Celebrating British Food Fortnight

Britain is at the heart of global gastronomy. Year on year we continue to grow delicious produce which quality is hard matched anywhere else in the world. We’re innovative, we’re diverse and we’re passionate about providence; eating is and has always been central to the British way of life. From your mum’s Sunday roast, to juicy strawberries from Kent or the highest quality hand-reared bacon from your local butcher, food continues to remain at the heart of every Briton’s life. The meaning of British food stretches beyond our stomachs; it reflects our love and pride for our produce, for our farmers and producers, for our country. Because of this, it’s never been more important to champion the plethora of produce our country continues to produce every year.

British Food Fortnight was first curated in order to do exactly that. Starting out in 2002, the team set out to organise a celebration of all things food, primarily aiming to highlight the importance of buying quality, fresh, local and seasonal foods and the health benefits of doing so. British Food Fortnight has since firmly established itself as a significant event in the British gastronomic calendar, attracting the attention of food producers, farmers, the press, chefs, the government and the public alike. Today, the team use the two week celebration as a time to  educate people on all the different and exciting ways you can cook, eat, grow and enjoy British Food, encouraging people to understand more about the plot-to-plate provenance of their food.

As you guys know, Kitchen Table Projects are big on providence and love hearing all the fantastic stories behind our Amazing Artisans’ products. So, in celebration of British Food Fortnight, we put together a list of our ten favourite, can’t live without, British exports.

Meat

Wander down any supermarket meat aisle and you’ll be confronted with huge variety of homegrown offerings. Britain is famous for our delicious Beef, Lamb and Pork, but we also produce amazing game and venison, too.

Tea

Need we say more? Black tea, Builders Brew or Milk’ n ’two… Blighty wouldn’t be without a Great British brew. We’re a thirsty bunch, consuming on average 62.2 Billion cups of the stuff every year.

Marmite

The jar that’s always lurking at the back of the cupboard, the spread we love to hate...the KTP team are firmly in the ‘love it’ camp - do you love it or loathe it?

Strawberries

The British summer staple. The sweet snack of choice at Wimbledon, only bettered with a little cream and a dashing of sugar.

Clotted Cream

Dressing our naked scones for, well, forever. And no, we’re not about to get into the ‘cream then jam’ or ‘jam then cream’ debate.

Cheddar

Tall blonde 5 year aged cheese seeking: creamy butter, handsome ham and a toasty machine to tuck him in at night.

Colman's Mustard

Nigella famously carries a tube wherever she goes - we’re not sure we’d go to quite the same lengths, but it certainly is a firm favourite in British cupboards far and wide.

Oxo Cubes

The underdog of the spice world. Your friend when you forget to buy gravy, perfect for jazzing up a Shepherd’s pie. No Brit cupboard is complete without a tin.

HP Sauce

The tangy friend of bacon butties and Sunday fry ups. Simples.

The Yorkshire Pudding

And we’re not talking about Aunt Bessie’s here, either. Step outside Britain and it’s a crispy eggy mess; To all englishmen - the holy grail of roast dinners.

You can support the campaign by going to www.lovebritishfood.co.uk, where you can find out more about the events going on near you and the ways you an help raise the profile of amazing British food.

Tell us - what British foods get your mouth watering? What in your cupboard could you absolutely not live without?

Top Picks: London's Best Independent Delis

We’ve all been there. Grabbing a Starbucks before dashing for the tube; popping up the road to pick up your meal deal from Tescos at lunchtime; ducking into one of the seventy-seven London branches of Nandos (yup, Londoners really love their chicken) for a quick bite on the way home from work. With a new chain eatery popping up on just about every street across London, eating out and buying your food on the go has become more convenient than ever. In fact, in a high street dominated with big-guy chains and supermarket giants, it can be easy to forget about the capital’s thriving independent scene. Kitchen Table Projects love discovering quirky new coffee shops and delis, and supporting their unique menus, thoughtful service and quality produce. And we’re not alone. 75% of the foodies that filled out our ongoing survey said they were bored of what they were seeing in the supermarket, and 72% of you were ready to try something new. So this week, we’ve put together a list of our go-to deli’s across London (and one not-so-local favourite!)

The All-In-One: Greensmiths (Waterloo)

With a Butcher (ran by the amazing guys from  The Ginger Pig - check them out if you haven’t already), Baker, Greengrocer, Coffee Specialist, Wine Merchant, as well as in an in-house cheesemonger and a whole host of grocery and dairy products in stock AND a delicious cafe, Greensmiths is a little deli with a helluva lot to offer. Branded as a local independent supermarket, this little gem is sure to give even the most established high street giant a run for their money with its attention to detail, passion for its produce, and delicious cafe fare. A must for anyone looking for convenience with a conscience.

