The Real Stars of Center Court: Strawberries and Cream

Wimbledon is all about tradition. There is no arguing that when the the covers come off the Courts on Monday next week, Tennis (and the hope of another successful year for Andy Murray) won't be the only thing on everyone's minds. The sun comes out, Sue Barker makes a welcome return to our screens, and everyone heads off in search of the tournament’s snack of choice: strawberries and cream. And it’s not just strawberries that get supporters munching during the Tournament. In fact, Wimbledon is the largest annual catered sports event carried out in Europe.

But boy do we love our strawberries; on average 28,000kg of them will be picked, prepared and enjoyed with 7000 litres of cream by around 53,500 visitors to the ground over the course of the Championship. According to the top bods at the ground, the strawberries served are Grade 1 English strawberries from Kent, which is super important, not only because it supports the British economy, but also because pickers can pick the fruit right at its peak, meaning that we can eat perfectly ripe and juicy strawberries at their best time. Wimbledon also ensure that all their products are from LEAF registered farms, a scheme that aims to promote sustainable farming methods that produce food of a high environmental standard. So although strawberries are consumed in their masses during the tournament, Wimbledon continues to adhere to tradition and support British producers.

So the story of the Centre Court strawberry starts on a farm in Kent. The strawberry plants first start to develop in Spring, producing their first fruit around June, when the strawberry experts from Wimbledon come to make sure they have the best strawberries with a good colour and shape. To ensure freshness, the strawberries will be picked the day before serving, arriving at Wimbledon at around 5.30am, where they are inspected and hulled.

At Kitchen Table Projects we think its great to hear that Wimbledon support local British farmers and sustainable farming methods. We might not be heading to Wimbledon to watch the action live, but will definitely be enjoying some fresh, local strawberries to get in the spirit! If you want to do the same, why not check out your local farm shop or PYO to pick up some sweet treats, or if you’re feeling a little more creative (and the British weather forces us inside) then why not try this fab recipe that we love here at KTP. After all, if the British fail on the court, then we might as well take on the kitchen!

Your June Store Cupboard

June is a great time to cook and eat some great seasonal fruit and veggies. The sun comes out (okay, sometimes the sun comes out) giving you the perfect excuse to kick yourself out of the kitchen and explore your garden, local farm shop or independent greengrocer. Trying something new doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive or pretentious- sometimes the best discoveries are the ones we’ve been living with right under our noses.

The Garden Pea is one of the many greens that are at their best in June, but for a lot of people peas are eaten mushy and that’s it. Peas are, however, a really versatile ingredient and make a great alternative to your standard lettuce in a salad. Here at Kitchen Table Project HQ, we can’t wait to try this recipe with our roast chicken for a summery take on a Sunday Roast.

Another great green to try in June is the Broad Bean. Like the pea, this tasty little legume makes a great starring role in lots of dishes, and is super easy to grow if you do fancy embracing your inner Alan Titchmarsh.  We think that this broad bean and chorizo risotto would be just the thing for a satisfying friday night sups.

June is also a great time to be eating Courgettes, another green that has been getting a fair bit of attention recently for its fantastic health benefits. It may be super healthy, but we can’t resist a brunch plate piled high with these amazing Courgette fritters. These little beauties are just calling out for fresh coffee, salsa and sunshine- the perfect weekend treat! And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, finish off with a slice of this Courgette Loaf Bake- sounds weird we know, but the courgettes make the mixture super moist, plus it's super easy to make. Trust us, you won’t be able to pass on a slice!

Asparagus is another green that is great when picked and eaten in June. For us, there is no better way to enjoy it then grilled in a bit of butter and then used as a replacement (or an addition!) to your egg and soldiers.

Fruitwise, it can’t be denied that June is the month of the Strawberry. Without it, Pimms wouldn’t be the same, scones would feel naked, and the spectators at Wimbledon would be sure to have a bit of a breakdown. Strawberries are delicious on their own as a summery snack, but there are tonnes of delicious recipes around for you to try. This Strawberry Pavlova looks far too tempting to resist!

Another great but underrated June fruit is the Gooseberry. Gooseberries can be quite hard to find in the supermarkets, so it’s best to look for them in your local greengrocer or independent market. If you do manage to get hold of them, we recommend having a go at this yummy Gooseberry Custard tart. A bit more technical than your standard pavlova, but we guarantee it will be worth the effort!

