News
Faeces, bacteria, toxins: welcome to the chicken farm
"Whether it’s welfare standards, environmental impact or the emerging threat to human health, we’ve got to change our insatiable greed for this meat" - George Monbiot. This is a really really interesting and informative article. Read it if you do or don't eat chicken, it's educational. Don't stop eating chicken if you don't want to (I won't be), spend the same amount of pounds - just eat less and buy better quality. Lecture over.
The miracle of the 20-week strawberry season
It is estimated that there will be 76,000 tonnes of strawberries grown in the UK this year, that's A LOT. This article tells the story behind the growth, how the humongous polytunnels are playing host to these sweet fruits, and how you can now buy British strawberries in December. Seems a bit wrong to me, but hey ho.
Gleaning Network
What is this gleaning? Farmers often have surplus produce for various reasons, maybe because supermarkets reduce or cancel their order or don't like the size or shape of the fruit and veg. This is where the Gleaning Network comes in; a group of volunteers head to the farm and rescue a load of fruit and veg that would otherwise have ended up in the bin or back in the soil. The Gleaners then distribute this stock to food charities who distribute it to those who need a hand. There are several hubs all over the country, details on how to sign up are in the link.
France to force big supermarkets to give away unsold food to charity
French politicians have just voted in a law that bans supermarkets (of a certain size) from dumping their edible food waste, instead they will have to give it to charities or let it be used as animal feed. If they don't comply with these measures, the supermarkets will face fines and possible prison sentences. See the final link below to support the UK getting on board with this brilliant plan. Next stop: get smaller food shops, cafes and restaurants to join in.
Local News
CocktailXChange Presents "Gin in June"
Gin is big news at the mo with clubs and tastings popping up all over the place for the juniper flavoured drink. Ahmed Kage, the guy behind the brilliant UK Burger Battle and Rib Nights, has a new venture - CocktailXChange - which will be bringing us the best drinks events in the Midlands and beyond. To celebrate World Gin Day, CocktailXChange will be hosting a gin love-in on 13 June where you'll be simultaneously enjoying gin o'clock with people across the world. A ticket for the Birmingham event buys you three gin cocktails, a G&T, a magician and after party; there are only 50 tickets for this exclusive event so get clicking.
Recipes
Roasted butternut squash salad with soy balsamic dressing
Very easy + very tasty = perfect meal. You get slightly caramelised sweetness from the crispy edged butternut, spicy warmth from the chilli and an umami tang from the soy dressing. There's lentils in there too for added health points. The salad works well with grilled fish or meat or with other gutsy veggie dishes for a Ottolenghi style feast.
Pesto Rice Salad
I've made this rice salad many, many times; it's great as part of a summer buffet spread. It's one of those dishes you take to a BBQ and end up drowned with requests for the recipe. Delia still has the skills. Don't be scared of making the pesto - use a stick soup blender, mortar and pestle, mini chopper (snigger) or food processor, any of these machines will work the magic. Super simples.
Food for Thought
As Alice Sees It
This is a bit different. Here's a piece by Alice Waters, the groundbreaking chef/owner at Chez Panisse in California; she is a "pioneer of a culinary philosophy that maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally". The restaurant opened all the way back in 1971 before it was trendy to have 'seasonal', 'locally sourced' etc blazoned across every possible piece of marketing. Alice takes you through her story starting from when she fell in love with food; her insights into juggling family and work, being a woman in the kitchen and the ethics of eating are fascinating. I really enjoyed this article, hope you will too.
Make supermarkets hand over all unsold food to charities and offer a delivery service to the needy
More on the food waste battle - stop supermarkets throwing away perfectly good food, this petition makes so much sense. We need to follow in France's footsteps. It takes seconds to sign but could make a massive difference.
So here's hoping we'll have a sunny bank holiday weekend as I've chucked in a couple of brilliant salad recipes that would be perfect for a BBQ. I feel it's time to clean last year's grime off the grill, find those coals lurking in the back of the garage and strip off Brit style at the slightest hint of sunshine. Oh and there's a whole lot of food waste chat this week, sign that petition Kitchen Crumbers!