brown and green

The Midlands Food Bloggers community are keen to seek out fabulous local producers and support them wherever possible. This is something we have in common with brown and green, the food store at Trentham Estate near Stoke on Trent. I discovered the store last year and have been hooked ever since. Every visit I find something new to try and discover great producers right on my doorstep that I never knew about.

Last week I met with Susie, one half of the couple behind the venture, and found out how brown and green came to be and their plans for the future. Here’s a little of what I learnt.

Susie, a farmers daughter, had a dream. The dream was a little farm shop selling great local food and drink, including the strawberries and apples grown by her husband Euan at their home in Gloucestershire. In 2007 the dream became reality with the opening of a shop at what is now Three Shires Garden Centre. Then in December 2007 when the garden centre was bought out by Blue Diamond Susie and Euan feared it might be the end of their dream. Instead the dream was to get bigger, as the corporate giant proposed a partnership; they loved the philosophy behind Susie and Euan’s store and so brown and green was born and the Trentham store was opened in April 2010.

Their aim to stock as many local products as possible, whilst still providing a range that enables a complete shopping experience. Susie selects each product line carefully and has spent the past year scouring Staffordshire and the neighbouring counties for the best local producers. From local cheesemakers like Staffordshire Cheese Company and Brock Hall Farm goats cheese from nearby Shropshire (a personal favourite of mine) to brewers like Lymestone Brewery and Freedom. Where a local producer isn’t available, the next best thing is chosen, to ensure you can purchase all you might need for a meal.

brown and green also care how each of the products are made and grown and look for high standards in animal welfare, care for the environment and people. Indeed, the people behind the products are very important to brown and green, and where possible Susie works closely with them to ensure the products, packaging and marketing is right. For example, with an abundance of chutney and jam makers within the region, Susie worked closely with The Kitchens at Horsley to create some unique products.

The passion for the human element of the products is enhanced by the regular tasting events that are held in store, where you can meet the producers and try the products before you buy. There’s hardly a week goes by without something going on in store and if you want to keep up with the latest news you can sign up here or follow on twitter and Facebook.

This week is a busy week in store with National Vegetarian week and if you visit this weekend there are tastings from The Kitchens at Horsley, Lodge Farm Kitchen and Tyrrells.

Susie is a truly passionate foodie, and her enthusiasm is certainly infectious, as you may notice by the staff at the store, who are always really welcoming and friendly, and full of advice on the products. Back in December choosing my Christmas cheeseboard from the deli was so enjoyable and it was all prepared for me to pick up just before the big day.

Now there is a second store open with Blue Diamond at Derby Garden Centre, Little Eaton, and Susie and the team are now busy searching Derbyshire and surrounding counties for more fabulous producers. You can read a review by fellow MFB member The Butcher, The Baker here.

brown and green is not just a food store, it’s a foodie’s dream, twice over. Not only has Susie’s dream become real but for every foodie in Staffordshire, it’s the answer to all our prayers – a store that brings together all that is best from the region.

By Louise of Comida y Vida

Thanks to Susie and the team for a warm welcome as always for both me and Baby G and I’ll be back soon.

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Update: now if you thought this post was a full of praise due to a blogger’s desire to be nice (cough cough AA Gill!) then don’t just take our word for it –  brown and green has won the West Midlands Deli of the Year and is therefore one of the top 10 deli’s in the country and could be crowned number one at the Great Taste Awards in September. We all have our fingers crossed!

Well done Susie and all the team, so proud to have you as a friend of MFB .

“FISH AND TIPS”

Tomorrow,  Selfridges’ Project Ocean initiative will take to the streets of Birmingham and dazzle shoppers with a mix of fishy freebies, bathing belles and dishy divers. From 12 pm – 3 pm, Selfridges’ specially created vintage seaside fish and chip van, The Happy Catch, will be parked outside the Rotunda entrance to Selfridges and will entice passers-by with hot mackerel sandwiches and other goodies promoting the store’s campaign to support sustainable fishing and ocean conservation.

In addition there will be a team of hunky Project Ocean frogmen (complete with flippers and snorkels) patrolling the pavements and store throughout the day, plus a special guest appearance by a 1940s pinup beach beauty to bring a splash of glamour to the occasion.

Selfridge’s Birmingham staff, all dressed especially in blue for the occasion, will also be on hand to distribute Selfridges’ free Project Ocean Fish Guide which highlights a number of endangered species that consumers should ideally avoid and makes suggestions of alternative, more sustainable choices.

