If You Go Down To the Woods Today …..

Today’s guest post is a little something sweet for you. Our lovely member Julia of A Wannabe Foodie has been attending a secret cakey rendezvous. In her lovely unique style Julia shares her experience …. 

The morning had arrived of the much anticipated Loughborough Clandestine Cake Club ! My first foray into Secret Cake Clubs and the pre cursor to my own event in October (Derby’s First ever Clandestine Cake event!!) ! The theme for the event was ” Once Upon a Cake …” and the venue ??? A small hideaway in the woods !!! I was amazingly excited … I knew exactly what I was baking and how I was going to do it !! I just hoped I’d got up early enough to bake the fairytale extravaganza I had planned !!

It was 7.45 am … I had shopping bags strewn across the kitchen full of exciting ingredients and promises of splendour … I donned my ” Celebrity Chef” apron ( a joke gift from a friend after my family appeared on a BBC TV show ) and set to creating this masterpiece of confection !!!! YIKES !!! I weighed and I whisked and I stirred and I whizzed and I poured .. and I flavoured and I baked ! And I hoped for the best ….! I cooled and I stacked and I spread and I bashed and I chopped and I melted ( chocolate .. not me physically though it was a close call) I prayed and prayed to The God of Cakeyness for success ! Was I rewarded handsomely ?? I like to think so …..

” The Magic Faraway Tree Toffee Shock Cake ” was born ……!!! (4 layers of vanilla , caramel , chocolate caramel & chocolate layered with caramel and smothered in a double chocolate ganache and festooned with fudge , toffee and popping candy …)

So we intrepid explorers th’usband and I laden with cake and kagouls and the twins ! Hopped in the car and started off on our fairytale adventure in the woods ! Who knew what to expect ? We had our clandestine directions and headed for the M1 ! It was very exciting and a little bit nervewracking …. and of course we took a wrong turn … and of course it was my map reading skills that caused such a catastrophe (Harumph) but at last we found the ballooned entrance to the woodlands .. and headed on down to the strawberry beds … 30 minutes early !!! Ooops !!! We continued on foot and followed the balloon trail through cabins and trees and paths to a marvellous little caravan in the woods … !

Greeted by Pete, Anne and Janet (our organisers for the day) we got stuck in, adorning plates with little fruit patterned napkins and awaiting the arrival of everyone else ! Kettles were boiling , tables were set … the kids were up and away playing in the fabulous tree house .. the sun was shining !!! I felt so at ease and relaxed .. standing in a truly peaceful , gorgeous location …. happiness and a sense of calm engulfed me !

One by one troops of people arrived carrying such marvellous cakes ….. Plum & Cardamom , chocolate & hazelnut , Black forest gateaux , pine nut adorned baked cheesecake , Chocolate malteser cake , Apple & berry crumble cake , a fresh cream apple sponge (with fudgey goodness) and my mammoth cake .. and Janets Disgusting Mountain of Snakes…… ! (See Picture …)

Everyone’s own interpretation of the theme …. a lovely late summer , woodland , fairytale theme to the day ! Janet gave a short introduction and we were away ….. slices and slices of cake were consumed …. I loved Anne’s Chocolate & hazelnut .. so moist and nutty ! Perfect ! (looking forward to that being blogged .. hint hint!) and then it came … We had obviously angered the Rain Gods with our flamboyant eating of cake in such wanton abandonment … The heavens opened .. we all dived for cover , the gazebo , the treehouse , the caravan … hoods up .. smiles still planted firmly on our faces …. cake eating commenced ! Ha .. rain would not deter us ….!! And so the Gods thought better and the sun shone once more ! Easy conservations carried on , new friendships formed .. a sharing of like minded people from different corners of the Midlands.. chatting and laughing like old friends … all with a story to tell and a cake to share!

As the early evening sun shone we all swapped slices of cake ready for our return home …. we all said our cheery goodbyes and headed off smiling … sated with cake and with an inner sense of peace !

A truly wonderful experience … and a huge Thank you to Janet and Anne for an amazing afternoon !!! We loved it .. the boys loved it … and we can’t wait to do it all again !!!!!!!!

For more information about Clandestine Cakes go to www.clandestinecake.co.uk

Thanks to Julia for letting us know about her first CCC experience. She has organised the next Midlands event in a secret location in Derby on October 23rd 2011 which has now sold out – luckily I got my place so can let you know what fun we get up to. For future events in Derby email Julia for more information.

