Sunday 24 May 2015

25 years in business is a piece of cake for Hunters of Helmsley

Hunters of Helmsley is this year celebrating 25 years of trading - and is going to be offering all its customers a slice of the action!

To celebrate the fact the renowned deli has been based on Helmsley’s Market Place for two and a half decades, Hunters has commissioned an extra special cake from local company Celebrate Country Cake Design.

Arriving in-store on Thursday 21st May, the cake will be sold by the slice over the bank holiday weekend with all the proceeds going to Ryedale Special Families charity.

The elaborate cake will look like the outside of the iconic Hunters of Helmsley shop, with part of the front opened up to reveal some of the goodies inside the deli. All of the decorations will be made from sugar, including mini jars of jam, hanging baskets, cheese and even one of Hunters’ famous beef sandwiches!

The cake, which will be a moist vanilla sponge with a jam and buttercream filling, will feed at least 100 people.

Christine Garnett, who has owned Hunters since 2008 with husband Chris, said: “It’s a very special year for us and we want to do lots of things throughout the year to celebrate it. As we’re obviously food-lovers, a special cake seemed the perfect thing to start us off. Rhian at Celebrate Country Cake Design has an amazing talent and as a fellow member of Helmsley in Business it was only natural we’d ask her to use her fantastic skills to create something extra special.

The tricky bit is the opening revealing the inside as she needs to blend from the outside of the building to the internal section. Having seen the designs, it’s going to look amazing! We hope everyone pops in to enjoy a slice - and help raise some funds for a very worthwhile local charity at the same time.”

Rhian from Celebrate! Country Cake Design delivers our special cake.

Saturday 9 May 2015

You Are What You Eat?


Press Release:Hunters of Helmsley plans nutritionist-led event to offer advice around food intolerances and healthy eating
 
Hunters of Helmsley will be hosting a special event to help answer customers’ questions about food intolerances and allergies, healthy eating and the well-publicised Paleo Diet.
 
The event has been planned following increasing requests from customers, and will take place in store on Monday 18th May from 10.30am to 3pm. Local nutritionist Andrea Wood will be on hand to offer advice, as well as recipe ideas and samples of easy to make dishes and snacks.

There’s been a well documented rise in the number of people suffering from food intolerances and allergies over recent years, with some sources quoting a ten-fold increase in the 25 years Hunters has been open for business.

Christine Garnett, who runs the Hunters of Helmsley deli with her husband Chris, believes there is a real need to help people better understand what they are eating. She explains: “We have increasing numbers of people coming into the store asking for products to help them with special dietary requirements or food allergies. I myself have several food intolerances so it’s a topic which is very close to my heart. We also have a lot of people coming in who want to eat more healthily but they don’t really know where to start, or they’re worried it will be too difficult. We’ve had dozens of people asking about the Paleo diet, or recently we’re getting a lot of people who have read the ‘Art of Eating Well’ by the Hemsley sisters, and are considering their own diet on the back of it.”

The Paleo Diet is based on what our ancient ancestors may have eaten – more protein, less carbohydrates and no dairy, sugar, salt or processed food. Andrea, who runs the Mind and Body Clinic in Nawton, will be bringing food she has made using ingredients from the shop for people to try, including Cashew ‘Cheese’ and nachos, Nut Butter Choc Chip Cookies, Coconut and Lime Energy Bites and even special Paleo bread.

Christine continued: “Of course for people with allergies or intolerances, you do have to eliminate some foods. But for other people, this doesn’t have to be about a whole lifestyle change - maybe you just want to eat less sugar, or feel like you could do with a healthy energy boost from time to time. It’s all about choices and moderation. We’ll be highlighting ideas which are suitable for everyone, as well as some for people who have intolerances to gluten or dairy or who are perhaps trying to manage a condition such as diabetes by limiting sugar. A lot of people don’t realise that we stock a wide range of ‘free from’ items and many of the Paleo-friendly cookery ingredients, such as tahini, chia seeds, coconut oil, arrowroot and raw cacoa powders and lots of nuts and dried fruit. It should be a really interesting day for everyone and a chance to try something new.”

Anyone wishing to attend the event can pop in to the Hunters’ store on Helmsley’s Market Place, at any time between 10.30 and 3pm on 18th May, to find out more.