Joining them will be a group of placard waving Project Ocean protesters who will be wearing a range of specially created slogan tee-shirts, designed by legendary designer Katherine Hamnett, that can be purchased in store in aid of the campaign.

All this activity is to further promote Selfridges’ global Project Ocean campaign, an inspiring initiative that challenges the public to imagine a world with “no more fish in the sea”. Project Ocean is spearheaded by Selfridges’ Creative Director Alannah Weston, working in partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

Running until June 12th, Project Ocean was launched last week by Prince Charles and is backed by over 25 charities and agencies including Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature. It is both a celebration of the oceans and a forum for conservationists to issue an urgent public wake-up call to address issues of sustainability, overfishing and marine protection, and features a range of fashion, food and fundraising elements deployed by all its stores.

Selfridge’s Birmingham is demonstrating its commitment to the cause via its Gallery Moet Bar & Restaurant and food hall which has introduced an ongoing responsible sourcing policy and a complete ban on endangered species. The restaurant has also launched a new range of sustainable fish-based dishes (see notes to editors), including pan fried rainbow trout, Cajun spiced red mullet, grilled fillet of dab and hot smoked fish pie with English asparagus salad which is already proving a huge hit with diners.

Selfridge’s Birmingham has also helped fund the creation of a marine reserve in the Philippines on a unique double barrier reef, creating a safe haven for endangered fish. Birmingham shoppers, and the general public, will be able to contribute to the setting up of similar marine reserves around the world by donating directly to Project Ocean and through the purchase of Project Ocean campaign ribbons, bracelets, bags and tea towels that are available in store.

For more details of Project Ocean, which runs until June 12th, there is a special microsite at www.selfridges.com/projectocean. Here you will find a range of information and features including a downloadable version of the sustainable fish guide, recipes from top chefs, links to the Fish Guide App and details of the fundraising campaign

By Jo of Jo’s Kitchen on behalf of MFB

24 Carrots Easter Farmer’s Market

One of the things that we here at MFB love is a good Farmers Market and one of the best in the region is 24 Carrots, the Jewellery Quarter’s Farmers Market. 24 Carrots was set up in July 2009 by local residents and has been going strong ever since. I try to visit the market when I can and last month, I took my Other Half there for the first time.

Our first stop was The Parson’s Nose where we picked up breakfast – the best sausage sandwich I have ever tasted, some sausages to take home (we had sausages and mash the next day) and some lovely fresh eggs.

Our next stop was Friend of MFB’s stall, Squisito Deli with their wonderful range of fresh breads, olives, sausages, herbs and they even sold fresh yeast which is quite hard to get round here. Our bags were heavily laden by this point and we had only visited two stalls.

Our next stop was Kiss Me Cupcakes, another Friend of MFB’s. They were launching new lavender and lemon cupcakes with leftover lavender from Beans and Leaves. I greedily left this stall with 6 cupcakes (naughty me!!!!)

We next went to Beans and Leaves where I picked up some decaffeinated coffee.  From there we went to Vee’s Deli where we got some pickled onions and some hot chilli pickle.  Our last stop was the Two Towers Brewery where my Other Half picked up a couple of bottles of beer.

We left the market very happy with lots of heavy bags and headed into Birmingham city centre to do some more shopping.  The next 24 Carrots in next Saturday 21st May outside The Big Peg, Warstone Lane, B18 6NA. Louise of Comida Y Vida and I will be there, so if you see us, please say hello! The dates for rest of the markets in 2011 are here:  24Carrots2011Calendar. We hope to see you there soon

By Jo of Jo’s Kitchen

Gourmet Life

We here at Midlands Food Bloggers really like local and seasonal food and we especially like supporting local food producers. Therefore, today I have decided to tell you about a scheme that Louise and I have signed for ourselves that lets you support local food producers and get money off for doing it. This scheme is called Gourmet Life, which is run by James who also does the fantastic local foodie site called Eat The Midlands, which I am going to write articles for, as well as this blog and Dine With Us, which promotes great places to eat out in the Midlands.

Gourmet Life is the region’s only ‘ethical’ dining card. Helping people to support the region’s producers, by choosing to dine at specially selected venues who must source more than 20% of their a l carte menu ingredients from across the region (within a 50 mile radius where possible). By going to these venues, and dining with them at certain times, you can enjoy 20% off your A la carte food bill. All you have to do is, tell the venue you have a Gourmet Life card and dine with them on a Monday to Friday, lunchtime or evening. It’s as simple as that.

