FOOD TRAIL DIGEST IV South Petherton, Barrington, Ilminster, Crewkerne, Yeovil The Somerset Food Trail Festival 2023 STARTS TODAY! Seventeen days of specially curated, farm-to-fork events showcasing Somerset's best, most sustainable producers, farms, shops, chefs and eateries. For full details visit our website at: www.somersetfoodtrail.com This is the fourth in our series of area-by-area digests of what's on, to help you pick your way through a jam-packed programme and plan your Summer adventures in food! |
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Named 'the coolest place to live' by the Times last year, it certainly is for foodies! Resplendent in golden ham stone, it's not only one of Somerset's prettiest villages, and home to one of Somerset's most acclaimed new restaurants (HOLM); it's also the epicentre of an agricultural hinterland that's bursting with interesting artisan food makers, orchards, sustainable smallholdings, cafes, farm shops and even an eco-glampsite or two. Happily, the best of these are hosting a variety of 'Thirty Mile Feasts' and other special events for the Food Trail in the next two weeks - highlights below. |
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HOLM's Firemade Feast 28 Saint James's Street, TA13 5BW South Petherton Wed 26 July, 6.30pm for welcome drinks, feasting at 7pm A one-off Latin America-inspired asado feast alongside Ana Ortiz and Tom Bray from Firemade (FKA Country Fire Kitchen) which draws upon Ana's Ecuadorian heritage with a menu inspired by latin American flavours using Somerset ingredients cooked entirely outdoors over fire. For the main, they'll be firing up the asado, fire pits and custom grills and cooking lamb 'a la cruz' - on a cross over smouldering embers for many hours until the meat is tender, lightly smoked and thoroughly delicious. There's also a vegetarian menu. HOLM's menu is "driven by the seasons, the environment and our locality in the beautiful Somerset countryside. We work with local farmers, growers, butchers, gamekeepers and fishermen – anyone who shares our love of exceptional ingredients treated with care and respect." |
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THE BARRINGTON BOAR Five Course Tasting Menu featuring local producers *Saturday 15 July, 7pm* Award-winning restaurant and pub with rooms that's featured in the Michelin Guide, with a deep connection with Somerset’s rich culinary heritage & terroir. Their special tasting menu for the Trail will focus on locally sourced seasonal ingredients from the best local produce nearby, including the organic market gardeners of Pitney Farm, Mozzarella from West Country Water Buffalo near Ilchester, White Lake Cheese (near Shepton Mallet) and Smith & Evans sparkling wine from Aller, near Langport - all just a few miles of the restaurant. |
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HONEYPOT FARM & THE COOK HOUSE Open farm, Pop-up bakery lunch & snacks Saturday 22 July 2023, 10.30-4.30 Visit this delightful pesticide-free smallholding and enjoy a 30-mile feast of rustic pastries, savouries and cakes from The Cook House's pop-up kitchen, paired with cider, cider Pimms, beer and handmade cordials, in the open air or inside their marquee. "We farm without chemicals or artificial pesticides. We grow apple trees, from which we produce cider (without sulphites), apple juice of many varieties, apple cider vinegar (with the mother), chutneys , sauces and some vegetables." |
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THE PIGPEN Thirty Mile Feast Friday 28 July, 7pm The PigPen is a glorious rustic gathering space offering a unique dining experience in the heart of South Somerset orchard country. Join them to feast on hearty home-cooked local food, sourced from local farmers and allotment growers. Tickets: £22.50. Bring along an instrument - there's usually music! |
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PIP'S RAILWAY CARRIAGE TA13 5JH Wed-Sat: 9-3.30, Tues: 11-3.30, Fri 5-8.30pm Quirky cafe next to the Trading Post serving outstanding coffee, teas and delicious cakes, crafted on-site in the bakeshop. The restaurant creates exciting & innovative flavours inspired by the organic farm next door. All served in refurbished 1850s train carriage booths, a double-decker bus, a marquee or in the garden, with a laser focus on local, ethical & sustainably sourced ingredients. |
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TRADING POST FARM SHOP TA13 5JH Mon-Sat: 8.30am-6pm, Sun: 10am-4pm Farm shop specialising in local produce: preserves, bread, meat, fish, bakery described by the Times as. "We also have a large range of organic goods, along with a West Country cheese counter and an extensive range of West Country gins, beer and cider – a proper West Country Farm Shop!" Perfect for a picnic - and you can even buy a hamper there to put it in. |
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PERRY'S CIDER MILL - Cider tastings & local menu The Cider Mills, Dowlish Wake, Ilminster TA19 0NY Characterful home of award-winning craft cider brand Perry's who like to make cider 'as naturally and as simply as possible: only Somerset apples, small batch techniques, 100% juice and nearly 100 years of know-how!' Perry's invite you to sample from their Cider bar with a tasting paddle available to try the ciders (charges apply). Meanwhile, new chefs @Canteen (who also run the delightful Old Dairy Cafe & Farm shop, Bower Hinton near Martock) will be cooking up a special cider-inspired farm-to-fork menu in the cafe featuring entirely local produce. |
