Say Cheese, curds and whey…

For a different day out, what about a day making cheese?

Monkland Cheese Dairy near Leominster offers a cheese making experience day, and I was lucky to be bought one as a birthday present.

The day starts with a full health and safety check when the budding cheese makers – we were five – are kitted out appropriately – huge rubber aprons, hairnets and wellies – and reminded of hygiene practices to follow through the day.

Into the dairy, we find that the main vat is already full with over 500 litres of freshly delivered milk quietly warming up. Another vat with nearly 200 litres of milk is warming nearby. To both a bacterial starter culture has been added to create lactic acid which helps to build the cheese. When the milk reaches a temperature of about 30ºC the magic begins. A small quantity of rennet – an enzyme – is stirred in to the milk. The warm bacterial soup now divides with the help of stirring into curds, which will be used to make the cheese, and into whey, a sweet tasting transparent liquid.

At this stage we found that the process varies depending on what kind of cheese the maker wants e.g. hard or soft. For soft cheeses, the curds are separated from the whey once a suitable cure has been obtained, and packed into moulds (full of holes) in which the curd cheese solidifies and whey drains off. For hard cheeses, the apprentice cheese makers were found all kinds of manual tasks to help make the cheese – stirring the curds and whey, cutting up the curds into squares after the whey had been run off (called cheddaring), testing the acidity of the lactic acid, and milling down the curd before adding salt. Through these processes we noticed how the curd changed in terms of solidity, structure and taste.

Finally it was time to form the hard cheeses, filling plastic moulds with the curds, and allowing them to firm up, before placing them in presses.

This is just day 1 of the life of a cheese. It now has to mature during which the various components of the cheese including fat, protein, bacteria (yeasts) and salt conspire together to develop its taste. In the gaps in the making process, we were encouraged to help with turning cheeses in the cheese store, and putting holes into cheeses to encourage the growth of blue cheese. It’s fascinating to think that in most food production areas presence of bacteria would be a disaster – not so in a cheese dairy.

We experienced a few things that you don’t appreciate when you eat a craft cheese – the amount of work in the cheese dairy that is manual and arduous, the care taken with each step of the process, the amount of washing up and washing down, and some cheesy jokes.

The softer cheese we made (or helped make) will be ready in about 6 weeks, the harder cheese in about 3 months. The whey will go to feed some very happy pigs.

If you fancy a day cheese making in very pleasant surroundings, find out more at www.monklandcheesedairy.co.uk. Look out for the cheeses we made in coming months!

October 6, 2015October 6, 2015

This weekend for The Big Apple Harvestime celebrations in Herefordshire 10th and 11th October

For an afternoon, a day or a full weekend – the Big Apple is a special opportunity to enjoy the autumn countryside on the Marcle Ridge. This year’s celebration of English apples, orchards and cider will include walks, talks, tastings and activities, not to mention delicious lunches and apple teas, at eight venues in and around Much Marcle.

Cidermaking highlights this year will include getting hands on experience with a 200-year-old cider press at Woodredding Farm, taking a tour of Westons Cider, and seeing the horse-drawn travelling cider press at Awnells Farm.

A ‘Feast of Apples’ at Hellens will include a market featuring unusual varieties of apples while local printmaker Annaliese Appleby will be helping visitors to create an apple tree collage at Gregg’s Pit. Two special events will celebrate the contribution of local folklore historian Roy Palmer, who died earlier this year. Sweet Cider Time, an evening of music and readings features vocal group Serenata at 7pm on Saturday evening, while on Sunday morning a guided walk will include readings from Ripest Apples, the anthology compiled by Roy for the Big Apple. A Big Apple Bike Ride, meeting at the Market House in Ledbury at 10am on Sunday, will explore the Big Apple venues from the saddle, with plenty of opportunity to sample Big Apple catering along the way.

One of the final events of the weekend will be a screening of ‘Five Fruit Trees Make an Orchard’. This new film comparing seventeenth century and contemporary perspectives of orchard value was made with the help of people with learning disabilities and will be shown at Hellens at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

A full programme of events can be found at www.bigapple.org.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigappleherefordshire

Press release from The Big Apple

August 4, 2015August 3, 2017

Growing Vegetables with John Davenport

Spend ten minutes with John Davenport and you’ll go home and plant radishes in your window box. His enthusiasm is infectious as he shows you around his twenty five acres at Flights Orchard Farm, Little Marcle. Like his father and grandfather, he grows a wide range of salads and vegetables. With that kind of deep-rooted knowledge, there are no complicated planting plans. John knows exactly what is going where as it’s all in his head. Having converted to organic farming in 1985, soil fertility is crucial. He operates a strict four year rotation – clover, brassicas, non brassicas and then potatoes.

