Incredibly fortunately for me Cornwall has a food festival on today. Not a “run-of-the-mill” one but the GREAT Cornwall Food Festival. And great it was.
Wild venison, shallots, cornwall potatoes and camembert
Part of this trip for me to capture and talk to people about the currency of food.
Later this year I am presenting at a famous festival and want to have enough of a handle on it to bring to words and imagery that I can convince people to what I already believe.
It’s not just foods nutrient value that makes us healthy, it is the intent, the story, what the sun was doing and more.
Food has its own currency!
So I am filming, talking, writing.
It will no doubt, form the basis of a book to be written in the next 2 years.
I was privilege to chat with so many passionate foodies and all with wonderful philosophies and produce.
A few local farmers understanding that people don’t like to travel to food anymore (hence why supermarkets have been cleaning up the food supply) so are offering home deliveries. Good move people!
Road side stall in Cornwall
Emma helps her family run their vineyard down on the peninsula called Polgoon. Pol meaning pond and goon meaning down the hill. She said their are lots of little ponds dotted along their hilly property.
They make a couple of fruity ciders, the Grumpy Apple being delicious and the others all good too. But I am most intrigued with their wines. Because the climate isn’t a fantastic wine growing region they have to use a few blends to stable the wines. Grape blends I have never heard of such as Rondo and Seyval. I enjoyed them all but settled on the Rose. A beautiful drop and I am looking forward to visiting the vineyard and orchard next trip. Check out their website here.
Chris @venisonandgame
Hunting used to be a popular sport in Europe but I gather it has received mixed complaints, as now you need an exemption license to hunt and shot.
I am not sure exactly but I do know that Chris from @venisonandgame has it sorted. He shoots all sorts of animals and creates amazing food with them.
Today he was making a few dishes at the festival but the one that caught my eye was the venison tartifilette. Local potatoes, venison, shallots, onions and camberbet cheese. Absolutely delicious!
There were other boutique foods such as Cornish flavoured salts (all sorts of yummy flavours – porcini mushrooms, pepper and pomergranate to name a few), edible insects, ice creams, cheeses, honeys, chutneys and MORE!
Cornish Salt Company
I had a long chat with Keith who has his own mead distellery. Mead is wine made from honey and is sweet but delicious. He had a few varieties on offer and of course sampling them all is essential.
Bees are so important around the world and each making their own honey is a process I admire.
The hipster lads at 32south distillery are all over the modern day marketing with a huge insta account and great gins to match.
And my favourite was talking to Hilary who , with many of her keen friends, want to demonstrate to children that food is everywhere and doesn’t come from packets.
EXACTLY! I think as i listen to her tell me about the hedgeways (which reap all sorts of fruit and even hazelnuts), the paddocks and crops. This is what I love about food. And I also believe it is OUR responsibility as nutritionists, parents and custodians of future generations to show kids, to excite kids, where it all comes from. Food is the currency of love and life and yes, it is all around us!
When my sister sent me a text from the UK saying “Fifteen booked for Sunday” I assumed 15 people were coming for lunch. Little did I know that it was the name of a Jamie Oliver restaurant.
The Entrance to Fifteen
Based a little north of Newquay in a pretty cove called Watergate Bay is Fifteen.
The winds whirl along the Atlantic Sea and hit the coast of Cornwall making for some dramatic coastal beaches and even some surfing spots. Today is a mild but very unswimmable day. As stick figures clad in thick wetsuits drag their foamies out into the wild surf we settle into Fifteen. Nice and warm and with wonderful views of the Ocean.
View from Fifteen
James is to be our waiter and after the usual courtesies I really want to see what James has in him as a waiter.
A waiter is after all, an liaison for us, the dinner and the kitchen.
I believe their role is to help us decide.
In doing this a good dinner will pry gently into your day… is it going well, are you celebrating something, what sorts of appetite and digestion do you have. From there, like a tour guide showing off the secrets of an ancient relic, he/she can navigate you around the menu. Which after all is just a guide.
James gets the idea and throws himself into a full explanation of the menu. I am very grateful. Because after reading it twice it still had no meaning. It was just words. But after James had read and explained a few things, it became an adventure and an excitement. That or the wine had time to kick in.
The restaurant has been set up by the famous English chef Jamie Oliver. It is a charity where people with “rough starts” as he puts it, can acquire some training and a new skill in the food industry.
I had already met three of the apprentice chefs at the festival in the morning so I felt great joy at supporting the restaurant. Jamie Oliver has a gift of connecting people and rubbing out the lines between dreams and opportunities.
The food was excellent
The Pork Chop
I had two starters to begin with – the zucchini flower and liver and rosemary.
