Congratulations on your 1^st year from us all at Love Local Trust Local

With 2020 being such a washout, a few things started to happen that we may have initially thought we were ‘immune to’, here in a country such as Blighty.

Remember those headlines reporting a lack of loo roll, pasta, tinned goods and anything in-between, as the nation leapt into panic buying mode? Whilst this was a worrying time for the big supermarkets, it was fascinating to see buying habits change; suddenly people were appreciating local produce a lot more. They were buying from small farm shops, because the produce was available, and in some instances, even growing it themselves, as we all started to live our ultra ‘Good Life’ in case the proverbial truly hit the fan.

During this time, we also eradicated ‘stuff’ from pretty much anywhere. Go to a restaurant post-Covid and you could expect to order from an app in many cases – no promotional table tat (a great thing for the environment), no newspapers kicking about at the doctor surgery. Wherever you would previously have access to things like promotional leaflets, local freebie magazines and like, you now simply could not get your hands on a copy for fear of contracting Covid itself.

Whilst reducing our chances of picking up this virus, during this time it was with sadness that we lost some real gems in our community that kept people connected, particularly when it comes to local publications.

So, when we were approached by the team at the BV magazine, we were delighted that the team were on the pulse and able to get up and running to share local news in a way that meant we could continue getting word out promoting our businesses, to real customers and prospective customers who may have a genuine interest in what we have to offer.

During Lockdown 1.0, the team who had established the brand Love Local Trust Local, formed the very first Love Local Trust Local Food & Drink Awards. There was concern that mid-Covid could be a bad time to launch such an occasion, however the timing couldn’t have been more relevant given the need to source local becoming more prominent, so the Love Local Team pressed on.

We found a real synergy with the team at the BV magazine who welcomed us to the fold and got onboard with supporting the cause of Love Local Trust Local; created by farmers for farmers, to support our Dorset-based food and drink producers, but also created to educate the consumer on what they are really eating and how to understand where the produce has come from and what it really is.

Our cause is such a relevant one for the team at the BV magazine, so we were delighted to have them join us for the first year of the awards as part of the sponsorship and judging team, and have continued with us into 2021, which we are so grateful for.

Whilst digital thrives, as a wider organisation, with The Langton Arms, Rawston Farm Butchery & Shop, and Love Local Trust Local, we’ve felt a real concern for those who may be getting left behind in such a digital world. Whilst we continue to communicate inside our venues effectively, mediums such as print advertising have become exponential in their cost, and quite frankly out of reach for small businesses who have been hit equally hard through Covid.

To help quell this social issue, the team are proudly running monthly social media workshops for those who have not entered into the digital world, or perhaps are less confident using the social media platforms they might already have. We had a great turnout for the first session in July, where we offered cake and coffee, and our marketing team were on hand to get our attendees online and comfortable with how to use these digital mines of information! If you know someone who would benefit from one of these sessions, give us a buzz on either The Langton Arms 01258 830225 or Rawston Farm Butchery 07796801525 and we’ll get them booked in and connected with the likes of the BV magazine so they can stay updated and abreast of local news.

Following the BV’s outstanding first year, we have been honoured to get involved and work with the team to keep the locals informed and educated on topics we are truly passionate about; James Cossins at Rawston Farm has really enjoyed contributing to the publication with the history of the farm. Barbara Cossins has been honoured to be contributing on various topics, such as the politics of the meat we are eating and what Brexit means, as well as promoting Love Local Trust Local and promoting eating and shopping local to the residents of Dorset.

So with the Blackmore Vale online celebrating their first birthday, we’d really love to offer them a very happy birthday, and a massive congratulations on a stand-out first year. Publications like this really are the crux of local society and truly help to keep people connected at times when they need connection the most, and we are proud to be a part of that story!

By: Barbara Cossins

Sponsored by: Blanchards Bailey

This month I had the pleasure of catching up with Heather Brown, our own amazing Food Writer and Columnist, to talk about the Dorset Foodie Feed website.

Earlier this year Heather was accepted to become a a member of the Guild of Food Writers – the professional association of food writers and broadcasters in the UK. She works with national brands such as Marks & Spencer, Splenda and Roberts Radio as well as many local Dorset brands such as Urban Guild, Purbeck Ice Cream, Conker and The Scented Botanist.  

