1. Celebrating British Food Fortnight

    Did you know that while the Olympics is taking place, there’s another reason to celebrate?  It’s British Food Fortnight from 27th July until 12th Augutst 2012.  Hundreds of activities are taking place across the country during this fortnight under the Love British Food 2012 umbrella. So enjoy the diverse and delicious food that Britain produces and discover how you can celebrate.

    Braised Beef & Ale Pie by Paul Heathcote

    Around the country there hundreds of promotions, tastings and special menus in pubs, restaurants and shops, special events in care homes for the elderly, scrumptious servings of British food in garden centre cafes, family feasts in children’s centres and lots of fun food and drink festivals and country fairs.

    However aside from these event here are seven things you can do to celebrate the rest of British Food Fortnight.  The organisers suggest all of these ideas will help you buy and eat more healthily, more variedly and to discover the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain has to offer:

    When you are shopping make a special effort to seek out British food. Look at the label. Does it tell you where the food has come from? Does it provide a description of who produced it? And if it is imported is there a British equivalent in-season? 

    Saddle of Lune Valley Lamb by Adam Gray

    Shop in local butchers, greengrocers, farm shops and markets that source locally and they will be able to tell you a little about the person who produced the food you are purchasing. 

    Seek out food food that’s in season – for example, the English plum, marrows, broad beans and squashes are all in-season during British Food Fortnight.  You can find out more about what’s in season by visiting the Eat The Seasons website.  

    Lancashire Hotpot by Nigel Haworth 

    Explore food from different regions of Britain as a fun way of experiencing our culture and heritage. Organisations like the National Trust and the Youth Hostel Association make a special point of serving quality regionally distinct produce from local producers.

    Bread & Butter Pudding by Paul Heathcote

    Cook a British meal for friends – nothing beats the old favourites like Beef & Ale Pie, Lancashire Hotpot, Apple Crumble or Bread & Butter Puddding. Consider inviting friends round for a British Food Fortnight Feast. 

    Pimms Jelly with Cucumber Sorbet with summer berries by Josh Eggleton

    Pick your own fruit. What is better or healthier than being able to enjoy fresh fruit selected and picked by yourself. See here for a list of fruit farms near you or go foraging in the hedgerows for seasonal berries.

    Carrots with tarragon by Paul Heathcote

    Grow your own vegetables. Eating food you have grown yourself  is immensely satisfying. Potatoes, herbs and carrots are easy to grow and you do not need much space to do so. The National Trust is creating 1,000 new allotment plots on its land in the next three years to give local communities the space to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Find out more at: nationaltrust.org.uk/food.

    Also Landshare is a website ‘linking people who want to grow their own fruit and vegetables to space where they can grow it.’ This might mean local community allotment projects, or simply local people or organisations with spare space in their garden. To find out more visit this link: www.landshare.net
    If you were having a British Food Fortnight Feast, tell us what would be on the menu!