Archives

March 2008

Wines for Easter Sunday lunch

We're not usually ones for big Sunday lunches, I must confess. The meal, the occasion most certainly has its appeal, but to be honest, we usually prefer to be out and about, doing things. An exception is Easter Sunday lunch, a day, it seems, just made for lingering over a big roast lamb lunch, the meat still slightly pink and redolent of garlic and rosemary, served with Kim's magnificent roast potatoes, and lashings of gravy made with good red wine. Such a meal, of course, cries out for a really good - or event great - bottle of red wine. What a good excuse to dip in to the cellar to enjoy one of Mario's Nebbiolos, either the slightly lighter Cascina Fontana Nebbiolo delle Langhe 2005, or the more robust, richly flavoured Cascina Fontana Barolo 2003. To be honest, I can't decide which will be better, so on this Saturday in the cellar, I'll be opening both - do drop in for the rare opportunity to taste these two great - but very different - wines alongside each other.

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Slow Food Devon Topsham Market - Sunday March 30th

Just a reminder that Sunday week, March 30th, will be our third Slow Food Devon Topsham Market in Matthews Hall from 11am-3pm. So far the market has proved to be an immense success, the numbers of interested people coming along far exceeding everyone's expectations. However, we are very keen to ensure that it continues to thrive, so may I ask you, please, to come along and support it if you are free. As usual, there will be some brilliant food producers with truly outstanding produce and food and drink products. The market is also a place to come for a bite to eat, a glass of wine, beer or cider. In the Café Slow this month, Dave Kerley will be offering a first taste of Exe River clams (they have been growing - slowly - in the river bed for the past 3 years), while Liz will have some of her famous Topsham smokies and Antonia will be dishing out cups of oven-roasted tomato and basil soup.

Slow Food Taste Workshops are at the heart of what this market is about, not just a place to buy food that is 'good, clean and fair' but also an opportunity to learn, taste and enjoy. This month there will be workshops on 'Slow Bread' with Emma Parkin of Emma's Breads, and on 'Flower Jellies - capturing and tasting the scent' with Victoria Cranfield of Cranfields Foods.

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An an informal and fun Italian wine and pasta evening at the Devon Wine School Wed April 2

I'm delighted to promote what will I'm certain be an excellent evening of food and wine at the Devon Wine School in Cheriton Fitzpaine. Alastair, who is a MW, is hugely knowledgeable about wine, though he wears this lightly and has an easy manner that really makes learning about wine enjoyable and fun. His wife Carol is simply a brilliant chef. This combination works very well for their popular evenings of wine and food. For this Italian wine and pasta evening, there will be four wines to taste (including Mario's Cascina Fontana wines) accompanied by a 2-course supper, all for the very reasonable price of £29. To find out more or to book, call Alastair on 01363 866742 or email alastair@devonwineschool.co.uk. Take a look, too, at the Devon Wine School website www.devonwineschool.co.uk

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I am pleased to announce below some exciting events coming soon that we hope all Club Vino friends will enjoy. The first is a major initiative to twin the South West region with Tuscany as food regions. The second is an exciting and full program of events for the Topsham Food Festival which will take place on the weekend of June 13-15.

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Twinning the South West with Tuscany as food regions

Michael Caines has gone on the record many times as stating, 'The South West has the finest larder in Europe". It makes perfect sense, therefore, to forge positive links with one of Italy's - and the world's - greatest gastronomic destinations: Tuscany. We have been working closely with Michael, together with John Sheaves of Taste of the West, and Freddie Dudbridge, leader of Slow Food Devon, to establish meaningful links, relationships and exchanges between the two regions. We are launching this important initiative at this year's Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink Conference on Thursday 10th April (the Festival opens the following day April 11th).

To mark the occasion, there will be a special Tuscany - South West Celebration Wine Dinner on the evening of the 10th in the Cathedral and Clarence Rooms of ABode Exeter. Michael himself will be in the kitchens alongside his talented Executive Chef Ross Melling. We have now discussed the foods in detail and Ross has come up with a brilliant menu inspired by Tuscan foods and flavours and utilising the magnificent produce and ingredients of the West Country. Foods will be accompanied by a selection of wines from South West England alongside some of the great wines of Tuscany.

Places will be limited but I'm delighted that Club Vino and Friends of Pebblebed members, as well as Slow Food Devon friends are all very welcome. However, to ensure a space, you should confirm your booking as soon as possible. The cost of the evening is £60 inclusive. To reserve your place, please contact Helen at ABode Exeter on 01392 223648 (and mention Club Vino).

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The Topsham Food Festival June 13, 14, 15, 2008

It seems, what with the twinning, the monthly Slow Food Markets in Topsham, and now the Topsham Food Festival, we've never been busier. But these are all fun and worthwhile projects and we're glad to be involved.

The Topsham Food Festival is going to be great fun, and I'm just flagging it now so that you both put the dates in your diaries, and also contact me to get involved as we need your help.

The Festival is being organised and run entirely on a voluntary basis. Any surplus funds raised will go to the main beneficiary, the Matthews Hall Modernisation Appeal (to refurbish Matthews Hall - see www.topsham.org). We will also make a contribution to FORCE.

The aims of the Topsham Food Festival are:

· to celebrate the outstanding food and drink available in our community

· to put on an exciting program of food and drink workshops and activities

· to highlight the excellence of food and drink businesses in Topsham – food shops, pubs, restaurants, cafés

· to bring the community together through the sharing of foods around the longest table ever

· to further international ties and friendship.

· to have fun, eat, drink and be merry!

The main program will be as follows:

· Throughout the Topsham Food Festival, all Topsham pubs, restaurants, teashops and cafés will be encouraged to create special Festival menus utilising local and locally sourced foods.

· On Friday evening, the Topsham Food Film Festival, in association with the Topsham Film Society, will present a showing of a food films.

· On Saturday there will be workshops and food related activities centred on The Courtyard of The Globe Hotel.

· Slow Food Devon and Slow Food Valdera (Tuscany) will be involved in workshops such as making pasta by hand.

· We hope to get Topsham School involved and to have a range of food events and activities for children.

· Saturday evening there will be musical entertainment and a variety of outdoor food stalls, centred on The Green of Matthews Hall

· Sunday there will be an extended Slow Food Devon Topsham Market with stalls outdoors as well as indoors.

· Sunday from early afternoon Topsham Fore Street is to be closed to traffic in order to set up ‘Nello’s Longest Table’

· Sunday evening ‘Nello’s Longest Table’ – individuals and businesses to reserve a table along Fore Street and to invite friends, family and new friends to join in a communal meal. Meals to be prepared by each table using local and locally sourced foods.

We want and need your ideas, your help and your active participation to make the Topsham Food Festival a success! For further information, to take part, help and assist, contact me, Kim, Geoff, or Liz at The Globe Hotel 01392 873471 email sales@globehotel.com

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Happy Easter and hope to see you soon.

Marc and Kim