Food blogger and supper-club host Laura Scott shares her top tips for sourcing and cooking this month’s must-have produce...
1. Where to shop locally
As a chef and supper club host, I find myself shopping for ingredients on an almost daily basis. This can be a big task, especially if I have lots of jobs to cater for. However, it does give me an excuse to hit the local farm shops and markets in search of fresh produce and ideas.
Farmers markets and shops stock a range of goods from the daily basics of milk, eggs and meat to an ever-expanding list of locally brewed beers, wines and gins and Surrey has a plethora of award-winning farm shops where you can stock up for your weekend’s food shop. Head to:
- Kingfisher Farm Shop (Abinger Hammer)
- Secretts of Milford
- Village Greens Farm Shop at Denbies (Dorking)
- Priory Farm, Nutfield
- Garsons of Esher
- Crockford Bridge Farm Shop, (Addlestone)
- Flower Farm in Godstone
Or try one of the farmers markets: Reigate (4th Fri of the month), Cobham (Sat, 9.30am-2pm), Epsom (1st Sun of the month) or Godalming (last Sat of the month).
Visit: surreyfarmersmarkets.org
2. Hit a food festival
A further source of inspiration are the seasonal food festivals which kick off in earnest this month. Not only do they feature some of the best produce the county has to offer, they also have lots of scrummy samples so you can try before you buy.
Starting things off is the Surrey County Show which takes place later this month (May 2019). As one of the biggest showcases for local produce it’s a great place to explore a range of food and drink options.
The show in Stoke Park, Guildford, makes a great family day out too, offering the chance to see many features of farming and rural living, crafting, floristry and competitions.
3. Discover where your food comes from
If you are serious about finding out where your food comes from, then check out Local Food Britain – a brilliant resource for discovering how to eat and drink local.
Founded by Tracy Carroll, I’ve been a member of its foodie community for a while and enjoy the supportive network the team has created.
Local Food Britain has information on a huge range of eateries, producers and even recipes from businesses based across Surrey.
Visit: localfoodbritain.com
