Prue Leith helps to launch new food festival

Running a restaurant together had been this couples dream for many years; in fact ever since leaving college Nick has been determined to put his skills as a chef into practice. Since opening Wild Thyme in 2008 he has done just that, while Sally runs the front of the house. The moment they arrived at Chipping Norton the couple began seeking out local suppliers and now obtain almost every thing they need for their menu from nearby farms and suppliers. Sally said: Since moving to Chipping Norton Nick and I have been harbouring a desire to start an annual food festival in the town and celebrate all the wonderful produce that the area has to offer. This year we thought we would start small well smallish with an event that provides the opportunity for the community to meet the local suppliers and look more about products, sample something new and hopefully be inspired to try out a few recipes. She went on to say that it is their hope that the event will grow over time into something that attracts visitors to the area and helps put the town on the map as a foodie destination.

The couple were particularly thrilled that food writer Prue Leith, the author of Leiths Cookery Bible and known for her remarkable Cookery School agreed to open the festival. During her opening speech Prue Leith (who lives in the Chipping Norton area and is pictured on the right with Sally) said that unfortunately people did not always realise what a pleasure it was to buy locally. If we are to enjoy our lives we should go out of our way to enjoy food as it is such an important factor in our lives. she said.

Producers taking part included Alice Barnfield who, along with her partner Matthew Eaton, make their country wines under the Field Bar label from hedgerow produce and local fruits, using centuries-old recipes that call for basic ingredients. Her strawberry wine is particularly good. Alice has achieved a reasonably dry finish by using champagne yeast, so that while the wine delivers a positive strawberry flavour that captures memories of a sunny summer afternoon, it has a crisp medium dry quality. I admit being envious actually, for my own home-made strawberry wine is often rather too sweet. I will accept her advice and change my yeast this year. If the final result is as good as hers I will be very happy.

One of the many events during the festival was a butchery demonstration by local butcher John Kench. of J.R. Kench Butchers in the High Street. He demonstrated how to joint a chicken successfully and then showed how he cut up a whole lamb into joints.

There were also cookery demonstrations by Nick and his assistant chef Charlotte Teal throughout the day. These included one of the restaurants popular desserts dark chocolate fondant and ginger ice cream served with peanut brittle. Absolutely delicious! Flavoursome samples of smoked meats and fish products from Upton Smokeries were there for everyone to try and artisan cheese makers Roger and Karen Crudge were tempting visitors with samples of their excellent cheeses. Wykham Park Farm, near Banbury, who produce a range of vegetables and fruit as well as rearing their own cattle, sheep and pigs, was represented too.

No food festival would be complete without a few recipe books, which is why Chipping Nortons own independent bookshop attended the festival too. This gave people a chance to look at the many excellent books that Prue has written over the years, including her Cookery Bible which ought to be on everyones bookshelf. I certainly call on it often when I want to check a basic/classic recipe or need to check just how to prepare a dish that I dont cook very often. The great thing about Jaff and Neale, in the towns Market Square, is that book lovers can stop and enjoy an excellent cup of coffee while deciding which book they will take home with them. As many of the books on display are written by local authors, it is a very special shop.

Nick and Sally were overwhelmed by the publics response to their festival. Indeed it was all so positive they are already talking about turning it into an annual event. Who knows, perhaps the ancient market town of Chipping Norton will eventually become the food centre of the Cotswolds