The Brilliant Butchers: Dugard and Daughters (Herne Hill)

This family-run butchers nestled in the heart of South London is bursting with pride for their produce, and are really passionate about the future of independent shopping in London and beyond. On the butcher side of the business you can find anything from Rare Breed cuts sourced from small English farms, to a wide selection of poultry, game, lamb and pork, all sustainably sourced. And be sure to check our their Aladdin's cave of deli and store cupboard products; a selection that will be sure to make foodies and store cupboard hoarders alike weak at the knees.

The Unique: The Dry Goods Store (Maida Vale)

We love the unique concept of this cute little deli in West London. The Dry Goods Store have embraced a more traditional shopping experience where you buy grocery items by weight. This means busting the time-old problem of half-used packets that sit in the cupboard for months, as well as encouraging a more sustainable shopping experience where shoppers reuse their packaging and reduce their waste. Like us, they love independents, and are keen to champion skilled artisans from London and beyond. They hold some cracking events, too - follow their tweetings to find out what they’ve got coming up soon.

The ‘Viva Espania’ - Brindisa (London Bridge)

We might not have their weather, but Brindisa’s Deli at Borough Market brings a taste of the Mediterranean sunshine to London, even on the rainiest, dreariest days. This eye-catching deli offers something for all lovers of spanish gastronomy, including hints and recipe tips for creating your own authentic tapas at home. Sounds good to us...pass us a Sangria!

The Italian Job - The Italian Farmers (Finsbury Park)

Continuing your Mediterranean foodie journey, make a beeline for The Italian Farmers at Stroud Green. Offering authentic fresh and store cupboard Italian staples shipped direct from farms across Italy, this charming deli is super keen to support authentic Italian produce, attempting to combat the large counterfeit Italian produce market both here in the UK and in Italy. They offer some great events and tasting evenings too - be sure to check out their website to find out more.

The ‘Get the Greek’ - The Life Goddess Deli (Bloomsbury)

We love this little Deli in Bloomsbury, which aims to make great Greek food a defining feature of London’s gastronomic map. They believe that cultivating, preparing and sharing food is a ritual, and that food is a symbol of respect, gratitude, friendship and love. Selling great traditional produce, The Life Goddess aims to import this into everything they do. London breakfast-lovers, make sure you check out their breakfast menu!

The W11 - Daylesford Farm (Notting Hill)

This Deli is jam-packed with local produce sourced from their farm’s market garden, as well as fresh produce daily from their butcher, creamery and bakery.They’ve been farming organically for over 30 years, too, and love drawing out the process of farm to fork so their customers know exactly what they’re putting in their mouths. Unfortunately their W11 branch will be closed for the summer whilst they make some exciting new improvements, but will be open again from September. Until then, we wait with anticipation...and grumbling stomachs!

The Hidden Gem - Swiss Cottage Grocers (Swiss Cottage)

Tucked away on Finchley Road, this charming Grocers offers an amazing array of organic fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a number of store cupboard essentials. Prices are fair and there's a little trunk at the front for good seasonal deals. Check it out if you’re in the market (excuse the pun) for some quality, delicious ingredients for your next summer evening dinner party.

The Out of London - The Hungry Guest (Petworth, West Sussex)

Jump on a train this weekend and head off to the beautiful West Sussex, where you can find this amazing Deli. Nestled in the heart of the South Downs in the sleepy market town of Petworth, The Hungry Guest serves delicious freshly-baked breads, tasty lunches, homemade cakes and coffee, as well as boasting a wholesale artisan bakery and food shop, complete with its own butchery, cheese room and catering service (phew.) They’re serious about food and sourcing local produce, and love making sure their customers leave full and happy. Brunch, anyone?

Have we missed something out? Tweet us your faves @KitchTablePro!

Kitchen Table Projects Visit Do You Love Food 2014 at Loseley Park, Guildford

We may not have been at Glastonbury last weekend, but Kitchen Table Projects certainly embraced the festival spirit this weekend by pulling on our wellies, braving the torrential weather, and heading to the the Do You Love Food Festival at Loseley Park, Surrey.

Despite the rain, the festival was bustling with whole range of different producers, including the team from BakedIn, who we go to have a chat with (which will be up on the blog tomorrow- keep your eyes peeled!)  As always it was great to see such a huge variety of independent artisans, and to see them embrace the miserable British weather with such determination and cheerfulness!

There was also a huge range of street food on offer (which left us significantly more full than when we arrived)- we sampled some amazing duck wraps, gourmet sausage rolls and delicious cakes (on top of all the samples offered by the artisan stalls...woops!)

One of the best parts of the festival had to be the cookery demonstrations. Michelin star chefs, TV stars, Bakers and Wine experts showed off a variety of tasty dishes and products over a number of different themed stages. We loved seeing Great British Bake Off contestant Cathryn Dresser do her thing making some delicious cakes on the bakery stage, but our favorite demonstration of the day had to Stefan Gates. Although the show was probably aimed more at children (but aren't we all kids at heart?) we loved his exploration of the science of food- it really is true that you learn something new every day!

Even with the torrential rain we had a really great afternoon. And anyway, A British summer without unexpected downpours is like Wimbledon without Strawberries- It just doesn't happen!

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