West Country Food Adventures
Last year it was in Mendip and called Taste the Landscape. This year, its going county wide. West Country Food Adventures runs from 13th to 28th July and aims to showcase the very best our county has to offer in food and drink. This is a mainstay of the Somerset economy and as we look to a future beyond the EU, the importance of understanding our food and drink industry and showcasing it for export around the globe has never been greater.
West Country Food Adventures are an invitation to get to the root of what the land is for. You can ask questions, taste test, have a go or just have a picnic and go & explore a farm. With a nod to the environment at large they’ve tried to make it easy to get to by bus, bike, horse or on foot.
Most of the events are free and many can be self-led.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to delve into the levels or moors, coast or hills of this beautiful part of the world, these West Country Food Adventures are a great place to start. Here are some examples:
- Back to Nature foraging walk at the Clavelshay Barn, near Bridgwater
- Make your own scotch eggs at “egg central” aka Nutts Scotch Eggs in Bleadon
- Mad Hatters Teaparty and Famous Five Picnic in Tintinhull
- Brews, Blues and Barbeques at Pitchfork Brewery in Hewish
- Farm tours at West Ilkton on Exmoor and Wookey Farm near Wells
- Tastings and tours at cider makers including Harrys Cider in Long Sutton, Dorset Nectar near Bridport and Barley Wood in Wrington
- A tour and tasting at Feltham’s Farm, the home of Renegrade Monk cheese near Templecombe
- And new festivals in Crewkerne and Trull
In France this sort of thing would be taken for granted. Terroir, the concept of eating and drinking in the region of production is revered in France. So why not in England too? And more to the point here in Somerset. This is exactly the sort of initiative we need to see more of. When I visit France wherever I go there will be tours of local cider makers, local vineyards and guides to local producers. In Somerset we are barely scratching the surface.
We at Leveller Towers regard this as a really important development for our local economy. We’d really encourage everyone to take the time to visit some of your local producers and find out more about what we grow and produce.
Find out more here where you can download the brochure and view the interactive map.