Latest news from one of our favourite Chefs - Koj

Last newsletter of 2013 Thank you for your feedback on my first newsletter and welcome to all of those who have been added to the mail list. I am excited to announce that I have been appointed as Head of Food at Humble by Nature. Koj is the new Head of Food at Humble by Nature At the beginning of September, I cooked a dinner for 40 people to celebrate the Ruby Wedding Anniversary of Chris and Rosie Adams. They had hired the barn at Humble by Nature, near their home in Monmouth. Later that month, I met Kate Humble to discuss a new role at her farm. Kate and her husband Ludo Graham have redeveloped one of the barns into a first class venue for cookery courses and pop up events, complete with a beautiful theatre kitchen. I am hugely excited by further projects which include completing the Courtyard Garden and an Aquaponics Solar Greenhouse. I have been cooking for their autumn courses (such as Foraging, Pig and Sheep keeping, Charcuterie and Hedge laying) and we have been busy creating new courses for 2014 which will appeal to anyone who takes an interest in where their food comes from. As well as cooking for the courses, we have plans for a cafe and will kick off the 2014 pop up season with a Burns Supper on Saturday 25th January 2014. See www.humblebynature.com for more details. MasterChef Travel A couple of weeks ago, I was at the BBC Good Food Show with travel company Cox & Kings to launch MasterChef Travel. I will be taking guests to a Chiang Mai night market, to the local food market and giving cookery lessons. For more details, please visit www.mastercheftravel.com Koj cooks at home Earlier this month, I cooked a pre-shoot dinner for a local family who were hosting 14 guests in their beautiful home on the border of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. I cooked savoury macarons as nibbles with champagne, prawn raviolo to start, a main course of roast venison, an autumnal dessert of apples and nuts, followed by milk chocolate cardamom truffles with coffee to finish. Three course menus start from £65 per head. See their testimonial on my website: kojcooks.co.uk Prawn raviolo, bisque sauce, sea buckthorn and lime jam, samphire, wild mushrooms Roast venison, smoked chestnut, pear, cavolo nero and beetroot sauce Apples, sea salt caramel with fennel pollen, acorn cream, apple crisp and apple tuile Koj cooks at Westonbirt On Saturday 12th October, I cooked for 150 guests attending a gala dinner to raise funds for the Holfords of Westonbirt Trust. I don't normally cook for such numbers, but was supported by Chartwells who operate the kitchen at Westonbirt School. Executive Chef Andrew Walker drafted in a crack team of chefs from around the country to support me and Ben Harvey, the Head Chef. December availability If you would like to arrange a canapé event, lunch or dinner for family, friends, clients or colleagues, I have some dates available in the week commencing 9th December. Prices from £65 per head (15% discount for Monday-Wednesday) Cooking together I design menus for interactive cooking events. We can make the event competitive for colleagues or you can invite friends to taste your creations. Prices from £65 per head Japanese cooking I have run several Japanese cooking lessons for corporate and private groups. The syllabus is based around a few typical Japanese dishes, including chicken yakitori, grilled mackerel and pork tonkatsu, as well as some of the basics such as cooking rice, making dashi stock, miso soup, teriyaki sauce and, of course, some raw fish. At the end of the session, we sit down to eat together. Prices from £65 per head. I will also be doing a special offer for in the New Year, for those of you who want to start the year healthily. Japanese dinner from £50 per head (minimum 8 people, Monday to Thursday). NEW DATE! Friday 21st March 2014, Japanese cooking at Dancing Trousers cookery school near Lechlade. Visit dancingtrousers.co.uk Buna shumeji mushroom salad with ponzu sauce Grilled miso mackerel, rice and miso soup Pork tonkatsu with shredded white cabbage Cookery demonstrations I have recently added a number of new dates to my demo diary, starting with the BBC Good Food Show at Birmingham NEC this week, Selfridges Manchester on Tuesday 3rd December and Harrods on Saturday 7th December. Please visit kojcooks.co.uk for more dates. Burns Night pop ups I will be cooking Burns NIght supper with a Japanese twist (think cockaleekie soup with umeboshi plums, haggis gyoza and tempura Mars bar) at Humble by Nature on Saturday 25th January. Visit humblebynature.com This Christmas... I shall mostly be cooking: Chestnuts, walnuts and acorns harvested this autumn Turkey cooked sous vide with butter and sage Springbok and Kudu in South Africa over New Year Cauliflower with dried cranberries and hazelnuts

All over for this year

All over for 2013 but plans already in place for 2014 - The Festival will run from the 18th to 21st September with the highlight being the fabulous foodie festival Market in the centre of Tetbury on the Sunday 21st 2014.