For more information about Hunters of Helmsley visit www.huntersofhelmsley.com. For more information about Andrea Wood visit www.mindandbodyclinic.net

Thursday 23 April 2015

April to June 2015

As many will already know the last couple of months have been very exciting here at Hunters.  We were named Best Small Shop in Britain, a great honour and total surprise.

Chris and I had a lovely day at the House of Commons where we were presented with our trophy.

The press coverage has been wonderful and the congratulations, cards and flowers received, have been a real boost to us all, thank you to all who expressed their good wishes.  A very enjoyable  evening at the Black Smiths Arms  Westow was enjoyed by all, as a way of celebrating and thanking the team.

New signage has arrived to advertise this new accolade and announce our 25th Anniversary, for which events will be taking place throughout the year.

Chris and I attended The International Food Expo at Excel in London during March, a bi annual food show where producers from the UK, Europe and the Rest of the World launch and exhibit their wonderful products. Key trends for the coming months are the reduction/removal of added sugars in foods and a huge increase in the use of coconut based products for baking, spreading, cooking and desserts. Protein based healthy snacks and free from food is on the increase, with a  emphasis towards local, ethical and sustainable.

A very busy Easter soon followed, when the lovely weather brought the crowds Helmsley, it was great to see the town buzzing again. The 10k run was as usual well attended, as was the dog show at Duncombe Park.

Our 25th Anniversary celebrations commence in earnest with a specially commissioned  cake from Rhian at Celebrate Country Cake Design, this creative masterpiece will be unveiled in May and will be sold by the slice for our chosen charity Ryedale Special Families. Look out for the announcement on Social Media and in the Press.

An Anniversary sandwich is being created full of delicious Yorkshire goodies and is sure to be a winner, 10p from everyone sold will also go to the charity.

We are welcoming two new team members, both from Helmsley, Susanne Smith and Rebecca Martin (her Mum Bridget already works for us). Both ladies I know will be excellent additions to our lovely knowledgable team.

May will no doubt be busy with two bank holidays, a half term and the Tour de Yorkshire passing within 8 miles of Helmsley, good weather once again will be most welcome and we look forward to seeing many visitors both old and new.

The General Election and council elections are hotly debated topics here in Helmsley, as in the rest of the country, not least because our very own John Windress aka Snowy is standing for election as Helmsley Councillor for the Conservative Party.

On the 18th May we are joining forces with a local Nutritionalist Andrea Wood for an information Day 10.30 until 3.00pm, she will be bringing examples of tasty healthy dishes with her and be available to discuss dietary issues from allergies and intolerances to the latest diets and eating plans such as Paleo, which I know is of interest to many.

June brings Fathers Day and the 800th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta of which Helmsley is one of the original 25 Baronies  and did have its own copy of the Magna Carta in 1215, when Baron Robert de  Ros owned this area.

If you have any interesting stories, photos and memories of Hunters from the last 25 years, please share them with us.

Don't forget to keep an eye on social media and the press for details of events and celebrations.

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Sarah & Andrew of "Johnsons Butchers" in Thirsk


Sarah and Andrew supply the wonderful scrummy pies that you can find in Hunters.
 
  1. What three words would you use to describe yourself?Friendly, hard working and loyal (Sarah)
  2. What would be your ideal three course meal?Scallops, roast beef & Yorkshires, cheese (Andrew)
  3. What is your favourite sandwich?Cheese & pickle (Sarah)
  4. What is your favourite place in Yorkshire (after Helmsley)?York (both)
  5. Where would be your recommendation of a great place for a picnic?Castle Howard (Sarah)
  6. Name three famous people (dead or alive) you’d invite to a dinner partyJohn Lennon, George Best & Chris Evans ( Andrew)
  7. What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
    R
    um and raisin (Sarah)
  8. What’s your favourite sport?Football (Andrew)
  9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?Gardening, reading, concerts (Sarah)
  10. Where’s your favourite holiday destination?Italy (both)
  11. Where (other than Hunters) should every visitor to Helmsley make sure they go?Walled Garden (both) Link here
  12. What’s your favourite film?Ghost (Sarah)
  13. What is your favourite product from Hunters?Johnsons pork pies of course! (both)

Monday 16 February 2015

Margy - Staff Profile

What is your favourite sandwich?                           
Smoked Turkey, Lettuce and Coleslaw       

