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...

July 2020 I have a weak spot for cheese.  So when I heard that Fen Farm dairy have a 24 hour, yes you heard right!, self-service shop, I realised I was entering dangerous territory.  Raw milk from their  Montbeliarde cows is used to make artisan cheese and the most incredible cultured butter I have ever tasted - it's so good that I could probably eat it on it's own...but I'll resist! I had heard many people, all over the country talking about Fen Farm's Baron Bigod cheese, and wondered how a cheese from a small dairy in rural Suffolk has become so well known.  Now I know.  It's exquisite.  Britain's first unpasteurised brie will give any French brie a run for it's money with it's distinctive flavour - earthy, creamy and utterly moorish.  Also well worth a mention is the St Jude's cheese with it's strong flavour and fluffy, mousse-like texture. I never knew butter could have so much flavour until I tried the Bungay raw butter.  The  UK...

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 

March 2018 Kymyz, or kumis, is commonly found on the streets of Bishkek where stall holders pour it to order from large vats.  A bit like watery, slightly sour milk, it is an acquired taste!