Big British Food Map A bite of the Black Country

Date Published:

12/06/2008

Andrew popped to the Black Country in his tour of the West Midlands for a bite to eat and a chat with some geese

A good Sunday roast

Sunday lunch is a very important meal. The starter was asparagus from Goodman's farm with a warm tomato dressing and Parmesan. For main course I did the roast beef I'd got from Pegoty Hedge Farm. Delicious - great marbling of fat, soft, juicy, perfectly cooked in an Aga. I served it with some Cornish potatoes that had made it up from Revills farm shop and some spring cabbage.

Food for the mind

After visiting the Tunnel Brewery I stumbled across Astley Book Farm, 4000 square feet of second hand books - food for the mind rather than the body. Now that's farm diversification! I picked up a book about the Cafe Royal in London. I also tried to go to The Butler's House in Burbage as recommended on the Map by Hazel, but it closes in the afternoon.

Live and Let Live

Paxton and Whitfield in Stratford upon Avon, said to be the cultural heart of England; Stratford that is, not Paxton and Whitfield. Damn fine cheese, though. The weather was beautiful, as was the countryside I was zipping through. When the sun's out England really is a stunning place. I've stumbled upon little hamlets, hidden valleys and some amazing views. I'd encourage everyone to try and have their own little food adventure; there's some fabulous stuff about if you go looking for it. One such hidden place is the Live and Let Live inn which has a long and interesting history and is well worth a visit. I had a cheeky half.

Me and Matthew

Once more back to London town as I was booked to appear on UKTV Food's Market Kitchen show to chat with Matthew Fort about the project. I'd spoken with the producer last week and we'd agreed to talk about Quentin's albacore tuna, Jonathan and Vicky Brown's welfare veal and Gary and Richard's Mushrooms. All of these producers are doing something exciting and new. It's going out next week on UKTV Food so be sure to watch it. I also had a mooch round the F Word set which is underneath the Market Kitchen one. The corridor where Gordon does his strip off change is about four metres long, some good editing there. I had a go at walking down it and hadn't even got a button undone on my shirt before reaching the end.

It's tipping it down in London today, which never does make for pleasurable driving conditions, so have decided to stay put, catch up and head off tomorrow. Went for a pint with the cast and crew of Market Kitchen last night. Bit strange being back in London - after a few weeks out of it, you do see it with fresh eyes.

A window of amusement

It's always been a constant source of fascination to me why amusement shops have window displays. This one, on the Alcester Road, Kings Heath in Birmingham, featured kitchenware, but others I've seen feature ornaments and other household tat. I even saw one featuring a vacuum cleaner once. I imagine the thinking is 'we've got to put something in the window' meets 'win some money and you too can have this... bread bin'. Love it.

Moseying down the M6 - again

A day spent in the North Midlands or the southern area of the Northwest (depending on which way you look at it) with Bill Pearson, who took me on a mini food tour. I'm getting well acquainted with the M6.

Last week Andrew was in the West Mids.

Next he's off to Staffordshire.

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