Fiona Sciolti features with chef Valentine Warner on Alan Titchmarsh Show

Due to be aired TONIGHT, 15th July (8pm, ITV1), artisan chocolatier Fiona Sciolti of North Lincolnshire is to feature on the Alan Titchmarsh ‘Love Your Garden’ programme; showing top chef Valentine Warner how she makes her Lavender & Vanilla chocolate ganache.

The three minute feature was filmed just a few weeks ago when Valentine came to visit Fiona at her home in Brigg, to see for himself just how she uses the flowers from her own garden to make her delicious, botanical chocolates. Fiona lovingly hand-crafts each individual chocolate in her dedicated studio-kitchen in the garden. “The botanical reference is because I use real flowers, fruit, teas, herbs and honey, locally sourced where possible” she says.

Initially, Fiona is seen with Valentine as they wander through the garden chatting about how the different flowers in the garden can be used in the kitchen. The action then moves into Fiona’s kitchen as she works through the recipe for her Lavender and Vanilla ganache; and Valentine lends a hand throughout whilst talking to Fiona about her craft. Fiona uses only natural ingredients: “I pride myself on never using any essences or flavourings in my chocolates, so with the Lavender chocolate for example, I infuse the whole flower head to get the real flavour, just as nature intended.”

Fiona was thrilled and delighted to have such a celebrity chef come and work with her, “It was great to meet Valentine, he’s a real inspiration and he showed a genuine interest in my work.”

This will be Fiona’s third appearance on television this year: In February, she featured in the first episode of The Secret Supper Club with Ollie Smith on Channel 4 and with another local foodie, she helped prepare a three course meal in an old working windmill. More recently, she featured in a three minute television advert with another top celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli when she won a National competition run by the Potato Council, to come up with a quick and easy, but nutritious and original way of serving potatoes. She won with her recipe for crushed Lincolnshire Maris Piper potatoes with pesto, served with pan-seared mackerel.

Fiona’s chocolates are available through local farm shops and delicatessens as well as Farmers Markets and Food Festivals up and down the country. They will also soon be available online through her website www.scioltichocolates.com due shortly to be re-launched

OUTSIDE CATERING AT THE LINCOLN HOTEL - WE NOW OFFER A STYLISH SOLUTION TO ALL YOUR CATERING NEEDS

Catering For Any Event, First Class Food, Drink; Service Comes As Standard.

With over 10 years experience in the hosting of events & weddings in the hotel with an award winning restaurant, The Lincoln Hotel is now all set to offer you this service in your home, office, garden or business.

Our aim is to offer first class stylish food, drink & service for any event where catering is required. From initial meetings to discuss event ideas right through to managing the event on the day, you can relax knowing that “Outside” at The Lincoln Hotel will make your event outstanding!! No matter where or what kind of event you are holding, we can deliver a friendly & efficient first class experience with minimal fuss.

Our event planners are already busy organising catering services and outside catering arrangements for our extensive list of private, corporate and wedding clients.

We are very excited about the amazing outside catering opportunities we can offer for you in Lincoln & beyond!

We hope that lots of you will come along to our launch event on the 14th July at 6pm for a taster of what we can produce in your home or office!

Tennis Playing Piglets Delight Visitors During Wimbledon

The Pink Pig Farm in North Lincolnshire has its own Wimbledon stars this year – a group of little pink piglets who have started to play ‘piggy-tennis’ in their outdoor pen, much to the delights of visitors during the big tournament.

The family run farm, based in Holme, decided to experiment by placing a giant sized tennis ball in the piglet’s pen to see if their staff’s interest towards the big game transcended into the pigs they looked after.

To their amazement the piglets pounced on the ball – rallying it around the pen like a group of tennis passing pros.

“It was a crazy idea we had for getting our pigs involved in the big game,” explained Sally Jackson owner of the Pink Pig Farm. “Pigs are very intelligent animals and they soon got the hang of passing the big tennis ball to each other – it was hilarious to watch!”