Judging Sausages at Ludlow Food Festival

Today we have a guest post following our recent MFB visit to Ludlow Food Festival. Kath from the Ordinary Cook is a local to the event and for the last 2 years has been part of the judging panel for the event’s Sausage Trail. So it’s over to Kath for a lowdown ….. 

The Ludlow Food Festival was brilliant this year.  I had my best year yet there, wandering around finding all the brilliant local producers, trying and buying their wares.  There were lots of highlights, including meeting up with Jo and Louise from Midland Food Bloggers.  It was lovely to meet them and have a chat and a wander.

Then at 3pm the main event for me was being part of the judging team for the Expert’s Choice for the best sausage of the five sausages on this year’s Sausage Trail.  The judging panel this year was myself, The Sausage King and his very adorable young son The Sausage Prince (who of course was the best judge at the table – that kid knows his sausages!) and Rosanna Taylor-Smith, Councillor for Ludlow North.

Every year, as part of the festival, there is a sausage trail, with two rounds of judging, the Peoples’ Choice Award and the Expert’s Choice Award.  For the first, festival-goers buy a Sausage Trail Leaflet and then set off to try a bit of each of the sausages.  They then award each sausage a score, decide which one is best, take their leaflet to the final sausage tent and swap their completed leaflet for their favourite sausage in a bun. (It is extremely popular and the queues at each sausage stand are a sight to behold.) All of these leaflets are sorted and the sausage with the most votes becomes the People’s Choice.  Then a panel gets to try all five sausages and decided which sausage should win the Expert’s Choice.  This is the second year I have been on this panel and the judging is great fun, if not just a little bit difficult because of the very high standard.

All five butchers are local to Ludlow and the surrounding area and all five are traditional butchers producing some excellent quality meat. The sausages were all of a very high standard and all tasted mighty fine.  However, for the expert panel there were two sausages which came very close to being the best.  We all tasted and then tasted again, and then tasted again.  But in the end we all came to the same conclusion, the sausage from D W Wall just about clinched it, with Griffiths’ sausage coming a very close second.

The People Choice Award also went to D W Wall, with the Ludlow Food Centre coming a very close second in that competition.

The entries this year were:

Andrew Francis Butchers – Pork with cracked black pepper

A. H Griffiths Butchers – Pork with sundried tomatoes and mushrooms

Legges of Bromyard – Pork with smoked pancetta and rocket

Ludlow Food Centre - Pork with blue cheese, redcurrant jelly and port

D W Wall – Pork with camembert, chives and redcurrant jelly

As a member of the expert panel you take a blind taste of the sausage, so you you are not told the name of the butcher or the flavour of the sausage.  You simply make your decision based on which one tastes the best to you. This year all three of us agreed on our favourite sausages, but they were all very good. I do hope I can do it all again next year.

Another highlight of the festival for me was meeting Sarah from Brock Hall Farm.  She produces artisan goat cheeses from her herd of pure Saanen goats on her farm in the beautiful Shropshire hills.  Her unpasteurised cheeses are amongst the best I have tasted with the most delicate tang and wonderful texture.  If you get a chance to try her cheese I recommend that you do.

Many thanks to Kath for the letting us know what a tough job she has a Sausage tasting judge!! It’s great to have an “expert” as an MFB member. 

MFB get baking at Loaf Online

Last Saturday, several friends and members of Midlands Food Bloggers gathered together at Loaf HQ for a cookery course on how to bake bread. The course leader, Tom Baker is owner of Loaf, a social enterprise with the aim to “promote real food and healthy living in Birmingham, and build community through food”. For more details, please visit www.loafonline.co.uk

The day started early over freshly brewed tea, coffee and freshly baked bread and Tom explained to us what we would be doing for the day- it sounded quite daunting- a white loaf, wholemeal loaf, fougasse, pizza, ciabatta and brioche! We were all quite excited at the prospect of learning how to bake these breads, and that some of the loaves, and the pizza would be baked outside, in the clay oven. The clay oven was lit before we arrived and the smell coming from the garden was amazing.

The course was very hands on, and Tom explained not just the ingredients, but why we use them, in what quantities, why temperature was important, why accurate weighing was key- and some great kneading techniques. We were provided with the recipes, but also with a better understanding of how the bread making process works, and this information will definitely help bake quality bread time and time again. During the day, Tom answered the many questions we had about baking and gave us tips and ideas on how to improve our loaves- my personal favourite is using a scraper to keep the dough together and to get it off the work surface, something I have always struggled with.

The results were amazing! The pizzas we made for lunch were the nicest I’ve ever tasted, probably helped by the clay oven.