What have you been eating this month? Tweet us @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #EatFresh

Forget the Football- The Brazilian Food Festa Right Here in London

Its official- England, along with the rest of the world has entered in to a state of football frenzy. This June thousands of people will be flocking to the Southern continent to cheer their country to victory, but you don’t have to venture halfway around the world or even be a football fan to enjoy the festa. In fact, as Kitchen Table Projects have been discovering, there’s plenty of ways to experience a taste for Traditional Brazilian and Latin American culture right on our doorstep here in London.

It is no secret that Londoners love South American food- not just eating it, but cooking it too. Whether it be the battle for the best Burrito in London (for us, its got to be Daddy Donkey near Farringdon- Lunchtime in the office regularly leaves us dreaming of the Carnitas Daddy D) or the newest exciting Brazilian street food stand- If you’ve got a hankering for some salsa and some spice, London pretty much has the answer.

After a more traditional taste? There is a whole bunch of really great independent deli’s, markets and Latin American grocers across London that source and sell traditional, specialist Artisan products. Our favourites have to include Empório São Paulo (Parson’s Green) and La Bodeguita (Elephant and Castle). Here you might pick up some traditional Brazilian Requeijão, a ricotta-like cheese with a creamy taste that’s great in salads, or Linguiça, a cured sausage similar to Chorizo. Or jump on the Victoria Line and head north to the Seven Sisters indoor market, where you can find an abundance of traditional Latin items produced by local native foodies and crafters. Be warned, this is not your average fruit and veg market; the Latin Salsa music blasting and the smells of spices and amazing food cooking will leave you wondering whether you really did make it to Brazil.

A taste of Latin London with be incomplete without a visit to one of the many independent Latin American restaurants across the capital. You can expect to be served anything from a huge variety of dishes; from Feijoada, a stew made from black beans and cured meats that has widely been considered to be Brazil’s national dish, to flavour fusions that mix Traditional British food with a Latino twist, London pretty much has everything.  We love the menu at Prima Dona in Brixon, which is based on traditional Brazilian street food (plus its right next to the Kitchen Table Projects office so its a perfect lunchtime treat!) We also think that it really great how John Rattagan, the chef at the Buen Ayre (Hackney) draws on his experiences living in Buenos Aires and uses the techniques in his cooking that he learnt whilst living there, such as the art of the asado (the Latin equivalent of a BBQ). Camden has its own quirky offerings; both Coco Bamboo and Made in Brasil offer great menus as well as a tasty take on the Brazilian favourite Caipirinha Cocktail. But if you seriously know your cocktails then Cocobananas, a Brazilian Beach shack in the South of London, is the place for you to head- plus they’ll be showcasing the football live from huge screens if you’re keen to stay updated on all the action.

There’s also some great one off events happening around the city as well. Another great place to enjoy the party is at Boteco Brasil in Soho. This gigantic party  will immerse you in Brazilian culture by not only showcasing the football, but will also host cookery and cocktail classes, Brazilian martial arts and samba demonstrations, as well as live music. Or if you’re really serious about getting into the Brazilian spirit and learning about their culture, then why not book yourself into one of Jenius Social’s special World Cup cookery classes and learn to cook, as well as eating, great authentic Latin American cuisine.

So whether you’re a football fan who is keen to embrace the spirit of the event, or just someone looking for a slice of Latin culinary culture, make sure to support these great independent artisans, makers and producers to experience food which not only tastes amazing, but tells a great local story, too.

Kitchen Table Projects Visit the South of England Show 2014

This weekend Kitchen Table Projects headed down to the South of England Show in Ardingly, West Sussex. Despite some initial doubts after a morning downpour that left us reaching despondently for our wellies, by the time we arrived at the showground the sun had made a welcome return and left us with smiles on our faces and ready for the day ahead.

And what a beautiful day it turned out to be! Not only was the weather perfect, but the show was really fab and it was great to see so much support for British farmers, makers and produce. Giving makers and producers the opportunity to attend shows like this really gives them the chance to tell their stories and shout out about how fab their products are. It was wonderful to see so many people passionate about such a variety of produce. The showground was huge, showcasing a huge variety of produce, products and animals. From pigs to pygmy goats, bees to handcrafted beer- you name it, they had it!

There was also loads of events that took place throughout the day, and as we visited the show on the last day, we were lucky enough to see the final prize winning breeds and meet their farmers. My favorite had to be one of the prize-winning Highland calves; how can you not fall in love with this little guy!

Other noteworthy events that took place during the day included sheep shearing and horse shoeing demonstrations, as well as a number of horse trials, including a Shetland Pony Grand National (don’t be fooled- they might be small but they sure are fast!)

Nor did we leave the show with empty stomachs. With two huge food halls and markets, there was a huge variety of treats to satisfy even the most diverse foodie tastes! There was plenty on offer to taste and purchase; shout out to the man on the Wrights Original Stall selling the delicious lemonade and ginger syrups- you were so friendly and enthusiastic, and it was lovely to see someone put so much passion into selling their products.