Visitors to the Pink Pig during Wimbledon will be able to see the tennis playing piglets on the farm trail, plus treat themselves to a traditional English strawberry cream team in the farm shop.

Fresh Lincolnshire strawberries are being picked, home made fruity scones are being baked and thick clotted cream is being churned for every visitor. But if the strawberry cream tea doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are lots of other tasty homemade teats available in the café including chocolate brownie, flapjack and shortbread, plus a selection of fluffy cakes.

“We are looking forward to getting into the spirit of the game and sharing it with our visitors over a cream tea. All of us, including out pig, will be cheering on the British professionals.”

Dates – until the end of Wimbledon.
Strawberry cream tea - Cream tea include crustless sandwich assortment, homemade scone with clotted cream and jam plus a selection of homemade mini cakes and tea/coffee just £7.99
Address - Holme Hall, Holme, Scunthorpe, DN16 3RE. Telephone-01724 844 466
Opening Times - Monday to Saturday 09.30am 17.00pm. Sunday & Bank Hols 10.00am - 16.00pm.

DIY PIZZA DOWN ON THE FARM

This weekend as part of Open Farm Sunday The Pink Pig Farm at Scunthorpe will be inviting visitors to come along and create their own homemade DIY pizza, made from fresh local ingredients.

Visitors will be able to grind their own flour, find out how cheese is made and where ham comes from, on a fun quiz and farm trail. When the trail is complete, visitors will be able to come back to the farm shop and create their own delicious homemade pizza to take home for tea.

On the day there will also be tractor-trailer rides to the reservoir, where you'll be able to see the pea vining and explore the combine!

The cost of pizza making is just £3.90 pp which includes the farm trail, or £1.99 if you'd rather just make the pizza.

Sunday 12th June at The Pink Pig : http://www.pinkpigfarm.co.uk

THE BULL & SWAN GIVES THE TRADITIONAL SCOTCH EGG A MAKEOVER

The innovative team of chefs at The Bull & Swan in Stamford have given the traditional Scotch egg a series of makeovers and created some tasty new versions especially for the Stamford Feast.

Since the Bull & Swan opened in January, one of the most sought after dishes on the menu has been the Burghley Estate venison Scotch eggs with visitors to the hotel’s bar and restaurant hungry to sample the popular snack.

Following on from the huge demand for these tasty bites head chef Phil Kent and his team concocted a special full English breakfast Scotch egg in celebration of the Royal Wedding which was well received by guests. A combination of black pudding and locally produced sausage meat wrapped in pancetta around a soft boiled free range egg has gone down so well that the chefs have been inspired to create even more mouth watering versions of this humble product originally created by Fortnum and Mason in 1738.

Eight varieties of Scotch egg will be on offer at the Stamford Feast to suit every palate including Tikka Marsala, Sunday lunch (a blend of pork loin, roasted vegetables and apple sauce) and for vegetarians there is a goat’s cheese with sun dried tomato and basil version. Visitors will be able to sample all of the Scotch eggs which will be available to buy and individually packaged with instructions for re-heating.

The Bull & Swan at Burghley, High Street, St. Martin’s, Stamford, Lincolnshire. PE9 2LJ

www.thebullandswan.co.uk

Free Family Fun day shows the real story behind food

On Sunday 12 June 2011, various farms across Lincolnshire will be opening their gates to the public for the annual Open Farm Sunday. This national event is a must for anyone interested in discovering how farmers produce our food, and the ways they care for our countryside.

Open Farm Sunday helps the public understand the story behind food and it’s link with nature, by encouraging them to be interactive and have some fun.
Each event is unique to the host farm. Some are on a large scale and include activities and mini farmers markets. Others are smaller events, catering for specific group visits.

