It's great to hear comments like this from Liz Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: 

“One of my priorities as Secretary of State is to get us eating more local food and to make sure we have high-quality products that we can export,” she told Farmers Weekly, adding that buying local food supports local tourism and the landscape as well as farming.

Here at Local Food Britain, we couldn't agree more, so when we were approached by Visit Surrey CIC to participate in the Taste of Surrey Parliamentary Visit on Wednesday 26 November, we jumped at the chance to take a showcase of Surrey's local produce to the heart of Westminster.

A few calls to our Surrey members and it was clear that we had their support. Not only their support, indeed, but offers of everything from handmade sausages to artisan cheeses, fillet steak to organic wine. It seems Surrey is enthusiastically taking up the mantle to show Parliament that Surrey is far from the "dull, suburban outpost of London" that appears to be the impression held by many in Westminster.

This is our blog about the initiative to take a Taste of Surrey to Parliament. We will be joined by some of our members as well as key representatives from Visit Surrey which has organised the overarching event to gain publicity for Surrey and the fantastic tourism offer the county has developed.

The blog of our visit to Parliament ... 

Mission accomplished

Wednesday 26 November 

What a buzz we created at Parliament as ministers, MPs and our guest of honour The Prime Minister attended Taste of Surrey. Here he is being greeted by Local Food Britain's Tracy Carroll (left) and Christine Howard, the Chair of Surrey Hills Society and Strategic Director of Visit Surrey.
Read more and hear reactions

 

24 hours to go!

Tuesday 25 November 

Just a day before we head to Westminster and it's not jingle bells but jingle phones ringing to here at Local Food HQ, as interest mounts in our visit to Parliament. From fixing radio interviews to answering press enquiries, briefing the photographer and ascertaining the whereabouts of several kilos of best butter, there's barely time for a cuppa as we finalise arrangements. Over at Food Gables Fine Dining, food is being prepared from the amazing ingredients donated, and the Prime Minister's hamper, packed with Surrey's finest, is ready to be loaded. Thanks to Natalie at Priory Farm for making it look so splendid.

Clotted Clegg, Salt Cameron, Theresa Mayple Syrup and Ed Vanillaband ... it's all Political Fudge!

Saturday 22 November

Local Food HQ is beginning to resemble a farm shop stock room as produce floods in from Surrey's generous food and drink producers. Food for tastings, goody bags and the Prime Minister's hamper is piled high ready for our visit on Wednesday. Exciting news is that David Cameron is confirmed to attend so we hope he likes this imaginative fudge from Farnham's Liz Usher of Mummy Makes. 

Liz has been busy creating flavours such as Clotted Clegg, Salt Cameron, Theresa Mayple Syrup and Ed Vanillaband. We just love it and feel sure it will put a smile on the PM's face! Though with fudge this crumbly and delicious, it's hard to resist having a little taste before it goes into the hamper ...

Who'll be eating Humble Pie? 

Friday 21 November

Today we bring you a  guest diary entry from Lucinda Perks of The Butchers Hall 

Although we only got the call from Tracy Carroll of Local Food Britain in October about the Taste Surrey event, the hard work of making our award winning pies that will be served on the 26th began long before. We farm in The Surrey Hills, rearing the rare breed Middlewhite pigs and Dorset sheep that form the satisfying stuffing of our pastry. A lot of toil, dedication and love goes into each pie, from the farm to the kitchen. Pies may be a humble food, but they can also be the most comforting and delicious. For this reason, we will continue to farm, butcher, cook, bake and sell.

'There are many types of food, some of which are pies-and the rest should be pies.’ Source - unknown, but we very much applaud the sentiment!

'Chocs away' as Hanna prepares to melt the PM's heart

Wednesday 19 November 

Let's face it - no hamper would be complete without a box of chocolates. So, when we were asked to put together a hamper for the Prime Minister and his family, we knew exactly who to speak to - chocolatier Hanna Wicks of Surrey's Cocoa Bombon. Hanna started making and selling chocolates in 2007 in the mountains of Patagonia, southern Argentina. The area is known for its soft fruit and she created products that used this bounty and retained a very local feel. Since relocating back to the UK in 2011, she has established herself as a quality producer of both chocolate and nougat, using innovative flavour combinations and still retaining trusty favourites. Hanna loves the challenge of running her own confectionery business, which is a far-cry from her former career - as an airline pilot!

 

No time for birthdays this week

Tuesday 18 November

Birthdays can be really inconvenient sometimes. However, when Local Food Britain's Tracy Carroll realised hers would fall the week before our visit to Parliament, she was still hopeful of a lunch out maybe, an afternoon off, or at least a leisurely cuppa. Sadly, when the day dawned, Tuesday 18 November, it was clear that none of these things would be possible. Too much to do and not enough time is not conducive to birthday treats. However, all was not lost, and a seductive gift of Crosbie's brownies from Priory Farm Shop was duly delivered, along with a pack of bread rolls to complement the birthday "soup in a cup" that becomes a staple when there is no time to make a carefully handcrafted sandwich from local, artisan goodies (our usual lunch of course). 

Tracy's verdict, muttered from behind a pile of papers whilst clutching a phone in one hand and a chocolate creation in the other? "Aw, those are the absolute best brownies - but you could have got me a candle!" Honestly, there's no pleasing some people.

Co-ordination (and coffee) is key!

Sunday 16 November 2014

From the moment we started this project, it was clear that a hot phone, a good supply of coffee and meticulous note-taking was going to be needed to ensure all the strands come together ready for the big day. We're now getting to the stage that Sunday working is required as well! But it's all for a good cause.

With food for tastings needed for around 150 people (MPs, ministers, peers and even, we hope, Prime Minister David Cameron), there's an awful lot to think about, not to mention the goody bags and the Local Food Surrey presentation hamper.

We're working with producers from all over Surrey, so the logistics of getting ingredients and equipment to the various locations ready to be loaded onto the authorised vehicles needs meticulous planning. Everyone's been great, however, and as we approach "delivery week" we know it's just a case of sticking with the plan - and stocking up on coffee!

With a lot of help from our friends ...

Thursday 13 November

We're taking some serious messages to Parliament; for instance, did you know that Surrey provides the largest net contribution to the UK Government after London - some £6 billion a year? That the county's visitor economy supports around 35,000 people with full time employment and many more with part-time seasonal work? 

MPs, ministers, lords - and the Prime Minister - are busy people so it's important for us to create a professional handout that gives them the facts in a clear, inspiring format.

For this, heads are got together, midnight oil is burnt, facts are researched, copy is written (and re-written) and we finally head off to top designer Simon Knibbs of Reigate's Knibbs Associates.

Simon and his brilliant team have been working with Local Food Britain's Tracy Carroll for many years and we're so grateful for his help - with him on board, we know the leaflet will do our county proud! 

 

Thursday 6 November 2014

There's so much goodwill for this project and we're going to be taking amazing, artisan food and drink to Parliament. Presentation will be really important, not to mention the practical issues such as health and safety, and transporting everything so it arrives looking as fabulous as when it was packed into the van.

We need a talented and forward-thinking chef to help us. 

Step forward David Gillott of Four Gables Fine Dining, Ashtead. David's long been a friend of Local Food Surrey, indeed he was one of our first members, so we were thrilled when he immediately agreed to join the Parliamentary Visit task force.

Knowing David is "with us" comes as a huge relief as we gather the key people for a meeting at his Four Gables Food Academy, the cookery school David runs in Ashtead.