Story - Story Public Relations

Riverford has had a busy couple of months taking their Travelling Field Kitchen on tour across the UK. So far it's been a great success, serving up food straight from the fields in a beautiful hand crafted yurt. There aren't many dates left, but we'd hate you to miss out. The last three stops of the tour are:

5-8 + 12-15 August Riverford on Home Farm, Northallerton, North Yorkshire

19-22 + 25-29 August Mole End Farm, Babylon Lane, Chart Sutton, Maidstone, Kent 

2-5 + 8-12 September Riverford on Stockley Farm, Cheshire

One sunny weekend in April, Hannah, Claire and six excellent food bloggers went on a road trip to the West Country. Bubbles and pastries set the tone for a jolly three hour bus journey to Somerset.  The first port of call was Barber's where the team graded cheese and learnt about the art of Cheddaring. Several ciders later and the chorus of chirpy travellers ventured further west to the Riverford Field Kitchen in Buckfastleigh, Devon. Sharing plates of wild garlic tortilla, pressed and roasted Riverford lamb and purple sprouting broccoli in anchovy butter, were highly commended by the group. The following morning a less sprightly group returned to Riverford for a bumpy farm tour with Guy Watson in his Land Rover. The bloggers picked their own rhubarb, spring greens and herbs, whilst enjoying the idyllic scenery of the rolling hills of Wash Farm. The final stop was at Burts Chips in Plymouth. Clad in factory whites the group hand fried chips in a bubbling fryer, resulting in the creation of the 'bloggers batch', which can now be found in shops all over the country. A glorious weekend all in all, thanks to Helen Graves, Liz Upton, Rejina Sabur, Denise Medrano, Lizzie Mabbott and Oliver Thring for being such a hoot.

Last summer, Stuart Mills came to us with his idea: let's get pubs back into the heart of their local communities.  He built a fantastic website www.useyourlocal.com and we had an high energy sell in of the 'pint with a parcel' story in August.  It captured the imagination; Chris Evans had Stuart on his radio show, he was featured on BBC News 24, as well as in newspapers including The Independent, The Sun and Daily Record.  The story even went international. We are delighted to announce that Story has been shortlisted for the SABRE AWARDS for best consumer marketing for a new product for this campaign.  Results to be announced at the end of May.

This is our second year working with balletblack.co.uk, a professional ballet company that this year won the Critics' Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Company. Their work with professional black and Asian dancers aims to encourage a new diverse audience to attend the ballet, and inspire kids from all cultures to get involved in dance. The company was described as a 'beacon of excellence' by Jenny Gilbert of The Independent this season.  Don't miss its final two dates for this performance at the Cambridge Arts Theatre 9-10th April 2010

It's unusual to eat a six course tasting menu, each dish matched with drinks such as Yuzu vodka and Lady Grey Martini. It's rarer still to do so whilst watching Father Allan blessing London's first copper still for 189 years. Peter Gordon and Michael McGrath of The Providores designed a sublime menu and Sipsmith www.sipsmith.com link Master Distiller, Jared Brown, paired each course with a unique spirit to create a three night sensory extravaganza.

For a wonderful write up by Fiona Beckett please see here.

Thanks to everyone who was involved and made it such a special weekend. And a special heartfelt thanks to Father Allan for his wonderful blessing.

“We ask you that you bless Prudence, this creature of copper, that she may transform the gift of barley into the elixirs of vodka and gin and that fusing, so delicately, strong liquor with sweet savour, she may add her spirit to the merriment of men.”

Riverford has long encouraged the nation to get cooking. But 2010 is the year of the Riverford Cooks, a programme running across the country to show just how fantastic fresh produce can taste when cooked with love. Mark Jenkel rustled up a veritable feast for 80 guests. Waste conscious attendees were not shy to ask if there were any leftovers to take home. riverford.co.uk will feature all upcoming events at the farms and further afield...