We already taken a number of bookings for stalls already so if you are interested in taking part in 2014 - let us know - just emailus@tetburyfooddrinkfestival.

Thank you to all those who helped make this year a success and we look forward to meeting old friends again as well as a few new ones in 2014

The Organisers of Tetburys Food and Drink Festival

Tour a real Working Mill.

Call 01666 505050 to reserve your place on the 10.00am tour of Shipton Mill at Long Newnton just outside Tetbury this coming Saturday 21st September.

Booking essential

Big Lottery Fund

We are proud and delighted to announce that  the Big Lottery Fund is supporting this year's festival. We're using the grant to reach out to more people than ever before and broaden the appeal of thefood festival of the South Cotswolds. We're making a special effort to get families more involved and to widen the range of Cotswolds food and drink to be savoured, especially at our main event, the Tetbury Food and Drink Festival market. It takes place on 22 September and it's an artisan food and drink market with the added special ingredients of street entertainment and family attractions. There'll be something for everyone there.

Tetbury Food and Drink Festival 18th – 22nd September 2013

A five-day celebration of food and drink as part of the Tetbury Food and Drink Festival in the heart of the Cotswolds, when fabulous artisans will be visiting with a wide range of food and drink and hotels and restaurants will be offering the best of local, seasonal produce.  Whether you fancy a Gourmet BBQ and Barn Dance at Highgrove;  a tasty Vegetarian Treat at Café 53; want to check out the newly restored Royal Oak in Tetbury or join The Priory Inn in their newly landscaped gardens.  Perhaps raise a fork in celebration with the Glos Old Spot Sausage Appreciation Society at The Close Hotel, check out fabulous foodie destinations with local travel company or learn about wonderful wines; take a tour of a real working Mill or local Vineyard - we have it all.

Award winning Rectory Hotel and The Potting Shed at Crudwell, The Kings Arms at Didmarton and The Royal Oak at Leighterton will have special menus as will The Snooty Fox and Ormonds in Tetbury.

Indulge your appreciation of good food and drink, watch demonstrations by top local chefs including “Cotswold Chef” Rob Rees MBE at the Sunday Market and we have just learnt that he will be joined by MasterChef finalist Andrew Kojima.  With a dedicated childrens area complete with restored Victorian Carousel there is something for everyone at this year’s Tetbury Food and Drink Festival.

Sunday Lunch Ideas

Super Sunday Lunches in Tetbury

The Priory Inn, Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-3pm
www.theprioryinn.co.uk

The Snooty Fox, Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-2pm
www.snooty-fox.co.uk

The Close Hotel, Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-6pm
theclose-hotel.com

The Ormond Hotel, Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-3pm
www.theormondattetbury.co.uk

The Royal Oak, Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-2.30pm
www.theroyaloaktetbury.co.uk

And in the surrounding area...

The Trouble House near Tetbury
Sunday lunch served 12pm-2.30pm
www.troublehousetetbury.co.uk

The Potting Shed Pub, Crudwell
Sunday lunch served 12pm-3pm
www.thepottingshedpub.com

The Kings Arms, Didmarton
Sunday lunch served 12pm-4pm
www.kingsarmsdidmarton.co.uk

The Royal Oak, Leighterton
Sunday lunch served 12pm-2.30pm
www.royaloakleighterton.co.uk

The Horse and Groom , Charlton
Sunday lunch served 12pm-4pm
www.horseandgroomcharlton.com

Whatley Manor, Easton Grey (The Brasserie, Le Mazot)
Sunday lunch served 12pm-2.30pm
www.whatleymanor.com

The Wiggly Worm

  

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The Wiggly Worm is a charity that exists to improve health, well-being and self-esteem amongst the vulnerable, disadvantaged or seldom heard.

