Amazing Artisans: Christmas Special Part 2 - Rob Morton

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the crowning glory of the dinner table, Roast Turkey. Turkey Farmer Rob knows a thing or two about rearing the perfect roast, so we caught up with to find out more about how our dinner get from farm to fork, and how he prepares his business for this hectic season.

Quick Fire Questions

Name: Rob Morton

What do you make: we produce free range bronze and Norfolk black turkeys from our farm in Norfolk; we have now also established a smokehouse on the farm where we smoke chicken and duck using chippings from old whisky barrels.

Where can we find your products: we do sell at some local farmers markets but generally most of our sales are through our website www.freerangeturkeys.co.uk where customers can order and pay online, some local butchers also sell our turkey’s. The smokehouse range is also offered online but plans are afoot to roll this out to independent retailers early next year.

Favourite product from our range: oak smoked gressingham duck, awesome

Christmas food heaven: need you ask, turkey with smoked salmon to start and a cold turkey sandwich boxing day.

Christmas food hell: Mulled wine

The Morton's Story

Tell us the story of how you got to where you are today.

MTT started back in 1998 when we started rearing a few geese for Christmas on our family farm in Norfolk. This then led onto doing turkeys and organic chickens. Moving on a few years we now contract grow about 30000 free range chickens a year and produce about 800 free range bronze turkeys for Christmas. We have also set up Mortons’s Smokehouse which specializes in smoked chicken, duck and game.

Describe a day in the life at the Morton’s Farm:

6am – pull on my socks, if on a smoking day then light the smoker

6.30am out of the door to feed the masses, up to 1000 turkeys, 5000 chickens, mainly hand fed, then litter down

8am – breakfast and prepare the children for school, manage orders

9am – load the smoker

10 – 3 pm monitor the smoking process

3pm – cook off the smoke duck etc in the smoker

6pm – pack the products

What does artisan mean to you:

In a nutshell food prepared properly using age old methods but brought into the modern day. It’s all about slowing the process down a bit with great ingredients.

As a business owner, what’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced:

Finding staff that are willing to carry out multiple roles and knowing it’s been done to your satisfaction.

Morton's at Christmas

How and when do you start preparing for the busiest retail season of the year ? Explain the journey that takes your turkeys to the table?

We start around March time, analysing the sales, where they have come from, weights etc. We would look at the previous year’s sales and on the back of that order the varying breeds of day old poults in to match the weights we require at Christmas. Poults come in in early June and are grown right up to about 3 weeks before Christmas. As a rule the first week of December is plucking time, we then hang the turkeys in a cold store for 10 days to mature in flavour (much like hanging game). About 7 days before Christmas day it’s all hands to the deck for dressing and boxing the turkeys ready for delivery.

How do you cope with the extra demand around Christmas?

We have some core part time staff that know what they’re doing and we all buckle down and get the job done

What is the most challenging aspect of running a small business at this time of year?

Weather! If it freezes the pipes to all the chicken sheds need thawing out before you start a day’s work. Snow can stop the pluckers getting in or the couriers delivering. Time is also relevant; we can’t move Christmas day just because we don’t get the work done in time!

What’s your top tip for small food businesses that are looking to prepare for their first retail Christmas?

Plan ahead, order early, get good part time staff and have a backup plan in place for manual despatch of products should the computer system crash - it gets very busy at that time of year.

What help and advice would you like to see available for small businesses at this time of the year?

Maybe help sourcing good part time staff, a pool of staff that have worked in the food sector who are busy during the summertime on other jobs and can then transfer to help Christmas producers.

What will you be serving with your turkey on Christmas day?

I like to keep it simple, just the usual roasties, sprouts etc. And a bottle of beer!

You can find Mortons on Twitter, @mortonsturkeys, on Facebook, or on their website here.

Amazing Artisans: Christmas Special Part 1 - Nila Holden

There's no better time than at Christmas to indulge in a little something sweet, making artisan biscuiteer Nila one very busy lady at this time of year. We caught up with her to find out more about how she copes with extra demand, and her top tips for artisans looking to trade for the first time this Christmas.

Quickfire Questions

Name: Nila Holden

What do you make? Artisan cakes and cookies

Where can we find your products? Via my Etsy & Notonthehighstreet stores, exclusive retailers such as Fortnum & Mason & Houses of Commons, farm shops, delis. We are also stocked in a range of boutiques across Northern France.

Favorite Product from your range? From the Christmas range our biscuit birdhouses or cookie pops.

Food Heaven? I love vegetables - they’re so healthy and versatile. My favs are swiss chard, endives, fennel.

Food Hell? Peas or any food with almond flavouring - marzipan or bakewell tart.

