18/09/03 - Cumbrian food is top of the agenda for British Food Fortnight

Cumbrian Food is top of the agenda at today’s meeting of Cumbria County Council when Councillors enjoy a lunch of Traditional Cumbrian fare.  The seasonal menu has been specially prepared to promote Cumbria’s local produce and to celebrate British Food fortnight (20thSeptember – 5thOctober). 

The menu has been prepared by Cumbria Catering and John Crouch, Cumbria’s own celebrity chef using fresh, local ingredients. It demonstrates the wide variety of high quality food produced in the county and includes Cumbrian Lamb, Local Beef and Cumberland Cheese. Cumbria County Council has organised the event to show its support for local business and to highlight the fact that the Council’s own Procurement Strategy encourages the purchase of local produce, having a positive impact on the local economy as Leader of the County Council, Rex Toft explains:

“As a Council we spend over £13million buying food for school meals service, meals on wheels and meals for our own Care Homes and we try to buy local whenever we can. Not only in this way are we directly supporting the local economy but we also strive to encourage local businesses to favour environmentally advantageous products whenever possible. Buying local; cuts down on transport costs and we can achieve variety by purchasing seasonal products. It is an initiative I would like all organisations and businesses in the county to follow whenever they can. I’m certainly looking forward to enjoying the delights of Cumbrian fare and I hope tomorrows event will go some way help raise awareness amongst all Cumbrian’s to the wonderful food they can buy locally.”

In addition to the special menu, detailed below, Made in Cumbria will have a special display in the foyer of County Offices in Kendal showcasing the wide range of local producers within the county. 

Lunch is expected to be served at around 12.30 and will consist of:

Hot Choices             -    Braised Navarin of Cumberland Lamb

                                    Assorted Cumberland Sausage 

                                    Local Vegetable Hot Pot

                       Served with Herby Jacket potatoes

Cold Choices            -    Lakeland Turkey and Slice Cumberland Ham served with Cumberland Sauce

                                    Broccoli and Cheese Ring using Cumberland mature farmhouse cheddar

                                   All cold dishes served with a variety of salads made from local produce.

                                   Kitchen Made Bread using flour from Carrs Milling in Carlisle.

Desserts            -          Cumberland Rum Nickie

                                    Trifle with Milk from Lakeland Dairy

                                    Yoghurt Flan using Lakeland Yoghurts

                                    Cumbrian Cheese Board with a selection of local mustards