cut Alexandra James of Broadfield Court with produce at harvest time and vineyard
As you like it Alexandra James is a popular host, actor and winner of several Flavours of Herefordshire awards. Taste met up with her amidst the vines, dairy cows and café at Broadfield Court
B
roadfield Court sits snugly amongst the quintessentially Herefordshire countryside a few miles south of Leominster. Its history can be traced back as far as the Doomsday Book and the buildings and gardens we see today reflect the changing architectural influence of the centuries. Since 1978 it has been owned by the James family, who run the 1,000 acre mixed farm, which includes 380 milking cows and the 13-acre prize winning vineyard. During the last three years the café has also picked up a handful of awards, including café of the year at the Flavours of Herefordshire awards. With its friendly service, excellent locally sourced produce, (often from it’s own walled kitchen garden) and stunning flower gardens it’s easy to appreciate why. A long elegant, chestnut tree lined driveway leads to the Court and if you arrive in the Spring you’ll be greeted by a chorus of birdlife and a dramatic view through the farm buildings and down onto sweeping lawns and classic, old English style gardens. Alexandra James, has been instrumental over the last 23 years helping inspire Broadfield’s growth into the thriving business it is today. Her life is a varied one; she is still working as a successful actor and this summer she will be performing alongside Sir Derek Jacobi at the Ludlow festival. Back in mid-April she was working to find the best blends of grapes to use after last years low grape yield. Juggling all this, alongside the family business, the gardens and the café keeps Alex very busy.
32
Hef - 32 - brm - tm.indd 2
No wonder she enjoys the tranquillity of the gardens and the farm on summers evenings and finds the peace a hugely relaxing. Having also spent time as an actor in London, New York and with the Royal Shakespeare company she finds the evening walk “puts everything into perspective”. Of course having your own vineyard must have it’s compensations and a bottle of Broadfield’s elegant and tongue tingling sparkling wine would seem to be a perfect accompaniment to a summer stroll around the gardens. Visitors can also promenade around the garden, inspecting roses or just relax in the walled gardens admiring the vegetables, which form such an important part of the Court’s approach to catering. Alexandra positively encourages such interaction and takes a real joy at meeting friends and customers old and new. One of her delights is to see her customers eyes light up when they find they are free to stroll throughout the gardens and she no doubt makes a wonderful host at all the wedding parties and corporate events they cater for. As Alexandra’s favourite acting role so far has been Rosalind in Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’, it’s not surprising that if you visit Broadfield Court you to will find it to be, just as you like it. Broadfield Court Estate Bowley Lane, Bodenham, Herefordshire. HR1 3LG Tel (01568) 797918 www.broadfieldcourt.co.uk
www.tasteliving.co.uk 2/6/09 14:10:24
Entries for Flavours of Herefordshire Awards 2009 BREAKFAST
Orles Barn, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562155 www.yourhomeinherefordshire.co.uk
Three Crowns Inn, Ullingswick Tel: 01432 820279 www.threecrownsinn.com
RESTAURANT
The Stewing Pot, Hereford 01432 265233 www.stewingpot.co.uk
Saverys, Leominster Tel: 01568 611051 Yew Tree House, Vowchurch Tel: 01981 251195 www.yewtreehouse-hereford.co.uk Glewstone Court Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Glewstone Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 770367 www.glewstonecourt.com Walford Court Tearoom and Guesthouse, Walton Tel: 01547 540570 www.romanticbreak.com Wilton Court Hotel, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562569 www.wiltoncourthotel.com The New Inn, St Owens Cross Tel: 01989 730274 www.newinn.biz The Bridge at Wilton, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562655 www.bridge-house-hotel.com Pullastone B&B, Hereford Tel: 01981 540450 www.pullastone.com