Continue reading “Growing Vegetables with John Davenport”

July 14, 2015August 1, 2015

Thanks for helping us celebrate our local food, drink, music and poetry

After threatening rain, the sun came out and shone on this year’s Ledbury Celebration on Sunday 12^th July featuring over 30 food and drink stalls selling all kinds of local food and drink.

Did you try the good traditional local food that was on offer?

What did you think of the new twists this year with Polish style pierogi (pasties) and Columbian style empanadas, made using local ingredients?

Led Celeb 2015 Cake Heaven at Three Talents Cakery P1020667 — Cake Heaven at Three Talents Cakery

Did you discover scotch eggs (all kinds of flavours), jams, preserves, chutneys, freshly baked bread, delicious cakes, granny Tigg’s dressing, cherries, granola and, of course, very local ice cream?

Did you sample the medieval cake samples that the Ledbury Library Development Group were offering linking today’s event with the restoration of our 15^th century Master’s House? Did you pick up a recipe card?

Led Celeb 2015 Visitors enjoy an alfresco lunch P1020673 — Visitors enjoy an alfresco lunch

Did you have a “street food” lunch – once the rain had stopped?

What did you think about the fine range of local ciders and perrys, wines, beers, fruit drinks and even local gin on offer? Did you stay to enjoy these while listening to the fabulous range of local musical acts and poets joining in this event?

Did you explore the puppetry of the Fetch theatre – a lot of people really enjoyed this – and the mystery of the CowGirl Parlour?

Did you meet the Mayor of Ledbury, Councillor Annette Crowe when she visited the celebration?

Did you buy a ticket for the Food Group’s local food raffle? Gareth Morgan did and won with ticket 26!

Catherine Every, organiser of the event for the Ledbury Food Group, said, “We are very pleased that again the Ledbury Celebration with its blend of food, drink, music and poetry has brought pleasure to so many people. We thank everyone who helped make the event such a success.”

Phillippa Slinger for Ledbury Poetry Festival said, “The Festival is thrilled that we put on a stunning array of poets and musicians, from the irreverent and hilarious Johnny Fluffypunk, to the Baltic melodies of Flatworld, as well as local poets and musicians showing off their home grown talent. The variety and quality of the performers capped off a wonderful collaboration with the Ledbury Food Group”

This marvellous free event would not be possible without support from its sponsors who this year included Ledbury Town Council, Crowthers, Orme and Slade, Wilce’s, A.B.E., Pughs, Authentic Bread Company, Greendawn Accounting, Herefordshire Community Foundation, New Grove Trust, Tilley Printing, Rotary International, and the many volunteers who helped before, during and after the event.

Many thanks to all who helped and to all who attended this event this year. If you missed it, join us next year.

Please send us your comments on the event so that we can do even better next time to ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org

[Show slideshow]

Cake heaven at Three Talents Cakery

Flatworld entertains

Iryna's bread and pastries

Jo Brandt serving up

The view from Peter Cook's stall

Vincenza Alvear Villaruel with her empanadas

Visitors enjoy an alfresco lunch

Vivien brandt with her preserves

The Fetch Theatre Co puppetry

July 8, 2015October 6, 2015

Sunday 12 July – food, drink, music and poetry!

You are invited to the Ledbury Celebration of Food, Drink, Poetry and Music on Sunday in Bye Street Car Park and Orme and Slade Car Park, Ledbury. Over 30 local food and drink producers will be selling their wares and there will be a full programme of live music and poetry throughout the day. You will be able to buy food and drink, including local beer, ciders, wines and fruit juices, to eat and drink while enjoying the performances, and there will be plenty to choose from to take home to enjoy later. A full list is here.

Alongside the food, drink, poetry and music, the day is also being visited by two exciting attractions.

The Fetch is a touring theatre company producing a highly visual style of theatre incorporating puppetry and mask work. The Fetch dispels the myth that ‘puppetry is for kids’, producing work that engages with audiences of all ages.

CowGirl Parlour is a sound installation inside a caravan with live outdoor performances and a pop up ice cream parlour.

You’ll also be able to sit and enjoy tea, coffee and homemade biscuits from Ledbury Country Market. Ledbury Library Development Group will have a range of second hand cookery books as well as medieval culinary treats, Wykeham Gardens will have plants and cards on sale and Studiocrafts will have a craft activity table where children can explore their creative sides.

Catherine Every, who is leading the organisation of the day on behalf of Ledbury Food Group said, “The Ledbury Celebration is in its sixth year and is going from strength to strength because it’s a great day out with something for everyone.”