The Dorset Foodie Feed website was started in 2011 by John Grindle, originally as ‘West Dorset Foodie’. John’s love of ‘great food, fishing and helping people’ grew the site, and he started taking on new Dorset writers. By 2015 there were four individual sites in the Dorset Foodie Feed family – West Dorset Foodie, East Dorset Foodie, North Dorset Foodie and Purbeck Foodie. In 2017 all four sites were brought together to create the Dorset Foodie Feed family.

So what is it that Heather loves so much about the Dorset food scene specifically? Is there something special about the food and drink producers in our county?

“The community! I used to live in a place where the competition between businesses was fierce, but it’s the opposite in Dorset. Business owners are always willing to help someone out, lend a hand or make something bespoke for a menu or client. People are always willing and ready to collaborate too, which opens the door to new and fabulous flavours and experiences for customers, all made with local ingredients and created by local people.”

So with your own business keeping you busy, what was it about Dorset Foodie Feed that made you take it on?

“I have been writing recipes and restaurant reviews since 2013, and I joined the Dorset Foodie Feed team in 2015. When  John wanted to retire, I jumped at the chance to take on the challenge, and I am so pleased I did. I made the decision to rebuild the entire site at the end of 2019 and relaunched in January 2020 – who knew how timely that would be?! 

“I am so grateful that I could use Dorset Foodie Feed to help

connect new customers to local businesses throughout the Pandemic, and I am proud of how the site has grown and developed, with the Directory being added at the end of 2020.

“It has been hundreds of hours of my time poured into a website and social pages that don’t earn me any money beyond the odd free meal, but it is such a privilege to be able to help the food and drink sector that have struggled so much this past 18 months. 

“I’m passionate about local food, and I was eager to make it really easy for locals to know where their local food businesses are (and of course to lead tourists to the smaller, hidden businesses they’ll love). I managed to secure grant funding from Dorset Growth Hub to employ a developer, and we built on the Directory feature to the site.

“Now, customers can search a database of nearly 650 local food and drink businesses by using their postcode and/or type of business (farm shop, cafe etc). The businesses are then listed on a map closest to your location.

“Dorset Foodie Feed has been posting recipes and reviews since 2012, and all those reviews are linked to the listings; you can check out what we think about the restaurants and products too, along with reviews from other local bloggers and writers.”

So if I’m a small local food or drink business, can I be listed on the DFF map? Even if I’m a tiny business that simply makes jams… How much does it cost? Are there qualifying criteria?

“Its free to list and its free to use! You simply need to be a food and/or drink business based in Dorset. I wanted to make sure that anyone could use the site to find their local businesses, and that any business, large or tiny could list. All I need to get a business  listed is a link to your website.”

I was curious as to what type of business is the most searched for on the site – are more people hunting for a great cup of coffee, some locally made cheese or honey or the best Sunday lunch?

“Local people are looking out of curiosity, simply to find new places close to them, regardless of business type. The comment I hear over and again is 

‘I searched using my postcode and found an amazing shop just down the road that I didn’t know was there!’.

“Tourists are often looking for cafes and restaurants and with that in mind, I have also curated some shorter, recommended ‘great places to eat’ lists for someone who just wants to see some highlights, for a weekend break for example.”

So what’s next for Heather as the directory continues to grow? 

“Once the summer season ends, I’m aware local businesses will have some time to start to thinking about how they want to move forward post-pandemic. There are some talented niche experts in Dorset that would love to help and I’m currently working on how best to join them together!”

By: Laura Hitchcock

Exploring the world from a glass

Since the pandemic outbreak and consequent lockdown restrictions over the last year or so, we’ve noticed a real embrace from customers to take a break from ‘the traditional’. An area that this has been extremely apparent is with rosé wines – we are finally at a stage where the consensus from our lovely customers is ‘there is more to rosé than Provence’, which is music to our ears. As much as we love an outstanding glass of crisp rosé, it’s very naïve to believe that only Provence can produce such a beauty.

The pink stuff aside, we have sensed a more adventurous wine palate from our customers across the board – we think due to travel restrictions and the appeal of literally experiencing a distant culture from a wine glass in the comfort of your own home, garden or local beach (yes beach, not bench!)

So, this month, I wanted to do something a little different and showcase 5 little gems from a handful of countries on the travel ‘Red List’ at time of writing. Let’s go on a little wine trip together!