By 6pm the crowds were thinning, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the South Down, and it was time to make our way home. We had such a fantastic day...we’re already looking forward to next year!

Amazing Artisans: Benjamin Bonetti

This week we got chatting to Benjamin Bonetti, an established self-help author & hypnotherapist, fitness, nutrition and well-being coach. He launched his Pro Raw Chocolate Bar this April, a healthy chocolate bar that is made using Whey Protein powder combined with  80% stone ground raw chocolate. The chocolate is Fair Trade and aims to promote a healthy lifestyle based on eating foods in their nutrient dense, more easily digestible raw state. We caught up with Benjamin to chat about his experience in the world of start ups.

How It All Began...

Benjamin said that he saw a clear ‘niche in the market’ for his healthy chocolate Bar. His inspiration to develop this kind of product came from his own ‘passion for health and fitness’; a combination of the three naturally drove him to the development of the chocolate bar that exists today. For him,He said that his product is ‘something that everyone wants but no one can buy’, tapping into the popular health food market and aiming to make a product that is desirable and accessible.

Why Did You Want To Start Your Own Business?

Benjamin said that having ‘been an entrepreneur for the last ten years’ the main motivator and the best thing about being an Entrepreneur and starting his own business was ‘the freedom to do as I please.’ He says that he has a ‘no nonsense approach to business’ and his products.

Spreading the Word

Spreading the word about his products came predominantly through online channels that targeted his existing customers. Benjamin said that using social media played a large role in his market strategy, with ‘80% of marketing spent using social media channels.’ He said that for his business, this was the most successful way to target his demographic, as ‘it provides geographical and consumer specific targeting, which minimises the cost-to-delivery.’

Challenges

On being asked about any challenges he faced during his product’s journey from conception to production, or if he now knew anything that he wished he knew before he started, Benjamin replied that ‘Everyday something new has to be learnt; it’s the understanding that nothing is static which produces true entrepreneurialism.’ We have to say we agree- the world of start ups is a fast-paced and ever-changing place to work!

What Do You Plan to Do Next?

‘It’s a secret…watch this space!’

We look forward to finding out more!

If you’re interested in following Benjamin’s independent foodie adventure then you can find him here on Twitter, or on his website, http://www.benjaminbonetti.com. His Pro Raw Chocolate Bar is available to purchase here.

Are you an Amazing Artisan who wants to be featured on our blog? We'd love to hear from you- drop us a Tweet @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #AmazingArtisan or send us a message to hello@kitchentableprojects.com

Meet the Team: Nicky

Hi everyone, my name is Nicky.

Having recently graduated, I really wanted to do something creative. As an editor of my University paper, I was really interested in independent ventures. I knew how important it was to give independents a voice, something that might otherwise be lost next to huge multi-national businesses that don’t leave much space for the little guys.

Kitchen Table Projects really interested me because I’m mad about indies and I’m mad about food. I’m a massive foodie - I love Mexican if I’m eating out and I’m a bit of a dab hand at meatballs if I’m cooking at home. When I’m not busy cooking it, eating it or sharing it, I love writing about it too. I’m also bit of a nerd… On a lazy Sunday afternoon, you’ll probably find me curled up on a sofa with a cup of tea and a good book or walking around the National Gallery. I love to travel, next on my list are Australia, China and Japan – but I’m just as happy with a weekend away in Cornwall too.

So that’s pretty much me! I’m really looking forward to properly sinking my teeth (if you’ll excuse the food pun) into everything – I’ll be in charge of the Kitchen Table Project blog, so watch this space!

Fun Fact: When I was 9 I won a Blue Peter competition by drawing a picture of the queen for her Jubilee- and I got to meet Quentin Blake!

Meet the Team: Josh

Hi everyone, my name is Josh.

As a Drama and Theatre Studies graduate, my journey here has been a really interesting experience. After I finished university, I wasn't really sure what to do next. I just knew I was ready to take on the big bad world!

Looking around me, I was struck by the number of people who were embarking on incredibly exciting projects in London. They were all busting a gut to fulfil their desires and do what they truly believed in. After talking to them, I knew that what these creative trailblazers really needed was a bit of extra encouragement, support and exposure.

So in August 2013, I created Miro magazine to help support and promote emerging creative talent. It’s a really great team who work tirelessly to find the best emerging artists. One April morning, I came across Kitchen Table Projects. Immediately, I knew I was up for the challenge and I can't wait to get started.

Fun Fact: I'm a twin!