The Ledbury Celebration is jointly organised by Ledbury Food Group and Ledbury Poetry Festival to celebrate the last day of the Poetry Festival and Ledbury’s super local food and drink. The event is supported by local businesses and Ledbury Town Council – entry is free.

The Friday Beer Co - Ledbury Celebration 2014 — The Friday Beer Co – Ledbury Celebration 2014

June 14, 2015June 21, 2015

Strawberry Tea at The Shop at Bromsberrow on Saturday 20 June

June is the quintessentially English month of early summer, and all that that conjures up : blowsy roses heady with scent, clear blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds, lazy days filled with sunshine and the delicious anticipation of biting into the first sun-ripened English strawberries. Maybe the weather hasn’t been quite living up to expectations this year, but you can still enjoy all the flavours of early summertime with a Strawberry Tea at The Shop at Bromsberrow next Saturday, June 20^th at 3.30pm.

In conjunction with Ledbury Food Group, The Shop, which has a large café area, is providing a tea consisting of freshly made scones, freshly whipped cream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries with Fair Trade tea, herb tea or coffee. Other than the tea and coffee, everything is sourced within twenty miles of The Shop. In addition there will be a display by Ledbury Food Group, a strawberry display, the jam maker will be on hand to talk about her products and there will be a Strawberry Quiz.

The light-hearted quiz will be on all things strawberry-related (even sports questions!) with a prize (a punnet of strawberries!) for the winning team.

Tickets costing £5.00 per head (£3.00 for children) are available by phoning The Shop at Bromsberrow on 01531 650744 or e-mailing info@theshopatbromsberrow.co.uk

The Shop at Bromsberrow, HR8 1PG is situated five miles outside Ledbury – take the A417 towards Gloucester, turn right into Bromsberrow Heath and follow the signs for The Shop.

On the morning of Saturday 20^th June 10am – 12 noon there will be a car boot sale at The Shop. Why not make a day of it by coming to the car boot, eating lunch in the café, doing a self-guided walk before enjoying the Strawberry Tea.

[gview file=”https://www.ledburyfoodgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/150620-Strawberry-tea-at-Bromsberrow-poster.pdf”]

May 11, 2015May 29, 2015

Ledbury celebrates English wine week (23rd – 31st May)

The emergence and growth of quality boutique vineyards in the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire reflects the national expansion of vineyards and the growing international success of English wines.

Within just a 30 mile radius of Ledbury we now have well over 25 vineyards, producing a fantastic range of wines; white, red, rose, & sparkling.

Simon Day, Award winning wine maker and producer of his new brand Sixteen Ridges explains:

“Growers in the UK are benefitting from over 40 years of experience from the viticultural pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s selecting the best grape varieties to grow in our climate, as well as siting vineyards in the best possible locations; south facing slopes, well protected from frost. Our Sixteen Ridges vineyard resides on a sheltered hillside. It forms a natural amphitheatre capturing sunlight and warmth. Our more recent planting at Redbank, along the Ledbury Wall Hills, is a perfect marriage of aspect, shelter and soil; the precise ingredients to go into quality wine grape production.

These days we are also successfully growing recognised grape varieties such Pinot Noir, alongside the less well known cool climate varieties that are gaining a reputation. Our Sixteen Ridges range of wines are predominantly Pinot Noir, and have rapidly engaged consumer interest. We find the majority of consumers feel comfortable with a recognised grape variety, and as such are more willing to try English, which will lead them onto some of the more unusual varieties.

UK Sparkling wine has really taken off in the last decade gaining an excellent reputation both in the UK and abroad. Our climate tends to suit traditional method sparkling, producing racy base wines that gain layers of complexity with ageing. Building experience and skill in the winery has helped to lift quality levels of English Wine to the point where they regularly out perform Champagnes in blind tastings and competitions.”

English Wine Week during 23^rd – 31^st May is a national campaign to raise awareness of English wine and to celebrate the UK’s growing international reputation.

Ledbury is playing host to a variety of events during the week, including an exclusive tasting evening at the Feathers Hotel, in conjunction with Simon Day of Haygrove Evolution. The hotel will host nine of the Three Counties vineyards, including Sixteen Ridges, Elgar wines from Lovells vineyard, The Three Choirs, The Lea, Coddington Vineyard, Broadfield Court, Frome Valley, Castle Brook and Sparchall.

Hay wines, Ledbury’s only independent wine merchant, will host wine and cheese tastings on 23^rd and 30^th May; The Nest, Ledbury’s new deli, restaurant and garden centre will be holding an English wine tasting on 31^st May; The Three Counties Cider Shop will be holding tastings of local wine, and its exclusive ice Cider, during the 10 day celebration.

Press release by Sixteen Ridges Vineyard and Haygrove Evolution