We love food and we love people. Our expertise is in the area of using food (the preparation and sharing of it) in practical ways to deliver physical and mental health benefits. We create life chances for those in our society who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or seldom heard.

Food is a great leveller and our approach delivers practical results to individuals, communities and organisations. Our courses and events motivate people to make choices about who they are, what they can be and who they can trust. We instill in people a reminder of their true worth in society.

Years of experience in working with people of all ages and from all parts of the world has given us a unique perspective. The Wiggly Worm team knows what works.

As a Charity we are governed by a dedicated board, which advocates sound management, quality in planning and delivery - and constant innovation.

We relish working with people whom others find difficult to engage with and can tailor make a new direction for local authorities and public sector organisations. Participants in our projects give us the feedback to constantly improve and innovate.

The Wiggly Worm is a bold and exciting charity that is achieving stunning outcomes.

We would like to thank Jenny Stewart at Raining Light Photography for all images

Charity Number: 1124647     Company Number: 6239250

Special offer from our partner Cotswold Life

SPECIAL FOOD FESTIVAL OFFER FROM OUR MEDIA PARTNER COTSWOLD LIFE

Expert to be guest speaker at 'Old Spot' annual dinner

Local Gloucester Old Spot Breeder and "Expert" Julian Hasler of Larkhill Farm Long Newnton will be our Guest Speaker at the annual Gloucester Old Spot Sausage Appreciation Dinner on 18th September at The Close Hotel  in Tetbury

For Tickets please contact The Close Hotel directly on 01666 502272

Duchy Home Farm Newsletter (July 2013)

The courgettes have certainly benefited, along with the outside salad, so there will be plenty for you on the Organic Waggon and at the Markets. As well as our usual, Tetbury (Thurs 10-3pm) and Cirencester (2nd & 4th Sat 8-1pm) markets, we are planning to set up under the Malmesbury Market Cross on a Tuesday morning each week, we hope this will bring our produce closer to home for some of our customers. We are just waiting for approval from the council which should go through the third week of August.

In addition, the Kohl Rabi are getting to record sizes this summer, look out for our recipe ideas sheets for some inspiration. Peppers are beautiful and are beginning to ripen, and we have just picked our first batch of green sprouting broccoli. If you haven’t yet tried a punnet of our mixed cherry tomatoes we highly recommend them, they’re sweet and very tasty, we just can’t stop snacking on them ourselves!

You may have noticed that the Organic Waggon is back to its original spot at the farm entrance now that the resurfacing has been completed. (Open 9am – 5pm Mon- Fri) Please feel free to use your visit as an opportunity to talk to us. Someone is usually close by & there is a bell on the radio, top left hand side of the stall, to get our attention if you wish. Your suggestions are always welcome.

As a response to some of your feedback, we are offering a new service, where regular customers can order their next week’s shopping, so nobody has to miss out on what we have to offer. As many of you know, some products are in higher demand. This way we will harvest especially, keep things back for you, and pack your organic vegetables, so all you have to do is pick them up! Look out for order forms at the Waggon (Mon-Fri) and the Tetbury Market on a Thursday, fill in a form and your order will be waiting for you next week on the day of your choice.

We are still very keen to hear from anybody who might like to offer some time as a volunteer on the farm in return for some vegetables to take home. We have weeding, harvesting and planting to do, which is always copious at this time of year. If any of you are interested in experiencing organic farm life please come and see us, or contact us:

Phone 01666 503056
Email vegbox@duchyhomefarm.org.uk
Close Farm, Shipton Moyne, Tetbury, GL8 8PH

We are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Many Thanks at the growing team at Close Farm Ami, Fred & Megan

P.S. You can also look us up on Facebook & maybe even give us a like! Search ‘Close Farm’ where we regularly post pictures and news from the farm.