The periodic food shop – A new take on the supermarket sweep

It’s time for the weekly food shop and we all know the story. Down to the local supermarket, oooh mangoes 2-4-£1, beef half price and milk £1 for 4 litres!

Okay food environmental and ethical issues have been brought to light in the media recently, with numerous angles to consider. Clocking up air miles from overseas produce transportation has to be weighed against importation creating diverse economy and supporting livelihoods, deforestation, the horsemeat scandal (I’ll never look at IKEA meatballs the same….) to name but a few.

However I am not here to preach/judge or anything of the sort. I am sure you guys can make your own mind on each topic. I’m just here to inform you about off the beaten track adventures, and I’m afraid to say supermarkets are definitely ON the beaten track 🙂

So if supermarkets are off the menu, where else I hear you ask?

Recently on a jolly down to Cornishland I took a trip to both Rick Steins (a large consumer of local food produce and creator of taste bud tingling cuisine) and Cornish Gouda (suppliers of milk, gouda cheese and guardians of happy cows).

Rick Stein (@Rick_Stein) has a few chomping shacks down our way, actually he basically owns Padstow!

Rick Steins Cookery School!

He sources from local suppliers, we nipped along to his cookery school where the mackerel handled were so fresh they were still stiff! Rick endeavours to use fishmongers that receive day boat, hand line and hand dived fish to maximise sustainability. It didn’t just stop at the fish, they source the best in local produce from Warrens meat to Roddas cream, the local economy is always supported.

The freshest of fresh mackerel, I actually cooked this one!

Down at Cornish Gouda (@CornishGoudaCo) the Speirings family own and run their dairy farm, where the cows have access to everything from water beds to a robot milker (which the cows choose to go into, they love it!). Son Giel has set up ‘Cornish Gouda’, a self sufficient cheese making business which utilises 1/5th of the milk the farm produces.

After receiving a tour of the farm it was apparent how passionate Giel is about his cheese.

The cheese maturing shelves

From the ingredients…..

Cheese in the brine for 3 days

The way the cheese is manufactured (using an eco friendly wood burner, where the only electricity consumed is a 15 minute a day cooler and the lights!).

Cheese making doodad

To the clients he produces for.

A couple of varieties, honey and clover on toast = yum ‘posh dinnerparty’ cheese on toast

It also made me feel terrible that in many cases supermarkets pay less for milk than its costs the farmers to produce it. So we need to embrace all farmers markets and local shops we can, let’s support these guys whose livelihood depends on our custom 🙂

Back to London! Next time you think ‘supermarket shop’ take a little time considering the guys that supply the big cheeses, and instead support them 🙂

Here is an overview of farmers markets and local shops.

London Farmers Markets WITH MAP!

Tuesday: London Bridge, South Kensington (SW7)

Wednesday: Swiss Cottage (NW3)

Thursday: Bloomsbury, Whitecross (EC1), Hammersmith (W6)

Saturday: Balham, Ealing, Notting Hill (W8), Parliament Hill (NW5), Pimlico Road (SW1), South Kensington (SW7), Twickenham, West Hampstead, Wimbledon (SW19), Hampstead Community Food, Stoke Newington (N16), Broadway Market (E8), Oval (SE11), Stepney, Partirdges Food Market (SW3)

Sunday: Blackheath (SE3), Brixton (SW9), Islington (N1), Marylebone (W1), Parson’s Green, Queens Park (NW6), Walthamstow, Alexander Palace, Brick Lane Sunday up-market (E1), Last of each month Dulwich (SE21), Herne Hill (SE24), 1^st & 3^rd Sunday Swaffam (PE37), Chiswick (W4),

Miscellaneous: Benwick Street (W1) Mon-Sat, Wed-Sun Greenwich, Mon-Sat Borough Market

A salivating sausage from the guys at @bostonsausage in Borough Market

Oh and I know how you all enjoy restauranting. So take two seconds to ponder where the food you’re served comes from. Do you know? Would you like to? Its something I will try and think more about now!

A beef burger from @flatironsteak, I know owner Charlie is super hot on the quality & care of the cows that make up his menu! Tell you what its apparent to the super super food 🙂

To conclude, this year due we’ve had a dry June and now it’s turned a bit……….wet, the hedgerows are fruit galore!!! Get picking those blackberries (anywhere there are brambles), apples, sloes, damsons and elderberries!

My apple and blackberry cake, with some errr icing ‘surgery’ on the side

Blackberry & Apple Jam!!!

Rick Steins

http://www.rickstein.com/

http://www.rickstein.com/Food-Heroes.html – Producers Rick has visited, categorised by food type and region.

Cornish Gouda

Talvan Farm, Lanreath, Cornwall

http://www.cornishgouda.co.uk/

01503 220 194

giel@cornishgouda.co.uk

Boston Sausage

Flat Iron