Reasons to love South Suffolk (1) South Suffolk Food Day

James and Jimmy's Farm produce

 Yesterday evening, along with other Babergh District and County Councillors,  I was lucky enough to be invited to the Palace of Westminster to attend South Suffolk Food Day.  This event was organised just off Westminster Hall by our Member of Parliament, James Cartlidge, and took the form of a series of displays from some of the very fine food producers that are based in the South Suffolk area.

Delicious morsels were on offer from a number of companies.  I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to sample some of the wines from Gifford Hall Vinyard in Hartest. The dry as dust pink was particularly delicious!  The charming proprietor told me how the volume of wine that he is able to produce is gradually increasing year on year.  Gifford Hall wines are now sold nationwide in Loch Fyne restaurants,  and locally by Waitrose. We enjoyed an interesting conversation about how wines were produced in our area as long ago as Roman times.   Many legionnaires from the Roman army settled on land around Camolodunum, now Colchester, principally it seems because the local wines in the area were renowned across the empire.

Then on to a diet busting session with local chocolatier, Hadleigh Maid.  It seems that a number of the visitors present were unaware that we have a local chocolate manufacturer in Hadleigh.  I do recommend the chocolate bars and other products, some of which can be purchased at Hollow Trees Farm Shop in Semer, selected outlets of the East of England co-op and Heeks in the Market Square Lavenham.  Mail order is also available.

Jimmy's Farm, pictured above, needs no introduction to those who have followed Jimmy's progress on TV from his earliest struggles to his current fame and fortune.   The farm has developed a great deal from the early days and now, in addition to its own butcher's shop, hosts a number of other interesting shops.  A taste of two sorts of sausages reminded me of the Farm's unwavering commitment to producing a real quality product and I vowed to make a trip there before Christmas.  Once again mail order is an option.

Adnams Brewery and the Suffolk Food Hall also had displays, and an honourable mention must be made of Mrs Bennett's pickles in the goody bag! All in all it was an impressive showcase for gastronomic South Suffolk.

After the event we were taken on a conducted tour of the House of Commons by James.  Despite having worked in the House for a couple of years in early youth, I picked up a number of facts that were new to me.  We were lucky that the House of Commons was not sitting and we were able to walk through the voting lobbies.  The method of voting has remained unchanged for hundreds of years and to be able to simulate the experience was quite exciting for those of us for whom it is too late to do it for real!

Suffolk Food Hall outside Ipswich