What is your favourite place in Yorkshire (after Helmsley)?
Runswick Bay

Where would be your recommendation of a great place for a picnic?
Rosedale Moors

Name three famous people (dead or alive) you’d invite to a dinner party
John McEnroe, Mary Berry, Jeremy Clarkson

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Kind ,considerate, chocoholic

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
Chocolate

What’s your favourite sport?
Tennis

What would be your ideal three course meal?
Crab, Beef Bourguignon, Chocolate Cheesecake

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Visiting stately homes and gardens and shopping

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
Switzerland

Where (other than Hunters) should every visitor to Helmsley make sure they go?
Helmsley Walled Garden

What’s your favourite film?
Pretty Woman

What is your favourite product from Hunters?
Lauden Chocolates



 

Laura - Staff Profile

What is your favourite place in Yorkshire (after Helmsley)?                      
Harrogate                                                 

Where would be your recommendation of a great place for a picnic?
Castle Howard

Name three famous people (dead or alive) you’d invite to a dinner party
Michael Buble, Joan Rivers and Spencer Matthews

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
Mint Choc Chip

What’s your favourite sport?
Totty spotting

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Dancing on the tables, wining and dining, shooting and horse riding

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
Barbados

What would be your ideal three course meal?
Pate, Lobster, Cheese Board

What is your favourite sandwich?
Chicken, bacon, cheese and salad on granary

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Loveable, Caring, Vivacious

Where (other than Hunters) should every visitor to Helmsley make sure they go?
Duncombe Park

What’s your favourite film?
The Bodyguard

What is your favourite product from Hunters?
Sloe Motion Sloe Gin

Laura is Assistant Manageress at Hunters of Helmsley.

Bridget - Staff Profile

What’s your favourite sport?             
Swimming              

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?         
Walking           

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?             
Bora Bora            

Where (other than Hunters) should every visitor to Helmsley make sure they go?
Helmsley Castle              

What three words would you use to describe yourself?            
Kind, friendly, helpful          

What would be your ideal three-course meal?                
Prawn cocktail, crab risotto, Eton Mess            

What is your favourite sandwich?             
Tuna & apple                  

What is your favourite place in Yorkshire (after Helmsley)?     
Hutton le Hole              

Where would be your recommendation of a great place for a picnic?             
Sutton Bank            

Name three famous people (dead or alive) you’d invite to a dinner party           
Keith Lemon, John Bishop , Prince Harry           

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?            
Toffee                

What’s your favourite film?                      
Tears of the Sun                    

What is your favourite product from Hunters?             
Chicken Liver sweet chilli pate              

Cassie - Staff Profile

What three words would you use in order to describe yourself?
Friendly, helpful, reliable.

What would be your ideal three-course meal?
Broccoli & Stilton soup, Roast chicken, Raspberry crème Brule.

What is your favourite sandwich?
Honey roast ham.

What is your favourite place in Yorkshire (after Helmsley)?
Kirkbymoorside.

Where would be your recommendation of a great place for a picnic?
Hutton Le hole.

Name three famous people (dead or alive) you’d invite to a dinner party
Mary Berry, Ant & Dec.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
Mint choc chip.

What’s your favourite sport?
Eventing.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Horse Riding.

Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
The Lake District.

Where (other than Hunters) should every visitor to Helmsley make sure they go?
Duncombe Park.

What’s your favourite film?
Transformers.

What is your favourite product from Hunters?
Charbonnel & Walker Chocolates.

January to March at Hunters


The beginning of the year starts with our shelves depleted, and trade quiet particularly in comparison to the crazy Christmas rush. You will see us out with paint brushes, plenty of soap, water and elbow grease.  Every item is checked and both the shop and stock room tidied, the shelves are replenished and brought back to standard.  Window displays are redone to reflect the time of year.
 
So far this month we have introduced new card machines with a contactless option, security cameras and will soon be moving the upstairs cash desk to nearer the stairs in front of the window, which we hope will ease the bottleneck near the chocolate fridge?
 
The online shop has been increased to include many of Hunters own label products – preserves, pate etc.
 
Valentine and Mothers day chocolates and gifts arrive in late January, followed by Easter goodies in February.
 
Suppliers visit with new ranges and ideas for the summer. Christine is working on new products for Hunters own label, where quality, taste and value for money are of upmost importance. New projects also include working with a local nutritionist to come up with healthy recipes using the delicious food found in the store.
 
March hopefully sees the arrival of spring and a return of more visitors to Helmsley.