The liver was absolutely devine and was like self cured pate. I will dream about it for a long time. Lightly grilled after being marinated (I am assuming) the little livers melted in your mouth. The simple butter sauce complimented it perfectly and the livers were served speared on rosemary stalks which gave them enough flavour.
Main course was fantastic!
I had a big pork chop cooked to perfection. Pork can be over cooked and dried out but this was perfect to eat. The polenta and wilted spinach that accompanied it suited the dish perfectly.
All this washed down with a light Italian wine.
Inside fifteen
The food was of a high restaurant standard, but I found the atmosphere weird. It was a very large place, kept warm but lacking warmth if you know what I mean. I felt the music needed to be different to bring it all together. Maybe some Avenders playing. The decor was funky and fun yet the staff didn’t seem to be having as much fun as they could.
Maybe the music and a few more cheeky interactions would rate this restaurant higher in my opinion. All in all, great and I will definitely be returning one day.
You can also donate to help keep this grand project ticking over but probably the best thing to do, if you can, is to dine there.
Over the years I have spent a couple of years all up, but is has been in 1-2 day short stays, or staying out of town and traveling in. There is always something to do, day or not.
This trip I was on the way to stay with my sister who now lives down in Cornwall. London seemed a logical stop over so she came up to play. Without much effort at all our day filled up with incredible sights, walks, foods and interactions.
Your 24 hours in London might look very different to mine. But can be equally as fun and packed.
Horses Guard London
Arriving from in International flight to Heathrow, getting into London is easy.
You just jump on the train which is right inside the airport.
The train takes you into town and then you simply train hop onto another line until finding your hotel.
This visit we stayed down near the Tower Bridge. Great hotel, good location and close to the river Thames which is always good for walking along. It is a long way fromBuckingham Palace and that side of town, but it suited us and we caught buses up to Trafalgar or the tube is never far a away.
Checking into the hotel at 330pm it was time to race off and explore.
The weather in London can be treacherous. The wind chill can be freezing and things can change quickly but if you are not prepared for the unpredictable wind changes of London. Fortunately most venues are warm once inside and there are plenty of shops if you are out and about, and need to buy a jacket. I think I am trying to say, don’t over think the preparation of a day in London. Just get out amongst it and don’t take your whole wardrobe.
We head straight for the tower bridge and London Tower.
It used to be akin to a goal letting people in and out of the old London. Conveniently located on the outside moat wall is a draw bridge so that boats (in years gone by) could bring criminals directly for hanging. It is affectionately called the execution door. Still with grills and water lapping at the sides of the castle, it is very easy to cast your mind back to a land and culture that sculpted our current politics and history.
From there we go for a “short” walk to St Paul’s Cathedral. On the way passing some new and old landmark buildings. The gherkin, the walkie talkie building and the older oblisk landmark called “ The Monument” which was erected following the great London Fires in 1666.
Along side St Paul’s Cathedral is a modern looking build called One New Change.
Find your way into it’s arcade and catch the lift to the top. If you are “appropriately dressed” (not looking like a tourist in sneakers) then you may enjoy a wine on their roof top bar. Otherwise they allow you to wander the roof’s side to check out the great views of St Paul’s Cathedral and London.
From there you are very central to many brilliant clothes shops. We bought a few things then headed back to the hotel for a cloth-change. Time to enjoy London night time.
Being a Friday night, beers at all the local bars, are the thing to do. People cascade onto the pavements, ale in hand and lots of chit chat. I would have loved to part-took but there was plenty more exploring to be done.
London Eye on Sunset
Wanting to chill and watch the sun set on a wonderful day , we headed to the Thames river and found on of the many venues where you can sit on a boat and enjoy a drink.Our vessel was called Hispanic beside Waterloo Bridge.
On the otherside of London – also known as the Southbank – is always a buzz of activity and things to do. The time we are there is a festival celebrating the river.
Women who build Waterloo bridge 1944
One great shows we saw was a film projection, with a back ground small orchestra, showing how Waterloo Bridget was built in 1944. IT was built my women as most of the men were at war.
Brick by brick, pylon by pylon.
It was an impressive slip show with much beautfiul imagery or women working together creating a massive sculpture.
You really can simply waltz along the river’s edge and participate in much. Even people watching is cool.
Turkish Mezza
Time for dinner and we go to one of my sister’s old favorites, Trioia – a Turkish restaurant a block away from the Southbank but with it’s on great energy and vibe. The food is good, the pricing good and service quick. We order a Mezza (banquet) for 2 which more than fills us up.
Quite shattered at this point we call it a day and head back to our apartment to be gret with clean sheets and puffy pillows.
Up early on the Saturday we set off to explore the Tower of London again.
