Making the most of local produce

MAXIMISING the taste of home-grown produce will be one of the highlights to be found in the cookery theatre, at this year’s Countryside Live.

The popular feature will house a variety of practical demonstrations from some of the region’s top chefs, each cooking with locally-sourced ingredients and offering new recipes visitors can try at home.

Kicking off events will be well-known Yorkshire cook, broadcaster and food specialist Annie Stirk, whose menu will include regional specialties such as the Yorkshire curd tart.

“We will also be making use of the great cuts of meat which give us delicious braises, casseroles, daubes and pot roasts – real comfort food but with an eye to watching the pennies,” says Annie.

Other chefs taking part include Andrew Pern, chef and patron of the award-winning ‘Star at Harome’, Prett Tejura of Curry Cuisine and Rob Green, chef and owner of Greens Restaurant in Whitby.

For anyone wanting to get to grips with how to make the most of the different cuts of meat, James Knox from Yorkshire Dales Meat at Patrick Brompton, Bedale, will be sharing butchery advice and helping to create imaginative dishes at affordable prices.

Celebrity

Adding a touch of celebrity glamour will be Richard Jones of Bettys Cookery School in Harrogate, who before returning to Yorkshire, cooked for Tina Turner, Phil Collins, The Who and The Rolling Stones.

Under the heading ‘Best of Bettys’ he will be demonstrating dishes which appear on the menus at Bettys Café Tea Rooms.