In addition to getting 20% off at some of the finest dining establishments in the Midlands, you also get the following additional benefits:

• 20% off your dining bill at almost 100 of the region’s top dining venues
• Monthly invites to gourmet nights
• Additional discounts off meals at selected venues, up to 2 for 1 at selected venues
• Discounted foodie events
• Savings at Deli’s and farm shops of 10%
• 20% or more off overnight breaks, including Birmingham & London!
• Exclusive tasting menus also available, specially made for you!
• and even more benefits coming soon!

*Update: You can now get 25% off dining in some venues and Gourmet Life are introducing Dine and Stay Packages with 25% off accommodation. You can also dine at two Michelin starred venues in Birmingham;  Simpson’s and Turners. For more information, see here.*

James has given us here at Midlands Food Bloggers an exclusive offer for all our members and supporters. All you need to do is register here and quote ‘Midlands Food Bloggers‘ in the box at the bottom of the form and you will instantly get 3 months FREE Membership to the Gourmet Life scheme. How amazing is that!

Many thanks to James for giving us this fantastic offer for all our members and supporters. It is much appreciated

PS: Please ‘like’ our new Facebook Fan Page. Thanks!

By Jo of Jo’s Kitchen on behalf of MFB

The next MFB meet up

It has been a while since the last one but the Midlands Food Bloggers (MFB) are planning another meet up for fellow Midlands foodies. So hopefully you are free on Saturday 4th June 2011.

We have opted to head to the north of the region for the next meet and would love for as many people as possible to join us. The venue is

99 Station Street
Burton upon Trent
Staffordshire
DE14 1BT



An award winning restaurant – This family run venue opened to critical acclaim in May 2008 and has not sat still since. The seasonally accurate menu is built around great ingredients sourced from enthusiastic local suppliers.

The proposed plan for the meet is lunch at 99 Station Street, sampling some lovely local food, followed by hopefully a peek at their smoking and curing processes for producing their own sausages and other lovely products which are sold through Staffordshire Fine Foods. No doubt there will be lots of conversation about food and blogging too!

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We understand this may be a bit far for some people as the Midlands does cover a huge area, but if you let us know you are eager to attend a meet up we’ll try to plan for the next one to be a bit closer to you – SHOUT UP though or else we won’t know you’re interested

If you could reply and confirm your attendance by Friday 13th May so we can arrange for a table to be reserved.

Thanks and hope to see you there
Louise of Comida y Vida on behalf of MFB.

What have you missed …..?

The Midlands Food Bloggers has been active for some time now, but with this new community blog and a few events and things in the planning stages, we hope the group will grow in members and provide a hub for the food bloggers of the Midlands.

So what have you missed so far? Well here’s a look at what we’ve been up to.

Way back in March 2010 we had our first meet up. Jo of Jo’s Kitchen organised a visit to Loaf, the home of Tom Baker and headquarters of Loaf Cookery School offering classes in forgotten skills like breadmaking, butchery and foraging, and a Community Bakery, providing artisan rye and sourdough breads to locals that commit to buy. During the day we met Wendy from Peter’s Yard, had a go at making handmade pizzas in Tom’s wood buring oven, chatted about food (of course!) and induldged in a selection of cake we had all prepared.

To read more about it from some of the attendees visit the following links: Jo from Jo’s Kitchen, Louise from Comida y Vida and Charlene from No Love Sincerer.

The next meet up was at Urban Coffee Co in Birmingham, where we met up with a couple of local businesses: Gavin from To Bizzy to Bake, a local cake baker and supplier to Urban Coffee Co amongst other ; and Brian from 24 Carrots, which is a farmers market in the Jewellery Quarter. The order of the afternoon was coffee and cake and a general chit chat about blogging and the Midlands Food scene.

It was here we decided to plan a Midlands Food Bloggers (MFB) visit to the next monthly Farmers market at 24 Carrots. So on a cold but sunny morning Jo and Louise spent an enjoyable morning meeting various Midlands food producers. You can read all about it here and here.

If any of these things sound like something you might be interested in coming to, pop back soon for details of our next meet-up. Alternatively email midsfoodbloggers@hotmail.co.uk to add yourself to the mailing list and keep updated with all our news.

By Louise of Comida y Vida on behalf of MFB.