Following the success of last year, Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop in Kirton Lindsey are putting on their own unique family fun day.
Last year the Farm Shop welcomed over 2000 visitors to their outdoor event. This year they have some new additions to their programme of events and a new theme running throughout the day.
This year they have joined forces with “Red Tractor” assurance (www.redtractor.org.uk) to help raise awareness of the quality assurance mark.
The Red Tractor is a mark of assurance that shows the food or drink product meets strict standards of food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare. The Union Flag featured in the logo highlights a guarantee of origin in the UK.
Shoppers may recognise the logo from their trips to the supermarket. It is featured on a variety of food and drink products from milk, to fresh meat and dairy, to produce and cereals.
Through its association with Red Tractor assurance, Uncle Henry’s will offer the public a fun and engaging afternoon whilst underlining the importance of food safety and origin.
“We are even planning a “Red Tractor” Tractor pull competition, so are hoping for some strong visitors!” says owner Steve Ward.
Other activities will include a falconry display, puppets, trailer rides and demonstrations. A raffle will be held to raise money for local charities Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Grayingham Church.

Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), organisers of Open Farm Sunday said: “Last year over 184,000 people visited farms on Open Farm Sunday experiencing the joy of discovering the great outdoors down on the farm. This is a day out with a real difference and so much to discover! Whatever you do at an Open Farm Sunday event on Sunday 12 June, it is a great opportunity to experience REAL farming at first hand and to meet Britain’s famers. Just as each farm is unique, each Open Farm Sunday event is unique. LEAF supports farmers with putting on an event that is not only enjoyable, but gives visitors a really fascinating insight into aspects of the countryside that they would not usually see or experience on an average day out.”

Open Farm Sunday at Uncle Henry’s is on Sunday 12th June and is free to enter. Other farms do not usually charge entry. However this is down to the discretion of the individual farm.
To find out more about LEAF and Open Farm Sunday call 02476 413911 or visit www.farmsunday.org

Tennyson Rises at the Lincolnshire Events Centre

There is ground breaking news at the Lincolnshire Events Centre. Construction has begun on the latest addition to the showground’s buildings. The Tennyson Pavilion replaces the Sponsors Pavilion that was demolished in 2008 to make way for the EPIC Centre. The new Pavilion will be completed in time for the Lincolnshire Show on June 22nd & 23rd.
The previous Sponsors Pavilion was donated to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society by A W Lockwood, on completion of his year of office as President of the Society. The new Tennyson Pavilion will replace this, enabling sponsors and corporate hospitality guests at the Show to be the first to benefit from this brand new facility.
John Lockwood, Chairman of the Agricultural Society, said “I am delighted to be supporting the Tennyson Pavilion; the development will be a great addition to the Events Centre and the Show itself.” He added “It’s perfect for hospitality at the Show, being central to all that goes on at Show and a great place to experience the Main Ring entertainment.”
Local firm, John Roberts Architects, have designed the single story Tennyson Pavilion, which will be situated on the west side of the Main Ring, providing an ideal venue all year for exclusive meetings and receptions. The Tennyson Pavilion, named in honour of Lincolnshire’s world famous poet, is entirely in keeping with the Event Centre’s ethos, the building incorporates many environmental features and is designed to be highly insulated and energy efficient.
Mark Farmer, Chief Executive at the Lincolnshire Events Centre said “The new pavilion will not only provide a new intimate facility for events throughout the year but it also reinforces our commitment to developing this prestigious venue to the benefit of the County’s economy.”
For more information about hospitality at the Show or to book the Pavillion for exclusive private parties throughout the year, contact Laura Luty, Business Development Manager at the Lincolnshire Events Centre.

Jungle Book at The Butterfly and Wildlife Park

This Easter Weekend The Butterfly and Wildlife Park are welcoming back the Shooting Stars Theatre Company who'll be hosting a fantastic Jungle Book Weekend.

