Sluttery Food News

At last, the sun has made an appearance in the UK. For a while I wasn't sure it was going to happen, but she really has got her hat on (hip hip hip hooray) and finally, Spring is with us! The warmer weather is sure to bring a few more goodies our way. Early season asparagus is here and we should all make chicken and asparagus pasties (or if you're a purist, try them simply cooked in parchment). Jersey Royals are here, too and they're just crying out to made into a perfect potato salad. Morel season is coming to an end, so pick some up while you still can. There's plenty of seafood in season this month (plenty of fish in the sea, so to speak) and squid, langoustine and red mullet are in abundance now. Rock samphire is around during the Spring and it'll accompany all that seafood brilliantly.

Eat and drink - The last week in May is going to be a busy one for food-related national weeks so it's worth getting a head start on them now! 20-26th May is National Vegetarian Week and we have loads of fantastic recipes for you to try. At the same time, it's also British Tomato Week and what better way to celebrate than with a tomatoey cocktail? It's English Wine Week from 25th May to 2nd June an I'll be marking the occasion with a glass (or three) of Chapel Down Bacchus Reserve from my local winery in Kent. You could check out vineyards near to you, Laura did that in Yorkshire and was delighted with what she found!

Visit - May is definitely the start of food festival season, there are dozens happening up and down the country. The Loch Fyne Food Fair in Cairndow will be a great place to meet local food producers and to sample some of the best Argyll has to offer, pop along on 18-19th May to get your taste of Loch Fyne. The Cornwall Asparagus Festival is held on 19th May at the Penventon Park Hotel, asparagus is only is season for a short time, so enjoy it while you can! It's barbecue weather, isn't it? If you're in the Bristol area, head over to Grillstock on 11-12th May at Lloyd's Amphitheatre for a brilliant combination of authentic barbecue food, music and a rib eating competition. (You might want to start training for that with some of Hazel's amazing sticky ribs.) 

Free From Find - Last month's FreeFrom Food Award's overall winner was the thoroughly deserving Bessant & Drury for their dairy free lemon 'ice cream' dessert. Also available in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavours, these coconut based frozen desserts are so convincingly ice-creamy that most people wouldn't notice the difference.

What are you eating and drinking this month?