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PERRY'S CIDER MILL Mon-Fri 9-5.30pm, Sat: 9.30-4.30, Sun: 10-1pm |
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@CANTEEN (also TA19 ONY) Thurs, Fri and Saturdays, 10am-4pm. |
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| | NORTH PERROTT FARMSHOP & CAFE Wills Lane, Crewkerne, TA18 7SN Shop open Mon-Sat: 9am-5.30pm. Cafe open Mon-Sat: 10am-4.30pm Organic whole-milk vending: 24hrs – seven days a week (from Holy Cow). Family-run fruit farm and farm shop. "We sell our own fruit and vegetables when in season and farm-pressed apple juices all year. Our farm shop specialises in fruit juices and local ciders and is a showcase for local produce. There is also a small plant centre." | | |
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| | CEDRICS, Misterton, nr Crewkerne Cake tasting Thurs 20th Shop open: Wed to Sat: 11am - 5pm, Sun 11am-1pm Cedrics is the home of the original Somerset cider and apple cake and has been a family-run business since 1957. Their shop showcases local artisan cheese, cider, beers, gin, rum, and brandy. As well as the shop, they also have a thriving internet shop and sell all over the country. Come and taste the legendary cider apple cake on the 20th July. | | |
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| | ARK AT EGWOOD Wed 19, 2-4pm for Cream Tea & Tour, and Wed 26, 12-2 for campfire cook-up ARK at Egwood CIC is a charitable land-based facility, supporting people of all ages and varying needs to improve their mental and physical health, overcome social isolation and build confidence through land-based activities such as caring for animals (goats, guinea pigs and therapy pigs), nature, horticulture (growing vegetables, fruits and flowers), rural arts and crafts and cooking. | | |
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| | CREWKERNE FARMERS' MARKET The Market Square, TA187LN 15 July (every 3rd weekend/month) A colourful, lively market offering visitors a wide variety of fresh, high quality, locally produced food. The photo shows juices from North Perrott Farm and milk from an organic free-range South Somerset dairy herd sold as 'Holy Cow,' available using reusable glass bottles from five vending machines across Somerset - which the farm claims has saved over 71k plastic bottles. | | |
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WYTCH WOOD, 30-MILE FEAST Woolminstone, Crewkerne TA18 8QP Tuesday 18 July, 6pm or 7pm New on the Trail this year is this award-winning low impact, off grid campsite (or is it a 'glamp-site'?), set in ancient woodland in a secluded valley near Crewkerne. The site is part of a family-run sheep farm, where mixed native breeds are grazed on the hillsides to produce wonderfully flavoured lamb. "Sustainability is at the heart of Wytch Wood and low food miles help keep impact down and support local suppliers." |
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They're hosting a wood-fired '30-mile feast' of Blackmore lamb Assado – a mezze style sharing feast, featuring a lamb, slow-roasted over five hours. Guests will be seated at long rustic tables in the woodland edge. Courses will also feature ingredients grown or foraged from the farm. There'll be a licensed bar with local beer, cider and cocktails. Tickets are £30 including your sit down feast, a welcome drink and dessert at 6pm. Or: £15 for a lamb flatbread and welcome drink from 7pm on. | | |
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NORTH DOWN ORCHARD 14, 21, 28 July (Fridays) 6-11pm A family fun cider farm of acres of beautiful orchards, with a tap room open every Friday night from 6pm. "Each week we have a guest caterer who showcases locally produced food from authentic tacos to locally reared beef steaks. Each week will see a different food theme accompanied by our cider." | | |
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The Somerset Food Trail is sponsored by The Pig near Bath whose restaurant sources 80% of its food from within 25 miles, supporting many of the food producers featured on the Trail. They've kindly offered us 4 tickets to their Party At The Pig on July 30th Follow us on social media for further details. |
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Further afield...A few other festival highlights nearby |
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FANNY HATSTAND & THE BRIDGE CANTEEN - FEASTS & FROLICS Featuring The Langport Mummers & The Clay Bottom Jug Busters Wednesday 19th July, 6pm on In the words of the great Fanny herself: 'Watch the swallows dive and listen to the swifts singing overhead, sit back and enjoy a dreamy riverside evening of frolics with The Langport Mummers performing 'Burnt Cakes'. Enjoy a feast from the Bridge Canteen's kitchen and listen to and, maybe even jig about a bit, to the swampy Louisiana sound of The Clay Bottom Jug Busters, celebrating the extraordinary talents, bounties and collaborations of our beautiful county!" Tickets for food and music or just the music available. The bar will serve locally sourced ales, ciders and other fine beverages. |
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"THIS FOOD IS RUBBISH" Eli's Rose & Crown, Huish Episcopi 7pm, 20 July 2023 An unforgettable adventure through multiple courses of food and drink, including foraged and rediscovered ingredients. The evening takes the form of an edible conversation between two contemporary food artists Cherry Truluck (based in Frome) and Annalee Levin (Huish Episcopi), guiding you through a menu of food that is overlooked, misunderstood and wasted in the 30 miles of Somerset countryside that lies between them. This unique artist-led event asks: 'How might we think, eat and farm differently if we took a zero waste approach to food and drink?' | | |