Nila Holden - The story so far

I started baking when I was looking for a cake for my wedding and couldn’t find anything that I liked so thought that try making one myself.

I took a class and became addicted to baking! I’d bake every weekend and take spares into work and soon friends and colleagues started to ask me to make cakes or cookies for birthdays and anniversaries. When I was offered redundancy from job in the public sector it seemed like a good opportunity to try my hand at something new. I set up my business a few months later and here we are two and a bit years later.

My proudest moment as an entrepreneur would have to be this year - we’ve had so many great moments.

We’ve worked with Fortnums & House of Commons and now lots of happy customers in France. We’ve achieved so much in a short space of time.

To me, Artisan means producing a really high quality product that offers customers something a little different - both in terms of look, design and taste. And the service you offer; [it’s] so much more personal and hands on.

Running an artisan food business at Christmas

Personalised gifts are hugely popular at Christmas

We are able to hand stamp a name or sentiment to nearly all our gifts. [This] adds such a personal touch to a gift.

This year we started working on Christmas in May and that has proved to not be early enough!

We start by looking at what sold well last year and then what sort of range we would like to present this year. We don’t really follow trends as such, but there is always so much that inspires me in terms of design. This year has been all about green/red/ivory for us which is a departure from our usual muted pastels. And I’ve been really excited to see the response to the small touches we’ve added to our cookies this year - for example the paper straws we use for our cookie pops.

Achieving a balance between work and home life is hugely challenging at any time of the year, but particularly at Christmas.

In fact, it starts in September with Halloween and then quickly moves onto Christmas as we come into late October/early November as this is when we dispatch most of our trade orders. Because of the nature of our products, we tend to get the majority of our online sales in the first two or three weeks of December, which usually the same time as school nativity plays and Christmas activities.

All in all, the last four months of year are always the busiest. We manage this by preparing as much as possible, such as ordering and assembling packaging, training staff, streamlining processes. I also try to get my own Christmas preparations done as early as possible too. And lots of help from my lovely parents who help out with meals and childcare!

This will be our third Christmas trading, and I still struggle with managing workload at this time of year.

As well as the baking, decorating, packing - there’s all the invoicing, replying to emails, preparing quotes. And then continuing any promotion, social media updates etc. Any tips or advice on how to manage any of these routine admin tasks would be really helpful!

My top tips for small food businesses who are looking to prepare for their Christmas trade?

Make sure you’ve got enough physical space to cope with the rush, you’ll need to store more than usual - ingredients, packaging coming in and products packed up ready to be shipped out. Give some thought your production process and how you will cope with a sudden large order - would you manage? Where are the potential stress points /bottlenecks? Can you put some products out of stock and just concentrate on a few key bestsellers?

But most of all try to enjoy it. It's a stressful, exhausting and manic time, but I'd rather be doing this than anything else and I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I love.

Amazing Artisan Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas can be a stressful time; there’s gifts, parties, and guests to contend with before you can settle down to enjoy your day. Here at Kitchen Table Projects we know that food can be the answer to pretty much any problem and, luckily, our Amazing Artisans have the perfect solutions for a whole range of Christmas dilemmas! Read on to find out some of their Christmas lifesavers.

Gifts

No foodie can get overly-excited by a bog-standard Christmas Hamper. If you know what your foodie likes, why not narrow it down and give them a themed box?

• Spice Kitchen have put together this elegant spice gift set, wrapped in a handmade silk cover. What budding chef would say no to finding one of these under the tree?

• And for the tea drinker, why not get them one of these gift boxes from Luponde. The boxes are packed with 6 classic flavours such as Earl Grey, Peppermint, Camomile and, of course, their ‘Finest Orthodox Black tea’.
• For the health conscious foodie, moral fibre have put together an exciting range of their products in a special Christmas Box, which can be sent with a handwritten message. Perfect if you can’t give the gift in person.

• And the foodie with a sweet tooth? They’ve got their very own box from BakedIn, who have put together a ‘Chocolate Lover’s Delight’ box full of their chocolate themed baking kits.

Stocking Stuffers and Smaller Gifts

If a whole kit seems a bit much, you can pick up smaller gifts. Bakedin offer all components of their kit as separate items, and this ‘Chocolate Mug Brownies’ kit is perfect for an indulgent stocking stuffer or small gift. Or go for a more seasonal gift with this  ‘Little Gingerbread Baking Kit’ from Cookie Crumbles. Get it early and make some gingerbread men to hang on your tree.

If you prefer a more ‘grown-up’ treat, Spice Kitchen have also put together a mulled wine stocking stuffer. Keep a bottle of wine handy and persuade your foodie to try it out on Christmas afternoon.

