Enjoy a Surrey staycation at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking and their vineyard hotel

Dear Local Food Finder,

It's hard not to get a little bit excited as the roadmap out of lockdown continues its slow march forward (fingers crossed!), with pubs and restaurants having been so well supported over the past month and more food and drink events returning to our calendars. 

In this month's LFB newsletter, you'll find a selection of fantastic food and drink gift ideas for Father's Day, on Sunday June 20; some delicious recipes to try at home; and details of a royal visit that we organised to one of our farm shop members.

We hope you enjoy your foodie adventures, wherever they take you.  

Tracy
Local Food Britain founder 

Food and drink gift ideas for Father's Day

Cookery lessons

Abinger Cookery School, Surrey
With everything from A taste of Italy and British game cookery to dude food and butchery, The Abinger Cookery School has a broad range of cookery courses for all standards of home cook and wannabe chef.

Mandira’s Kitchen, Surrey
For beginners and experts alike, Mandira’s Kitchen cookery classes demystify Indian spices and flavours, while helping to build the confidence to cook a proper Indian meal. As an added bonus, they have a whole range of Father’s Day themed meal boxes that you can select from too.

Drinks cabinet

Beery dreams...

How about a gift pack of local beer for the father figure in your life? Crumbs Brewing, Dorking Brewery and Godstone Brewers all have plenty of options to explore, while Hop Stop Beers can whisk you a little further afield with their expertly picked selections. As an aside, both Dorking Brewery and Godstone Brewers have brand new taprooms, so keep an eye out for openings and special events for your chance to meet the brewers.

A sparkling day...

With the likes of Albury Vineyard, Denbies Wine Estate and Greyfriars Vineyard to choose from, dad could enjoy an epic Surrey wine tasting this Father’s Day – whether you’re looking for experience days, tours and tastings or a gift pack to enjoy at home. For something a little different, Kent’s Corkk offer a subscription service to try different English wines every month; the charismatic Francis Gimblett and Taste of the Vine run fun and informative wine tastings; try a bottle of honey mead from Bee Friends; and, finally, Gospel Green Cyder produce elegant ciders in the Champagne style.   

Cocktail club...

Gin is living its best life at the moment and LFB has Distillers of Surrey, Silent Pool Distillers and Surrey Copper Distillery on our shelves. The latter two distilleries currently have tours available (by appointment), as well as online shops, while Distillers of Surrey are working on a new lakeside bar and distillery – definitely one to watch! Meanwhile, English Spirit Distillery has an incomparable range of spirits including the finest of English rums. Delicious. Finally, add a twist to proceedings with Twisted Drink Co’s who have a range of cordials created using different fruits, herbs, spices and even vegetables that are perfect as adventurous mixers.

Tea and coffee...

If dad is a fan of meticulously sourced speciality coffee, then make sure to check out Chimney Fire Coffee (their ever changing monthly Discovery Coffee means there’s always something a little different to order), Edgcumbes (who also have tea leaves imported from single estates and cooperatives around the world) and Surrey Hills Coffee (you could even visit the KOJA by Surrey Hills Coffee shop in Guildford).

Hampers and gifts

The Artisan General Store, Surrey
From fully laden hampers to charcuterie, chutneys and pickles, oils and vinegars, dressings and table sauces and more, The Artisan General Store select the finest British deli foods and are able to deliver them to your door.

Charlie’s Trout, Sussex
Charlie’s Trout has a range of gift packs celebrating their immaculate trout. Their Ultimate Collection is a hamper packed with delicious award-winning goodies, including a 500g pack of Charlie’s Cold Oak Smoked Trout; a bottle of Wiston Estate Cuvée 2015; two tubs of handmade smoked trout paté; a tin of Lismore Food Company digestives; a jar of caviar; and a box of four mouth-watering fishcakes.

Chalk Hills Bakery, Surrey
Breakfast in bed is easily sorted with a Chalk Hills Bakery hamper packed full of their delicious breads and pastries. They are able to deliver locally in Reigate and Horley, as well as offering collection on hamper orders.

High Weald Dairy, Sussex
An award-winning father deserves award-winning cheese! High Weald Dairy have created a selection of tasty cheeses that dad will love. As well as their Seven Sisters, Sister Sarah, Saint Giles, Truffle Ewe and Slipcote Dill cheese, plus Sussex Thins and chutney. Their hampers are packed into overnight chilled hampers and delivered to your door.

McLaren Fine Foods, Surrey
For an artisan Father's Day tea designed and put together by the McLaren Fine Foods family for yours, check out their online gifts section for a selection of treats all baked by our award-winning chef and owner, Adam McLaren, and delivered fresh to your door.

MyPie, nationwide
Delivering nationwide from their bakery in Wandsworth, MyPie make the most delicious pies and who wouldn’t enjoyed a mixed selection for Father’s Day? They have a seasonally changing selection of pics, including exquisite vegan and vegetarian varieties.

Sussex Gourmand, Sussex
Sussex Gourmand’s spectacular Taste of Sussex hamper includes cured meats (Sussex grass-fed beef bresaola and wild venison bresaola); smoked salmon; two bottles of outstanding wine (international medal-winners); three cheeses; fresh pesto (perfect with the venison); and a pack of gourmet thins; all presented with tasting notes in a gift box with your personalised message.

Dining out

Demand is high for most restaurants and pubs at the moment, with international travel still limited, but we’d fully recommend looking at Chez Vous in Warlingham, London House in West Byfleet and Botley Hill Farmhouse at Titsey Hill for a truly memorable meal.  

Dining at home

If you’re looking to fire up the barbecue and enjoy a little time in the garden, make sure to check out farms such as Brightleigh Farm, Glebe House Godstone, Hill House Farm, Manor Farm and Rother Valley Farm for top quality produce direct from the farmers. Surrey Hills Butchers and Surrey Hills Delicatessen also feature meticulously sourced produce. To add some surf to your turf, speak to the teams at Williams & Bunkell in Surrey and Nutritious Fish in Sussex. You’ll find a selection of farm shops a little further down this piece for further tasty options.

Sweet treats

If dad has a sweet tooth, look no further than Margot and Montanez for their alfajores (melt-in-the-mouth shortbread-like cookies); Mummy Makes Fudge, who have an indulgent range of handmade fudge; and Rowdy & Fancy’s, whose artisan chocolate is the stuff of dreams. Also have a browse of Jam Packed Preserves, who produce an extensive range of homemade extra jams, jellies, marmalades, chutneys and curds, plus a chilli jam selection which spans the Scoville scale.

Farm shops

Need we remind you that farm shops are thriving at the moment, with shelves stocked full of produce reflecting their local area. In Surrey, see Priory Farm, Flower Farm, Kingfisher Farm Shop, Village Greens, Noel’s Farm Shop, Secretts and Garsons. In Sussex, visit South Brockwells Farm, Bookham Harrison, The Cheese Hut and Rother Valley.

The recipe book: seasonal favourites to try at home

A royal visit with Local Food Surrey

The team at Local Food Surrey were delighted to organise a royal visit to officially launch Surrey Day 2021, which took place on Saturday May 1. With ongoing Covid restrictions and the recent passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, The Earl of Wessex’s visit to Kingfisher Farm Shop in the village of Abinger Hammer had to be arranged in super-quick time. In fact, we were given just one week’s notice that our request had been granted. All the hard work paid off, however, and Local Food Britain members Kingfisher Farm Shop, Abinger Cookery School and Chalk Hills Bakery were all at the forefront of proceedings at the royal visit on Friday April 30.
You can read all about it on the Local Food Britain blog.