We all went home with a sizeable amount of breads that we had baked and I decided to have a go at baking some the following day, not quite believing I could repeat the results. Tom’s basis behind the day was teaching us to make consistently good bread- and he succeeded. By Sunday evening I had created a fluffy white loaf with an amazing crust and a fluffy, if a bit too stretched focaccia (Tom tweeted me later to advise me to use a smaller tray next time) and brioche rolls.

Written by Lisa of Mmmidlands on behalf of MFB.

Rossopomodoro Pizza at Selfridges, Birmingham

Another guest post today and another one with some Mediterranean flavour whilst still sharing a Midlands food experience. James Day of Eat the Midlands went to the launch of Rossopomodoro in Selfridges, Birmingham. 

Tonino Magno is a big, stocky fellow with the broad shoulders of a rugby forward and the reach and delicate fingers of a concert pianist. However, he is not making music but creating the most melodious pizza that you will have tasted outsideNaples.  The son of a pizza chef, he started helping his father when he was only ten, and now at 31 has 21 years of pizza making skill under his quite massive belt.

For the next couple of months he will be essaying his craft at Rossopomodoro, a genuine Neapolitian pizzeria transferred from the hectic streets ofNaplesto the comparative calm of Selfridges Food Hall inBirmingham’s Bull Ring.

It is a joy to watch Tonino at work.  His left hand reaches out for a batch of the very special dough, made some 12 to 16 hours before by an expert pizzaioli (Pizza chef) from special flour shipped from the south ofItaly, yeast, water and salt. Tonino now throws it deftly from hand to hand, like a cricket bowler waiting to run up the wicket.  When he feels it is pliable enough he puts it down on the cool marble work top and begins working it until his fingers tell him it is ready.  He now adds the tasty Rossompomodoro tomatos, elongated fruits grown in the volcanic soils aroundNaples, the delicious delicate and pliable Mozzarella cheese made inItalyfromBuffalomilk and drizzles on cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from the sunny Amalfi coast.

He now pulls the pizza long-ways and sideways, proving its elasticity, before sliding it on the flat long handled blade with which he transfers it to the oven.  This is also traditional, a brick built cupola shape, with a flat base of volcanic rock and wood-fired to reach some 485°C that will cook a pizza in 60 to 90 seconds.

The other day I shared a Margherita with Mario Romano, the Italian London-based managing director of the British arm of the Rossopomodoro restaurant chain with branches in Covent Garden, Fulham and Notting Hill. This Margherita, by the way, is no tequila and cointreau cocktail, but a very special pizza created inNaplesin June 1889 by chef Raffaela Esposito to celebrate the visit by Queen Margherita ofSavoy.  He used tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil to represent the red, white and green of the Italian tricolour, the flag of the still-young nation unified in 1861 by Garribaldi under King Victor Emmanuel.  Mario explained to me that the company was founded inNaplessome 25 years ago and now has branches all over Italy London, New York andTokyo– and now Birmingham.

Our pizza was as light as a maidens kiss, with raised edges full of air, the centre was soft, moist and stretchy: the fast cooking preserving the flavours of the tomatoes and olive oil.  The authentic “00″ Italian flour is light in gluten with no added emulsifiers, or preservatives, so I understand very friendly to those with a wheat intolerance to modern processed wheats, or have sensitive stomachs, such as Coeliacs.   If up to now your only experience of pizza has been commercially baked concoctions with thick bases and tough edges, then drop into Selfridges food hall and have yourself a real touch of Naples form only £8.50 for a Margerita up to £11.50 for an Afragolese at £11.50 that includes mozzarella, beef bresaola, rocket and parmesan cheese shavings.  This boutique restaurant has an excellent wine list including quite my favourite Italian white, the Gavi di Gavi from Piedomont (£28.00) as well as a spicy Valpolicella Ripasso (£32.00)

There is also a Pasta menu for those who might prefer a change from pizza, a short but tempting list of desserts and quite excellent coffee.  Do finish this entertaining experience with a Doppio Espresso (£2.20).  This tiny drop of most excellent strong coffee sent me out into the Bull Ring singing O Sol a Mio! – but very softly, as even in my shower I am no Mario Lanza.

Thank you to James for letting us know of this great addition to the Birmingham food scene, we’ll definitely be going to sample the pizza and to enjoy the sights – that’s the wood fire oven and not the waiters of course!!  

James also runs the Gourmet Life dining club that we have written about previously here. For the latest offers on membership then drop us an email.