Of course, not all foodie gifts need to be edible! Stick one of these Macaroon keyrings in their stocking and they’ll think of you every time they head out the door.

Popping in on someone?

It’s never great to show up to a Christmas party empty handed, but it can seem uninspired to show up with yet another bottle. Avoid doing so and stock up on some sweet treats to keep in the cupboard and simply pick up as you head out to yet another Christmas party. Hand one of these over when you get to the door and they’ll be sure to thank you for not adding to the growing pile of alcohol.

Benjamin Chocolatier’s ‘Chocolate Bark’  makes for a really elegant gift. The bark comes in a range of flavours including Salted Pecan Praline, White Chocolate and Raspberry and Sour Cherry, so there’s something to suit every palate.

Or if you just can’t depart entirely from the booze, why don’t you go for a chocolate box from Choctails? Their selections include Aperitif, Classic Cocktails and After Dinner boxes, and there’s an option to make your own selection.  

Or entertaining?

Entertaining at Christmas can also prove tricky. The house can get busy and noisy, especially if you have kids around. Sometimes all you want to do is settle down with a warm drink around a Christmas film. Our Amazing Artisans have some great products to help you do just that.

Why not make the kids evening special, and keep the noise down for a bit, by popping a few of these made-for-melting marshmallows from Belinda Clark into some hot chocolate on Christmas Eve? You can add some brandy to another to leave an extra special gift for Santa with his mince pie.

Rather Santa didn’t drink and drive? The Tea People have put together three Christmas themed teas in a delicious Christmas Pack. Leave him a ‘Spicy Apple Tea’ or a ‘Mulled Wine Darjeeling’ to send him on his way in a more mannerly fashion. Its also great for any tee-total guests or simply just to wind down at the end of the day.  

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Kitchen Table Projects!

November at Kitchen Table Projects

For many people working in the food and retail industry, November means one thing and one thing only: preparing for Christmas. Artisans and retailers may have spent much of the past month putting together their festive preparations, but there’s been plenty of events going on to keep the Kitchen Table Projects team more than busy.

November saw us welcome a new addition to our team, Clare, who will be helping out at KTP a couple of days a week. She’s just started a Masters in the Anthropology of Food here in London, and will be helping to further build the KTP community.

We had great opportunity to network with lots of different people from the food industry at the Roythornes Food Business Breakfast. Inspirational business stories were swapped over a yummy breakfast spread, followed by a morning of networking with faces familiar and new. If you work in the food industry then look out for the next Roythornes foodie event - they’re a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and pick up some invaluable insider tips and advice.

Although many of the larger trade shows concerning the food industry take place earlier on in the year, November offered us the opportunity to attend Food Matters Live and BBC Good Food Show. With thousands of the public flocking to see hundreds of producers and celebrity chefs, the Good Food Shows are always a firm fixture in any foodies diary. This year we saw some of our Amazing Artisans exhibiting their delicious wares, including Hershil, from Dips’, who had an amazing time meeting our favourite builder baker, Richard, runner up from series 5 of The Great British Bake Off. We have to admit Hershil, we were pretty jealous!

Then there were innovative artisans aplenty at the Escape the City Mini Food Festival. The event, hosted by special guests Georgia and Ben from the Kitchen Cooperative, and Max, a local soon-to-be-cafe owner, was driven by inspirational stories and pitches from innovative new artisan producers. Some of our favourites included Morse Toad (personalised chocolate messages), Sweet Hangovers Bakery (alcohol infused bakes), CELIA Lager (gluten free beer), The Grape Club (subscription-based wine club), Hello Sunshine (flavoured butter, whose business had been thought up only days previous to the event!) MoJu (fresh cold-pressed juices) and Kakawa Tea (Peruvian cocoa tea). The second half of the evening was given over to the artisans, allowing people to try their products, some of which were launching to the public for the very first time. It’s always fantastic to meet innovative new producers and hear their stories...we look forward to hearing more from all the businesses featured very soon.

So what’s in store for December? Things will be a bit quiet in the KTP office from the 19th December until the 5th of January - although we’ll still be twittering away and contactable by email, so feel free to drop us a line if you fancy a chat. In between consuming copious amounts of mulled wine, mince pies and turkey sandwiches, we’ll be around at a couple of events, too, including the Impact Hub Brixton Christmas Market Party on the 11th of December. Until then, we’ll be working towards the launch of our new website, and preparing some awesome things coming your way in 2015.

We’ve had a great year and look forward to all the exciting things that 2015 has in store. From all the team at KTP, we hope you have a fantastic Christmas and New Year!