With barely anyone around it was quite a different place. You could imagine how it would have been hundred’s of years. ago. The well kept draw bridge is still in use today and walking across it is easy.
The other side has a few gems to explore. WE find the converted convent from 606AD , now an active catherdral stunning. It is the oldest standing gothic building from it’s time. Shakespeare, Dickens and Harvard were all associated with the church which is conveniently tucked away beside the Borough Markets.
We were there easy and didn’t see the markets in full swing but the foods were incredible. Everything from partridges, delicious pastries to wheels of mature cheese. A simply stunning array of food.
Back to the hotel to check out and my sister was off to get her hair attended to by her long term hair dresser (which sounded like she had followed all around the UK) in Notting Hill.
Notting Hill is a delightful suburb north west of the city.
The hair dressing salon is great and I am served a peppermint tea then treated to a shampoo and blow dry. My self esteem lifts as having my hair done well (and stylish) is not unfortunately something I have mastered yet.
I do a little bit of local exploring around Kensinnton Garden Square, where many of the consults live. Maple leaves drift from the skies reminding me that autumn is on it’s way and whilst today is warm, soon the days will be short and cold.
Back on the double decker red bus to Hyde Park. Which isn’t that far, but we are preserving our legs a little bit.
The War Memorial London
The War Memorial between Hyde Park and the start of Buckingham Palace is a sombre reminder of New Zealand’ and Australia’sinvolvement in all of the British Empire’s wars. The arch in the middle of the park is quite stunning.
A short wander brings one to Buckingham Palace. Today is it buzzing with people and the sun is shining and everyone is happy.
The park that guides you back to town is called St James Park and simply beautiful. Royal geese and swans make the lake a beautiful sight. Deck chairs for hire are a great option but we find ourselves to the kiosk for lunch, which serves a lovely chilled wine and good food.
I decide to do a quick water colour inspired by my favorite Claude Monet.
Once the sun has dried it off we venture towards town. Today they have the streets sealed off , with lambaginis and porches chasing each other in a movie being made. Lots of street fun for a short interlude.
We follow our noses to Horse’s Bridge which is beside 10 Downing St.
Here the royal guards sit on their magnificent horses, keeping watch. Tourists love the guards and I have a little horse whisper with both of them who both said they would rather be running around a paddock, then strung up on a warm Saturday in London. Surprise.
From here we are close to everything – Big Ben, Westminister and the Thames, but we head left for Trafalgar Square. I love going to the National Art Gallery. It’s pure size is hard to comprehend and art works one of the best (if not the best) collection of post impressionsm anywhere. I love it. And it’s free!
The Great Hall is a magestic set of rooms housing Vincent Van Goughs (such as the Sunflowers, Starry Night and his famous chair). Monets, Degas, Cezanne dominate the opposite wall. And then to remind you of what an absolutely incredible era it was a few guagins, Manet and Pissaros.
Just in one room!
Outside of the art gallery is a festival. There is always so much to absorb around Trafalgar Square, including the shrine landmark to Lord Nelson set up high.
Today we are privvie to an incredible musican playing with just his guitar. The sounds coming from his beaten up guitar are like those I have never heard before. Wonderful. We stay for a few tracks and I purchase his CD.
It’s time to find another wine so back to the Southbank to watch radio BBC hosting a rock n roll contest. The sun has bought our many smiles on the locals and tourists and everyone is happy!
Another little food festival is taking place behind the southbank but sadly we only have time to sample some curries and wild hog. It’s time to head our of London (via Gatewich) to Cornwall.
Well I can’t say I have ever rated the Brits as foodies. In fact I had resigned them to “amateur cooks” in my head until I ventured to the Cotswolds. Wow what an eating experience.
My friends push bikes
The Cotswolds approximately 90 minutes west of London on the train is step back in time where old fashion values and food still exist. In fact they exist with such pride and gusto that it is inspirational. I was blown away with my time there.
The farmers have a caveat on take away franchises such as MacDonalds as they refuse to permit their global infiltration due to littering from the packaging.
The other things I loved about the Cotswolds was the “organic approach” , the honour the land approach and the “trust thy neighbour approach” with most places not locking their homes at night.
It was a step back in time to ole fashioned values done with taste and preserved with honour.
I loved early morning walks where you still see your breathe on the air, picking fresh berries by the side of the road and seeing little spiders in their dewey spider webs. It was so picturesque!
Some of my highlights were oggling all the farming produce at Daylesford (a MUST if you go). Stuffed pheasants, hand reared and culled piglets, birds of all varieties and delicious organic vegetables. I loved the colour, the vibe and the poise of Daylseford and can’t wait to return for one of their cooking week-ends (all themed too).
