Channel 4 On Tour Andrew's Big British Food Map round up

Date Published:

25/11/2008

Andrew Webb has spent the last seven months touring the country in search of great British grub. He looks back on the highs and lows of life on the road

After seven months, 11,500 miles, 54 videos, 1,093 images, a daily diary and nearly a hundred features, my time as narrator, curator and designated driver of the Big British Food Map has come to an end. So how's it been? Well I feel a little like Rutger Hauer's character at the end of Bladerunner and his 'I've seen things' speech. Except these things 'I've seen' won't be 'lost like tears in rain'. The Map itself is going nowhere and you can still add your favourite places so please do. There are over 2000 places on the Big British Food Map, all added by you, the public, and it's your continuing choices in what and where you eat that ensures the standard of food production, retail and cooking in the UK remains high.

Mountains of chocolate

So what exactly have I seen?

Well during my travels I've seen pride, commitment, passion, tradition and innovation. I've seen just how fantastically diverse the ethnic and regional make up of this country is. I've seen how local businesses such as Cocoa Mountain enrich the local community and how their mail orders help the local Post Office thrive. And I've seen how our history is literally nailed to the walls of our pubs, like the Crown Hartest, and as such should be cherished. I've also met famous chefs and famous pigs.

As cheap as cheese

It's not all been plain sailing however. I've witnessed the legacy of foot and mouth at the Watchtree nature reserve in Cumbria, and seen crops destroyed by the bad summer at James Barclay's farm amongst others. I've seen shiny city-centre developments offering nothing but bland chain food that sadly become wind-tunnelled ghost towns after dark.

Andrew Pern's hands on food

But what about the people behind the products?

Well I've met folk who have moved into farming from other professions bringing new skills and ideas. Chefs who like to get their wellies on as often as their whites and grow their own, such as Andrew Pern in Yorkshire, as well as chefs who are constantly looking for new arrangements of tastes and textures like Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall. I've seen shopkeepers who offer something different and unique (and not necessarily expensive) - the goat's cheese washed in Plymouth Sloe Gin and only available at West Country Cheeses is an example of this. I've seen the highest standards of animal welfare and husbandry too, echoing Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's sentiment that if you're going to eat meat, make sure it's well cared for meat.

Culinary crusader, Nathan Outlaw

As for me, I've learnt all sorts of new things, from new recipes and cooking ideas, to improving my knowledge of animal and plant breeds. Even my UK geography has improved. Finally, I've had something that I suspected to be the case confirmed. Namely that food isn't a lifestyle choice - something a few people are into - but a daily chance to exercise change and strengthen our communities as well as improve our health and that of the planet. It's important stuff, eating, you know.

Now it's your turn

Over to you

Anyway I hope you've enjoyed following the journey and at least been informed and entertained by what I've shown you, and I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank those of you that took the time to share your local knowledge with me and Channel 4. Please continue to do so. My food adventure has come to an end, but yours doesn't have to. The wonderful thing about the UK is that you don't have to put your life on hold for seven months like I did. Just take a long weekend, get in the car and have your own food adventure. Take in a farm shop, a good local restaurant or pub and few shops and you've got your own little food map right there. There are people doing brilliant, creative and exciting things with food all over the British Isles. Go and find them.

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