An Edible Voyage

April 2021 During my weekend in Aberdeen, I made an exciting discovery.  A few miles outside of the city, close to Kinellar, is Forest Farm Dairy - an organic dairy surrounded by lush green pastures where their cows roam free.   Not only can you get their delicious non-homogenised milk straight from the source via Scotland's first milk vending machine, you can also get many other delicious products made on the farm.  In the cheese line up, there's Scottish curd cheese and some of Connage Highland Dairy's cheeses, as well as Forest Farm's own haloumi - I'm a big haloumi fan anyway so didn't need much convincing, but this was a whole other level - absolutely gorgeous cooked over a BBQ until the outside caramelises and the inside goes all gooey... Anyway, I digress.   Artisan gelato is the highlight of any trip to Forest Farm.  Made in small batches on the premises, it has zero food miles and flavours change regularly.  The honeycomb is an absolute m...

June 2020 Nestled in a pretty, narrow street on the Northern end of the centre of Oxford, among quaint pubs and hanging baskets of colourful flowers, is 2 North Parade.  A tiny but inviting blue shop front leads to a bounty of local produce.  The sweetest local farm strawberries, a vast selection of British cheeses from the very best producers, milk and yogurt from North Aston Farm, all manner of vegetables, Gatineau pastries and quiches, Cotswold beer, and sourdough loaves from both Hamblin Bread and Sourdough Revolution.  And with friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about all things quality produce owners, this the place to come to stock up for a picnic feast.  Find it on North Parade, Oxford 

Spring and Winter 2019 As soon as I arrived at The Free Company, I feel in love with the place.  Accessed via lots of wiggly country lanes, culminating in a farm track, I was welcomed by fairy lights and benches around a fire pit, before being ushered in to a cosy, log burner warmed bunker for cocktails. What a start to an evening!  The concept is simple, you pay what you think the evening is worth - 6 courses showcasing the best of the farm's organic produce that season, served at communal tables in the barn's rustic loft.   A highlight for me is always the bread which is baked moments before serving.  For winter, pork rendered focaccia with St Andrews Cheddar and mushroom duxelle - rich, luxurious, and delightfully naughty tasting.  For spring, yogurt flatbreads warm from the fire, the silky honey butter and crunchy smoked hazelnut dukkah pairing wonderfully with the light charring - a taste and texture sensation! Fazzoletti (handke...