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| | SMITH & EVANS VINEYARD TOURS Self-guided tours Saturdays 11-5pm Or book a group tour here Just turn up and collect your vineyard information sheet for a wander through the vines and then visit the Tasting Room to try the wines, gin and cider. The cost including tasting is £5pp. A group tour for 6-16 people – tasting all the wines, cider and gin, plus a platter of local cheeses, charcuterie and freshly baked bread – is £27/head. Email: info@smithandevans.co.uk | | |
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| | GUIDED TASTING AT THE CASTLE HOTEL, TAUNTON, WITH GUY SMITH Thurs 20th July A fun evening of tutored wine and cheese tasting with Guy Smith of Langport winery Smith & Evans and Dan Starnes of Longmans Dairy. Award-winning Somerset wines paired with some of Somerset's finest cheeses! | | |
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| | DRAYTON FARMERS' MARKET Drayton Village Hall, top of School Street, Drayton TA10 0LH. 22 July, 10am - 12 noon. Take away coffee available as well as bread, cakes, savouries, chutneys, veg, honey, sweets, the Sausage Shed and cakes. Pretty village on the edge of the moors. | | |
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| | BROWN & FOREST SMOKERY, SHOP & CAFE, HAMBRIDGE Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm Artisan smokery situated in Hambridge producing up to 40 different smoked meats, fish & cheeses as well as monthly boxes, hampers & special offers. On-site cafe & shop and online retail nationwide delivery. | | |
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| | BURROW HILL CIDER & SOMERSET CIDER BRANDY, TA12 6BU Ciderbus Saturdays: 15, 22, 28th 10am-5pm; Also, orchard walks Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, and guided tours by arrangement 'Cider has been made on our farm for over 300 years and Somerset Cider Brandy for 34 years. We grow all our apples and make liqueurs from other fruit we grow.' The bus, with full bar, is parked on the edge of the orchard near the farm shop where you can get all sorts of tasters. They also have food vans on the Saturdays and live music or other entertainment. No need to book unless you want a guided tour and tasting which takes about an hour. | | |
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| | KINGSBURY EPISCOPI COMMUNITY SHOP & CAFE Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm Sat: 10am-2.30pm Sun: 10am-12pm Community owned and run, this is a great place to stop while exploring the Somerset Levels. Walkers and cyclists are welcome for breakfast bacon rolls, pasties, pies and light lunches or pick up fresh local bread, Somerset cheeses, locally grown vegetables, local beer and cider as well as household groceries from local suppliers. | | |
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TOUR OF A VEGETABLE & ANIMAL LOW IMPACT SMALLHOLDING, Yews Farm, East Street, Martock 18 and 26 July, 6pm, tour approx 1 hr. 'A village farm garden that mixes stylish structure with cottage-garden laisses-faire' - Country Life "See our organically grown vegetables and animals (chickens, pig), heritage variety orchard, and our wondrous garden with its creative topiary and clever planting schemes. Learn how to grow healthy vegetables, build soil fertility and make good compost. Tastings as we go, apple juice/cider too! £10pp, book in advance.' | | |
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To browse ALL Somerset Food Trail events in DATE ORDER click through to the website through the link below: |
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This is just a 'taster' of what's available on www.somersetfoodtrail.org. We'll be back soon with more festival news from different parts of Somerset, and do please follow us on social media for highlights for each day of the Trail. Until then, keep it local! The Somerset Food Trail Team X |
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PLEASE NOTE: This is by no means a comprehensive list of events or sustainable food outlets for this area. There are simply too many to list here. Later newsletters will cover different areas, and a full list of participating venues can now be found through searches on our website. |
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For a regular deep dive into Somerset's sustainable food news, local intel and insights, try The Wallfish Journal, a weekly reader-supported newsletter by Frome based journalist Hugh Thomas. | | |
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Or, look out for The Tale of a Teaspoon (on Instagram) by Vicki Hunter and sign up for her Food for Fork blog, packed with local food news and reviews and dates for your diary. 'The closer we are to what we eat and the shorter the farm-to-fork journey, the better it is for our health, our farmers and our planet,' says Vicki – and we agree! Vicki's two-part blog on her 'best bits of the Food Trail' and shortcuts for navigating it, is linked below. | | |
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The Somerset Food Trail is organised by Sustainable Food Somerset. If you would like to support our work promoting local, sustainable food and more nature-friendly ways of farming, please get in contact via the link below: |
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With thanks to our sponsors: |
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