All the Jungle Book favourites will be at the Park and there will be many activities and performances for visitors to watch and join in with. Children over 5 can join in workshops with the actors at 11.30 (contact the park to sign up for these as it’s first come, first served) and some of the children will get the chance to appear in the 1.30 show in the park in front of a live audience. This will be a fantastic, colourful, lively and entertaining weekend and we hope to welcome many, many visitors to our fun packed Easter celebration. Of course, there will also be Easter Egg hunts and various Easter craft activities as well.

http://www.butterflyandwildlifepark.co.uk

Hambleton Bakery at Oundle

The new Hambleton Bakery in Oundle will be celebrating its opening by giving out some tasters and drinks on Wednesday 20 April, 11am - 2pm.

Award for Redhill Farm Free Range Pork

Congratulations to Redhill Farm Free Range Pork for picking up another award. From the East of England, Countryside Alliance for the Local Food category 2010.

Vegetarian Week in Lincoln

Lincoln Indoor Picnic at Trinity & United Reform Church in St Martins Square, Lincoln. Saturday 21 May 11am - 4pm. Free entry, first 25 visitors receive a goody bag. Free samples of vegan and vegetarian food, recipes, books, tombola and food stalls. Profits towards animal rescue. http://bit.ly/ePj7W2

Sutterton Farm Shop

Visit the new farm shop at The Thatched Cottage Restaurant in Sutterton near Boston. Butcher, baker and deli, quality, homemade and local produce. www.thatchedcottagerestaurant.co.uk

Asparagus Comes Early!

The asparagus has come early this year for Church Farm in Newark, and no one quite knows why! Usually ready around May the pointy veg has made a sudden appearance surprising everyone.

If you're a fan of asparagus then The Church Farm Shop will be holding an Asparagus Open Day on 16th April to celebrate the delicious spring time delicacy, so pop along to stock up on the locally produced crop.

For an appetising and seasonal meal including asparagus try this recipe from Rachel Green, perfect for an Easter dinner!

Roast loin of Lincolnshire Lamb with Asparagus, Goat’s Cheese and Lavender Leaves
Serves 4

4 x 110g Lincolnshire lamb loins
2 tsp grain mustard
2 sprigs lavender leaves, roughly chopped
1 tbsp chives, roughly chopped
2 x soft goat’s cheeses (approximately 100g)
1 tbsp double cream
1 tsp black pepper corns, cracked
Rapeseed oil for frying
20g rocket leaves
1 tbsp oregano leaves
1 tbsp flat leaf parsley
12 medium asparagus spears trimmed and blanched

For the garlic croutons:
2 slices wholemeal bread, 1cm thick
1 butter, softened
½ clove garlic, crushed

For the vinaigrette:
45ml grainy mustard
45ml rapeseed oil
45ml cider vinegar
Squeeze of lemon
1 tsp runny honey

Trim the lamb loins, then roll in the grain mustard and then the chopped lavender leaves and chives. Wrap tightly in Clingfilm and chill until ready to cook. For the garlic croutons, preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Remove the crusts from the bread and cut into 1cm cubes. Melt the butter in a small pan with the garlic. Then add the bread cubes and stir until thoroughly coated with butter. Place them on a small baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes.

For the vinaigrette simply whisk all of the ingredients together Cream the goat’s cheese, if necessary add a touch of cream to slacken- the mixture should stand in peaks. Season with cracked black pepper corns and chives. Unwrap the lamb, heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the meat for 2-3 minutes on each side, until an even crust forms. Lift out of the pan and leave to rest. Place 3 spoonfuls of goat’s cheese at triangular points on each plate. Arrange the rocket, oregano, parsley and croutons in the centre of the plate and 1 asparagus spear or bean between each pyramid. Cut each lamb loin into 5 slices and arrange on top of the salad. Drizzle some vinaigrette around the plate and over the lamb and serve immediately.