From the Midlands to Andalucia – Journey of a foodie

Today we have a guest post from outside the Midlands … all the way from sunny Spain (well I always imagine it to be sunnier than here!) and Lynsey of La Rosilla with her story of how she came to run a Supperclub in the Andalucian mountains. 

Although some 1500 miles away, in the ‘Montes de Malaga’ in the Axarquia, Andalucia, Spain my ‘foodie’ beginnings were born in the Midlands, growing up in a small Warwickshire village & then later once married and offspring came along, we happily re-located to a village outside the wonderful Stratford-upon-Avon. Entertaining, experimenting, hosting and exploring all things culinary became a passion and hobby, that I have now finally after many years had the courage to share with others.

After cooking in a local restaurant, I decided I would go it alone, but with a different style. Supperclubs started sweeping the U.K, but had not yet reached Spanish soil, so I took the plunge and opened La Rosilla , well my terrace, to small groups of like minded food worshippers.

Don’t get me wrong there are many wonderful places to eat and feast here in Andalucia, but up in the Montes they are sporadic, and many with menus offering everything as-long as it is ‘Pig n Chips’. Home cooked dishes, wonderful recipes often staying just that, in the home, and not offered so freely to those wanting to discover the real taste of Spain.

So with Happy hens, a full veggie patch, a terrace with a view to die for, and an eye to entertain in style, I took the plunge. I make everything from scratch, always served with Hot home-baked bread, home grown salad, welcome drink and ‘Foo Fah’ (my name for an amuse bouche) & then 3 delicious courses of food in season.

I’ve had the odd challenge, power cut in the middle of service, a torrential storm, (the terrace is covered by a vine only) , guest turning up thinking it was a party..But all in all only, positive experiences have been gained. I don’t think I’ll make my fortunate, but word is spreading, and for our family who are all involved, No 1 daughter dances and entertains guests, No 3 daughter keeps the dogs quiet, no 3 son eats the leftovers and OH is a great pot washer it keeps us on our toes, and allows us to experiment & enjoy.

Buen Provecho.

Many thanks to Lynsey for sharing her story and if you ever end up in that part of Spain check out her Supperclubs, gourmet tours and cooking courses here. In the meantime, she shares lots of wonderful spanish recipes and much more on her blog.

MFB Members Blog Round Up – August 2011

August has seen some fabulous posts from our members, here’s a small selection of what they’ve been up to:

Mum Louise and her son, Sous Chef J of Good Food, Great Fun and Gluten Free have continued to share their journey of their gluten free diet with a day out to Millets Farm, a trip into London and review of Leon’s and baking some gorgeous looking Ginger Pecan Cookies.

Julia of A Wannabe Foodie started off the month with a healthy dish of Chili Bean Soup, followed by a MFB BBQ she hosted and a recipe for the fabulous Avocado Thai Salsa she served.

Phil of Leicestershire’s Local Food Heroes has been making the most of the season’s fruits this month with a gorgeous Plum Tart and this week has begun preparing for the winter with some preserving and a fabulous looking Piccalilli.

Plus I have been busy and began the month with a Brewery tour at Lymestone, then tried to recreate a family comfort food dish without all the calories with this Lean Cottage pie and ended with her my Fresh From the Oven challenge and her Carrot and Walnut Bread.

For a look at what all our other members have been writing about click through to their blogs from the Members Page.  If you’re based in the Midlands and have a food blog, then email us to find out how to become a member.

Written by Louise of Comida y Vida on behalf of MFB

Midlands Foodie Events – September 2011

Here is a round up of the foodie events happening in the Midlands during September. If we have missed any out, please email us at midsfoodbloggers@hotmail.co.uk and we will add it to the list.

Saturday 3rd September

Betty’s Farm at Willington, Derbyshire are having a Family Fun Day with hog roast, demonstrations and lots of tastings from local producers.

Friday 9th – Sunday 11th September

As per our previous post, it will be the 17th Ludlow Food Festival and the whole town will be full of fabulous local producers, cooking demonstrations and much more. We’ll be there and if you fancy meeting up contact us for time and location.

Saturday 17th September

The 2nd Rutland Food Festival to celebrate all the wonderful food and drink from the area. This is part of Rutland Day so there is lots for everyone to enjoy.

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September

The Stratford Food festival  is a great day out for all the family with 3 food markets, cookery demonstrations, and lots to sample.

Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October 

The Stone Food and Drink Festival is Staffordshire’s biggest celebration of all things gastronomic with a range of themed marquees, demo’s by top chefs and even a real ale trail.

Don’t forget to let us know of any upcoming events in the next few months that would interest our readers and members.