A London Foodie Christmas - Our guide to the most indulgent month of the year

It's official - the Christmas countdown has begun and there's plenty going on in London this December to fuel a foodie’s festive spirit. Here’s our pick of London events to get you in the mood for Christmas.

NORTH LONDON

Pick up some locally grown treats for your Christmas table at the Queen’s Wood Café’s ‘Christmas Fayre’ on the 14th December. Between 12 and 4 the café will be selling chutneys, jams and honey, all made from garden produce. There will be tours of the community garden and the cafe will be serving up cakes and mulled wine to sip on whilst you browse.

There’s a number of festive workshops happening across London that will help you to cook up plenty of seasonal treats. The Culinary Anthropologist is running a ‘Festive Bread workshop’ on the 6th December. The session will teach you how to make a number of seasonal treats for your family and friends, plus there will be a scrumptious Christmas lunch provided. Book soon to avoid disappointment!

If you’d rather have the treats cooked for you, head to the York and Albany in Camden for cockle-warming cocktails, seasonal snacks and meaty meals at the Winter Cabin Pop-Up. Promising a “bijou mountain lodge for urban carnivores”, the Winter Cabin can be hired for groups between 4 and 12 and will be open until the end of February so you can maintain the Christmas spirit into 2015.

WEST LONDON

To pick up some foodie gifts in West London, check out the ‘Good Food Festival’ in Brunswick Square Gardens on the 18th December. There’s loads of stalls to browse as well as cooking demonstrations and a chocolate tasting session from Ubuntu Chocolate. Not to be missed!

Leith’s cookery school has put on a number of classes especially for Christmas. From ‘Cake Decoration’ to an “Italian Christmas’ you can pick up the essential skills for a perfect Christmas from one of the most respected cookery schools in the world.

SOUTH LONDON

South London is the place to be for festive pop-ups. Check out Jimmy Garcia’s ‘The Lodge’ on Hildreth Street, Balham. The venue has been transformed into an Alpine Lodge, and with a menu which includes cheese fondue, it’s London’s answer to apres-ski (minus the ski). If you’ve already had your ski holiday and are looking to embrace wintery London life, Caiger & Co are running a Christmas pop-up in Borough Market. Using produce from the market this event will provide you with a unique perspective on London’s famous food market.  

South London also offers the perfect solution to the ‘what-do-I-get-them’ question. Brixton Cornercopia have put together a hamper full of foods made in the Village, perfect to stick under the tree for a South London foodie! You can also pick up gifts at the Clarkshaw Brewery’s ‘Christmas Party’ at the Tyrrell Trading Estate on the 7th December. You can build your own Christmas hamper with the artisanal charcuterie, cheese and, of course, beer, which will be available to consume on site and take away. Tours of the brewery will also take place on the day.

If you have your gift-giving sorted and are looking for the perfect decorative touches, why not make them edible? EcoLocal are running an “Xmas Edibles’ decorations class on the 14th December where you can learn to make unique decorations for your home using food.

EAST LONDON

Night Tales returns to Shoreditch until the 20th December, with a long list of guest teams providing the very best in street food. In addition to food, cocktail bars will provide seasonal drinks, so you can get a head-start before heading out to check out the infamous Shoreditch nightlife.

Christmas can be a tough time for vegan foodies. Not to fear! Dinner Exchange East is serving up a 4 course vegan dinner on the 8th December. Not only will the very best in sustainable eating be on offer, but the meal will be accompanied by live jazz provided by Valia Calda.

For those of us counting the calories this Christmas, Made in Hackney is running a ‘Xmas Feast Community Class’. This pay-by-donation class will teach you how to make a delicious and nutritious festive meal, so you can dine ‘guilt-free’ this Christmas.

Get all your shopping done in one place with the Growing Communities’ Stoke Newington Farmers Market, where trees will be available alongside the impeccably sourced meat and veg normally on offer. There will also be a number of organic goodies for sale, so you can pick up a few edible gifts whilst you’re at it. Or, for an East London twist on the Christmas hamper, check out  ‘Hackney Hampers’. They’re packed full of treats from small producers all over Hackney; the perfect gift for the locally-conscious foodie.

We’ll be donning our Christmas jumpers and getting into the festive spirit by attending the Hub Brixton Christmas Market Party on December 11th. For one night only, the Impact Hub Team will be transforming our usual co-working space in a traditional German Christmas market, complete with mince pies, carols and stalls showcasing the wonderful wares of local artisan makers. If you’re in the area, why not pop by and join us for a glass of Glühwein (or two); it’ll be the perfect way to ignite that festive feeling whilst supporting amazing local producers too.

What foodie events will you be attending to get into the festive spirit?

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