Good Grub

DJ Mr Scruff and make us a brew! launch new BIG CHILL TEA at The Big Chill Festival (6 – 9 August 2009)

Listen up tea lovers – avid tea enthusiast DJ Mr. Scruff is planning to launch his brand new make us a brew! BIG CHILL tea exclusively at this year’s The Big Chill Festival during his now legendary festival tea party. As The Big Chill regulars will know, the place to go for top notch DJ sets, home baked pies and cakes, and mug loads of quality make us a brew! teas. Mugnificent.

Made from a blend of organic rooibos, sweet pear, cinnamon and Mr. Scruff’s new favourite find, valerian (a natural relaxant), make us a brew! Big Chill tea (named after the festival obviously) helps you get into that laid back, “Heeeeey maaaan” atmosphere and makes reality television and the thought that Christmas is less than five months away distant memories…

So if you’re The Big Chill bound at the beginning of August, come and join the make us a brew! crew at Scruff’s tea party, every day and night next to the lake, and treat your lucky mug to some Big Chill tea. We find it best enjoyed after a night of cutting hardcore shapes on the dance floor and contemplating how we’re going to find the way back to our tent…

Big Chill make us a brew! organic herbal tea launches on 6 August at The Big Chill Festival and, for those not going to this year’s fest, the tea will be available from retail stores in September, RRP around £2.00 for a box of 25 teabags.

For more information on the new herbal range head over to www.makeusabrew.com or for festival info visit www.bigchill.net
The Big Chill: 6th – 9th August 2009
Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8

Tags: big chill, festival, herbal, organic, tea

Soil Association Organic Food Festival 2008
6-7 September 2008
10-6pm on Saturday and 10-5pm Sunday
Harbourside, Bristol
Admission to the Festival is £4 (FREE to under 16s and Soil Association charity members – bring your card)
For more information on the Festival go to www.soilassociation.org/festival

The Soil Association Organic Food Festival, sponsored by Yeo Valley Organic, is Europe’s largest celebration of all things organic and kicks off this year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight, a nationwide campaign bringing together individuals, communities, retailers, restaurants, schools and organic farms.

Now in its eighth year the festival will be host to over 300 organic companies showcasing the very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with bustling food markets, a green planet pavilion, a demonstration kitchen, an exciting talks programme, food cruises around the harbour, and an arts and entertainment fringe that includes food demos, children’s activities, and music.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association said,
“Attending the Soil Association Organic Food Festival is truly memorable and inspiring and has become one of the highlights of my year. Meeting the producers and learning the stories behind the food you eat is a life enhancing experience. Making a commitment to buy local and organic produce is one of the most important actions we can take to build a more secure and climate friendly food future for ourselves and our children against a background of fossil fuel depletion and climate change.”

New to the festival for 2008:

• With rising oil prices fuelling our passion for local production, this year we are showcasing a wealth of organic producers and retailers within a 30-mile radius of the city with our first Local Market in Anchor Square.
• If you really want to focus on eating locally what better than your own back yard! There will be a Grow your own organic garden area featuring a Garden Café, demonstration vegetable plots, talks, and opportunities to pick up useful tips.
• Organic Live! areas across the site will include cookery demos and wine tasting and visitors can engage with exhibitors and environmental experts on a range of fascinating subjects – from their personal stories to big panel discussions on climate change and sustainable fishing. Come along and learn everything from how Transition communities are moving from oil dependency to local resilience to how to be “Self-Sufficient-ish” from Bristol twins and authors Andy & Dave Hamilton.
• For budding Jamie Olivers the Food for Life Partnership cooking buswill be in the Kid’s Zone. There will be free, 90-minute cookery sessions taking place three times a day where 7 to 11 year-olds will be taught how to make delicious organic treats.
• The festival will open on Saturday morning with the Matthew sailing towards the Amphitheatre to the sound of ‘Food Glorious Food’ sung by the amazing People of Note Choir. They will also be performing again later on Saturday on the Millenium Square stage. This will be part of a whole feast of musical entertainment throughout the site over the weekend.

Helen Taylor, Soil Association development director said:
“Every year the Soil Association Organic Food Festival just gets bigger and better. There’s something here for everyone whether you’re looking for help growing your own veg, a chance to try out a new organic beauty product, or just looking for something tasty for dinner.”

This year’s festival is greener than ever

With the introduction of sustainably sourced biofuel (from used cooking oil) to power the festival generators, and an emphasis on travelling to the festival by train, bus and ferry. To keep it green and encourage people to come by train, the Soil Association, in partnership with First Travel, are offering a 2 for 1 offer on festival tickets on presentation of proof of using First Travel transport.
There will be comprehensive recycling facilities provided by Network Recycling, sponsored by Barts Spices, and the Soil Association is supporting WRAP’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign with sessions in the Demo Kitchen and interactive talks – highlighting that the food we throw away is a huge waste of energy, water and packaging. Come and learn about easy ways to reduce food waste, help the environment and save money.

Tags: Bristol, festival, food, organic, Soil Association, Yeo Valley

The British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham will take place between 23rd April and 21st June (St Georges Day and Midsummers Day) the “traditional” growing period for Vale Asparagus.

Starting with “The Great English Asparagus Run” on St Georges Day, and with a plethora of asparagus related events taking place throughout the Festival period, Worcestershire’s Vale of Evesham is definitely the place to be for true aficionados.

At 8am on the morning of the 23rd April, the Festival will kick off with “The Great English Asparagus Run”.

A “Beaujolais type spectacle” from the Vale of Evesham to London, the Asparagus Run will be a celebration of great English icons, with a Worcestershire bias.

The Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Mr Michael Brinton, will leave the Bell Tower in Evesham in a chauffeur driven “Morgan Roadster”, carrying a “100″ Round of the finest Vale Asparagus on a Royal Worcester plate.

This majestic departure will be to the sounds of the local Avonbank Band playing Elgars’ Land of Hope and Glory, the bells of a side of local Morris dancers and the dulcit tones of local singer, Bruno Galloway.

Upon arrival in London we have been invited by the “Enjoy England – Celebrate St Georges Day Campaign” to arrive at the Members Entrance of The House of Commons, in time for the St Georges’ Day Loving Cup Ceremony that will take place with the involvement of Miss England. The Round of Vale Asparagus will then be presented by the Lord Lieutenant to Mr Andrew Rossindell MP, Shadow Home Affairs Minister and Chairman of the All-party St George’s Day Group.

Tags: asparagus, festival, food, gourmet

This year’s Scottish Food Fortnight, the annual celebration of Scotland’s food and drink, is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.

Organised and funded by the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust, SFF, now in its sixth year, has grown to be one of the key events in Scotland’s food calendar.

SFF, supported by world-renowned cook Lady Claire Macdonald, has also received strong backing from the Scottish Parliament.

This year’s event will be launched in the spectacular setting of Glamis Castle in Angus and run from 6th – 21st of September. Details of the SFF 2008 programme will be rolled out over the summer.

Last year’s highlights included sunset dining in the Cairngorms, demonstrations from celebrity chefs, cheese and whisky evenings and colourful farmers markets including the annual market in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Nicola Chalmers-Watson, SCAET director, said: “Scotland has some of the best food and drink in the world. Our fresh produce and our meat, game and fish is prized by the best chefs across the globe.

“Scottish Food Fortnight is about encouraging everyone in Scotland to make the most of our amazing larder.”

Scottish Food Fortnight runs from September 6th to 21st across Scotland. For details of all events and further information please refer to website www.scottishfoodfortnight.co.uk

Tags: countryside, drink, festival, food, Scotland