Lincolnshire named the UK's face of British Food Fortnight

Sally Jackson, owner of the award winning Pink Pig Farm in North Lincolnshire has won the coveted title Face of British Food Fortnight 2011 – a national campaign that celebrates the best of Britain’s food (17th September to 2nd October).

Hundreds of farmers around the country entered the 2011 competition, but Sally, from the Pink Pig Farm in Holme North Lincolnshire was announced the winner today by Farmers Weekly Magazine.

“British Food Fortnight flies the flag for British Farmers - and we’ve put Lincolnshire on the map as top notch farming county by winning,” said Sally Jackson owner of the Pink Pig Farm.

“I’m thrilled we’ve won. The competition had farmers from Bedfordshire, Sussex and Wiltshire all in the running. The judges were looking for someone that embodies the UK’s wonderful countryside and has qualities that are wholesomeness, trustworthy, traditional with integrity. My family has been farming in Lincolnshire for over 100 years and we shared all these values; not only with the farming community but also our visitors, suppliers and customers at our farm shop”.

“We are exceptionally proud of what we’ve achieved at the Pink Pig Farm - we’ve opened our farm shop which sells free range pork and home grown treats, launched the hugely popular Farm Trail to visitors from all over the county, and organise a two-day North Lincolnshire Food Festival, one day of which is specifically aimed at kids.

“I can’t wait to work with the team behind British Food Fortnight and Farmers Weekly to show everyone through the campaign what a great farming community Lincolnshire has.”

Sally was chosen by a panel of judges and will launch the national campaign in September throughout the UK. Sally and her farm in Lincolnshire will feature, online and in the campaign’s promotion material.

The judging panel included members of Farmers Weekly Magazine, organisers of British Food Fortnight and author / friend-of-the-countryside Jilly Cooper.

According to British Food Fortnight organiser Alexia Robinson, Sally is the "perfect face" to front British Food Fortnight.

"In Sally, we have found someone who epitomises everything that British Food Fortnight is about. She produces the most fabulous quality distinctive food that reflects the beautiful part of the country it comes from. The work she does with children also makes her a great ambassador for our school programme."

Celebrity judge, Jilly Cooper continued to say, “I fell in love with Sally Jackson – she has such a lovely warm face and I was so impressed by her Pink Pig farm. It is fantastically important that she invites 1,500 school children to her farm because it is so important for them to realise the wonders and importance of the countryside and farming.

“Also it is wonderful that she helps 30 local producers and has won all these awards. So, after a lot of heart-searching, worry and fretting (I would like to give first prize to all of them), I decided to give it to Sally Jackson. I do wish her the best of luck."

Local Food Award

REDHILL FARM FREE RANGE PORK

DECLARED REGIONAL CHAMPION OF THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE AWARDS

Tastes of Lincolnshire member, Redhill Farm Free Range Pork based near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, has won the East of England regional Local Food Award in the annual Countryside Alliance Awards.

Redhill Farm will now compete with 11 other regional champions from England, Scotland and Wales for the UK Countryside Alliance Local Food Award and will attend a prestigious ceremony at the House of Lords on 30th March where the national winners will be announced.

The Countryside Alliance awards celebrate rural life, business, heritage and produce. Entrants are first nominated by members of the public and then judged on their answers to in-depth questions about their business’ role in their community. Community values and commitment to product or skill are the foundations of what the judges are looking for. Britain is split into 12 geographical regions for the purposes of this competition.

“The East of England region covers Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire so we are absolutely amazed and thrilled to have been selected as the winner of the Local Food Award out of all the other entrants throughout such a vast region,” comments Redhill Farm Managing Director, Jane Tomlinson.

The Countryside Alliance East of England Regional Director, Sarah Taylor, visited Redhill Farm as part of the judging process and comments, "Jane & Terry Tomlinson at Redhill Farm are incredibly passionate about their business and true ambassadors for local produce. The knowledge that Jane and Terry have is exceptional and this is evident by the amount of people who queue for their produce at Farmer's Markets. There is also a farm shop at Redhill Farm which is very popular with the local restaurant trade, yet all business has come to Jane and Terry through word of mouth.