Argentina

Karim Mussi Los Poetas Semillon – if you like your white wines to have flavour but with a rounded, fresh vibe, then this wine should be in your wine rack. Tropical fruit, with some herbal notes, make it a perfect accompaniment with most fish dishes and summer salads. 

Chile

Bouchon Pais Salvaje – this wine is one of the most labour-intensive wines to produce as all the grapes are hand harvested. Pais (pronounced pa- ees) is grown in a forest and requires hand harvesting on ladders ­– some of which are over 5 metres tall. Hints of strawberry, cherries, spice and even banana, delicious.

Bouchon Granito Semillon – one of the best wines I have drunk in the last 5 years. This really is a wine that you can taste the 120-million-year-old soil on which the grapes have been grown from, hence the name ‘granito’ – granite soil. The vines were planted in the 1940’s and have incredibly deep roots. Complex fruit expressions from start to finish with subtle oak and a wonderful minerality throughout. A real treat that leaves you wanting more.

South Africa

Niel Joubert Byker Chenin Blanc – a new addition to our range and just perfect for sunny days. For lovers of Sauvignon Blanc, I always say that a Chenin ‘has all the fruit of a Sauvignon but without the acidity’ and this really is a little gem.

Uruguay

Vinedo de los Vientos Notos Nebbiolo – what a wine; fruity from start to finish with an awesome medium to full bodied palate. Most people associate Nebbiolo with Italy, but it really is worth sampling an alternative twist on the grape. This beauty has been produced by a boutique micro winery at a crazily high altitude in Uruguay. Travel the world with wine and sample two examples side by side.

By: Sadie Wilkins Vinyards of Sherborne

We are all finally allowed to begin to meet together again and with in person events beginning to reappear, here are some easy to make canapés to wow your friends. 2 out of these 3 recipes don’t even require any cooking, just a layering of ingredients which together, taste incredible.

Cheese is pretty versatile in a canapé and with so much local cheese on offer, it would be shame not to make the most of it in these recipes. You can buy a soft goat’s cheese from just across the border in Salisbury from Rosary Goats Cheese. You can find soft cheese and blue cheese from The Book & Bucket Cheese Company as well as some blue cheese from Dorset Blue Vinny.

I would highly recommend getting hold of some local honey if you can, the more local to you the better. You can find local honey in most farm shops across the county, as well as delis and even in some local coffee shops too. It tastes like the countryside and helps to make these canapés really sing.

Tomato & Goat’s Cheese Canapé

1 packet of ready rolled puff pastry* 1 small punnet of cherry tomatoes 1 packet of soft goat’s cheese
1 tube of tomato puree

a little honey
some egg or milk to glaze the pastry.

Preheat the oven to Gas 5/180 fan.
Grease and line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

Whilst you are getting the ingredients ready, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place onto one of the baking trays. Drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes.

Roll out the puff pastry and cut into 1-2 inch square pieces.
Place the pieces onto the baking trays and space out a little.
Spread a little of the tomato puree onto each square, leaving a little border of pastry around the edge. You can also add a tiny drizzle of honey here to mix into the tomato puree as you spread. Glaze the edges of the pastry with a little egg or milk so that they turn golden in the oven. Place a small piece of the goats cheese onto the pastry square, along with one of the roasted cherry tomato halves.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked.

*This recipe also works well with homemade pastry if you have the time to make your own. You can also use gluten free puff pastry if required.

Grapefruit and cream cheese Canapé

1 grapefruit
100g soft cream cheese 1 packet melba thins
a little local honey
black pepper

Cut the grapefruit in half and then remove the segments of the fruit as whole as you can.
Lay out the melba thins out so you can easily top them. You can break them in half if you would like smaller canapés.
Top the melba thins with the cream cheese (using teaspoons or a piping bag).
Grind some black pepper over the cheese.
Top with a grapefruit segment.

Drizzle the whole canapé with some local honey.

Apricot and blue cheese Canapés.

Soft dried ‘ready to eat’ apricots. Some local blue cheese.
Some local honey.
Walnut halves.

Layer together the ingredients; starting with the apricots, then some blue cheese, a walnut half and topped with a generous drizzle of local honey.

This might sound ridiculously simple but the combination of these 4 flavours is incredible all together. I would recommend getting local blue cheese and local honey as they pack much more flavour than a supermarket brand.

By: Heather Brown