PUB/INN
The New Inn, St Owens Cross Tel: 01989 730 274 www.newinn.biz The Red Lion, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 730202 www.redlionatwinterscross.co.uk The Bell Inn, Tillington Tel: 01432 760395 www.thebellinntillington.co.uk The Three Horseshoes Inn, Bromyard Tel: 01885 400276 www.threehorseshoes.co.uk The Loughpool Inn, Near Ross On Wye Tel: 01885 400276 www.loughpool.co.uk
GASTROPUB
The Wellington, Wellington Tel: 01432 830367 www.wellingtonpub.co.uk The Moon, Mordiford Tel: 01432 873067 The Mill Race, Nr Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562891 www.millrace.info The Crown Inn, Woolhope Tel: 01432 860468 www.crowninnwoolhope.co.uk
Glewstone Court Country House Hotel & Restaurant, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 770367 www.glewstonecourt.com Wilton Court Hotel, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562569 www.wiltoncourthotel.com The Bridge at Wilton, Ross On Wye Tel: 01989 562655 www.bridge-house-hotel.com Miro Bar & Grill, Hereford Tel: 0845 8728193 www.mirorestauranthereford.co.uk Scrumpy House H.Westons & Sons, Much Marcle Tel: 01531 660233 www.westons-cider.co.uk
TEAROOM
Pots and Pieces Teashop & Gallery, Ross on Wye Tel: 01989 566 123 www.potsandpieces.co.uk Walford Court Tearoom and Guesthouse, Leintwardine Tel: 01547 540570 www.romanticbreak.com The Old Apple Store Tea Room, Bromyard Tel: 01885 489074 www.brockhampton.com/applestore Monkland Cheese Dairy, Leominster Tel: 01568 720307 www.mousetrapcheese.co.uk Mrs Muffins, Ledbury Tel: 01531 633579 www.mrsmuffins.co.uk
TEAROOM IN A VISTOR ATTRACTION The Garden at The Bannut, Near Bromyard Tel: 01885 482206 www.bannut.co.uk
Courtyard Centre for the Arts (Café Bar), Hereford Tel: 01432 346517 www.courtyard.co.uk Warren Farm, Near Bromyard Tel: 01885 482409 Westonbury Water Gardens Café, Pembridge Tel: 01544 232727 westonburymillwatergardens.com
Blue-Ginger Gallery, Home End Farm Cradley Tel: 01886 880240 www.blue-ginger.com Hampton Court Orangery Café, Leominster Tel: 01568 797676 www.hamptoncourt.org.uk
SHOP/RETAILER
Pengethley Farm Shop, Ross on Wye Tel: 01989 730 430 www.pengethleyfarmshop.com Glyn Slade Jones Family Butchers, Kington Tel: 01544 230470 Hopes of Longtown, Longtown Tel: 01873 860444 www.hopesoflongtown.co.uk The Hop Pocket Wine Company, Bishops Frome Tel: 01531 640592 www.hoppocketwine.co.uk
Tyrrells Potato Chips, Leominster Tel: 01568 720455 www.tyrrellspotatochips.co.uk
Townsend Farm Shop and Butchery, Pembridge Tel: 01544 388527 www.townsendfarm.co.uk
Once Upon a Tree, Putley Tel: 01531 670537 www.onceuponatree.co.uk
Herefordshire Farmers’ Market Group, Bodenham Tel: 01568 797 427 www.hfmg.org Canon Pyon Post Office and Stores, Canon Pyon Tel: 01432 830 355 www.realdrinksofengland.co.uk Mortimer Country Stores, Leominster Tel: 01568 770307 Truffles Delicatessen, Ross on Wye Tel: 01989 462 336 www.trufflesdeli.co.uk Mousetrap Cheese Shop, Leominster Tel: 01568 615 512 www.mousetrapcheese.co.uk
FOOD PRODUCERS
Court Farm & Leisure, Tillington Tel: 01432 760271 www.courtfarmleisure.co.uk Country Flavours Ltd, Preston on Wye Tel: 01981 500 005 www.country-flavours.co.uk R.E Williams & Sons, Weobley Tel: 01544 318046 www.mybutchers.co.uk Just Rachel Quality Desserts, Nr Ledbury Tel: 01531 650639 www.justrachel.com Three Counties Gourmet, Ledbury Tel: 0845 0948459 www.threecountiesgourmet.net
DRINK PRODUCERS
Jus Single Variey Apple Juice, Ledbury Tel: 01531 670749 www.jusapples.co.uk Oliver’s Cider & Perry, Ocyle Pychard Tel: 07768 732026 www.theolivers.org.uk Ross On Wye Cider & Perry Co Ltd, Ross on Wye 01989 567 232 www.rosscider.com Jo Hilditch British Cassis & British Framboise Lyonshall 01544 340 241 www.britishcassis.co.uk Chase Distillery Hereford 01432 820 920 www.chasedistillery.co.uk Spinning Dog Brewery Hereford Tel: 01432 342125 www.spinningdogbrewery.co.uk
Visit them now and enjoy the very best of Herefordshire’s food, drink and hospitality. The winners will be revealed at a special Awards dinner held on Friday 23, October, the night before Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival!
www.visitherefordshire.co.uk TH_IBC.SUMM09.indd 3
2/6/09 14:12:22