Overall, Redhill Farm is a pioneer in the local food industry, their products are second to none and their dedication and determination to help people buy and enjoy local food really does come across - an outstanding business which richly deserves this award.”

First conceived of in 2005, the awards were borne of a need to support and promote rural communities. The Countryside Alliance had long felt the "doom and gloom" tales of rural decline, while true to an extent, did not accurately reflect the spirit of rural people and the efforts of thousands to keep their communities alive.

The national winners will be chosen by a panel which is chaired by the Countryside Alliance Chief Executive and which also includes TV cook Clarissa Dickson Wright, the Daily Telegraph commentator Philip Johnston, Farmers Guardian Editor Emma Penny and Chris Dewbury of Rural Hero supporters, Hunter Boot.

For further information on Redhill Farm Free Range Pork Ltd please visit http://www.redhillfarm.com/ t. 01427 628270

Tastes of Lincolnshire Award Winners

On 1st February 2011 the cream of the crop of Tastes of Lincolnshire members gathered at the Lincoln Hotel for the annual awards. The guests had the prize giving ceremony before being served afternoon tea which included cakes generously donated by Tastes of Lincolnshire bakeries.

The butchers Simons of Spilsy won the ‘producer’ award, with Saints and Sinners from Spalding and Boston Sausage accepting the Highly Commended places.

For the ‘retailers / wholesalers’ group, the prize was given to Ideal Lincs, Burgh on Bain, Market Rasen, and Highly Commended was granted to both Anglia Woods Foodservice of Grimsby and Pocklingtons Bakery from Alford.

First place in the ‘Grower’ category was for Uncle Henry’s Farmshop and Cafe at Grayingham, with Sunnyside Up of Market Rasen and Minting Park Meats from Gautby, near Wragby as the runners up. Thierry Daugeron’s Outside Catering of Stamford scooped the top award in the ‘Caterers’ category with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and Finefood2u, both of Lincoln, taking second place.

In terms of eateries, Pooley’s Tearoom of Messingham, near Scunthorpe was awarded best tearoom for the second year in a row, with the runner up positions being so close that it was granted to The Point Cafe at Gibraltar Point, Sunnyside Up of Market Rasen and The Pink Pig Farmshop and Restaurant in Holme, near Scunthorpe.

The winning pub was Village Limits of Woodhall Spa, a runner up in the 2009 awards, Highly Commended went to The Barley Mow in Boston and the Thornton Hunt Inn from near Ulceby.

Melanie’s Restaurant in Louth went from Highly Commended in 2009 to be 2010’s best restaurant, with the runners up being The Old Bakery of Lincoln and Magpies Restaurant in Horncastle.

Accommodation is split down into 3 categories to cater for the varying types. For Bed and Breakfast’s The Grange at East Barkwith, Market Rasen came out on top for the second year in a row, with runners up Chaplin House of Martin and Kingthorpe Manor near Market Rasen. The Manor House at Martin was awarded the top prize for self catering accommodation after coming second in 2009, and was followed by Elms Farm Cottages of Boston and Poplar Farm Holiday Cottages in Sutton-on-Sea. First prize for accommodation open to non-residents was given to The Olde Barn Hotel at Marston, near Grantham, with the Highly Commended places going to Village Limits of Woodhall Spa and Hickman Hill Hotel in Gainsborough.

The prestigious Mr George Award for Outstanding Contributions to Tastes of Lincolnshire was given to Robin Dennett of Dennett’s ice cream.

The Tastes of Lincolnshire team are really proud of all the winners. They’ve worked really hard to promote Lincolnshire produce and this is reflected through their awards.

Look out for the awards feature in the next issue of Good Taste - Spring/Summer 2011 - out by the end of March.