Buy local this British Food Fortnight – Yorkshire and proud!

It’s British Food Fortnight – two weeks dedicated to celebrating all that is wonderful about British food.

And it is wonderful, we’re so very lucky to have a wealth of amazing and talented farmers and producers within our shores. Not only that, we’re even more lucky here in Yorkshire, because we have a multitude of them on our very doorstep.

We’re very proud that here in Hunters at least 70 per cent of our products are sourced within the region. Why would we not when there’s so much delicious food and drink made here? We (as in Chris and Christine Garnett, the owners) both come from farming backgrounds and believe the quality of food and where/how it is produced is vital. It’s key to the Hunters’ philosophy that local farmers, producers and suppliers are supported and championed where we can.

We have formed very strong relationships with local suppliers: bread and cakes are made at the Malton Bakery just 15 miles away; cheeses come from nearby dairies such as Shepherd’s Purse; drinks from Ryedale Vineyard and local breweries including Cropton and Hambleton; and Johnsons of Thirsk and The Original Baker provide the delicious pastries and pork pies. The highest quality local meats are sourced from several local farms and cooked daily on the premises, ready for our amazingly deep-filled sandwiches (bring your appetite!)

Hunters even has its own range of products, all made locally, just outside York. The range includes condiments, sweet and savoury biscuits, pates and chocolates, all made with top quality ingredients – they have to be good to bear our name!

There really is so much amazing work being done across the region to produce the very best food and drink out there. We adore Lauden chocolates, made in Leeds – you won’t find a prettier chocolate, but they taste amazing with such intricate flavours. The delicious Rosebud Preserves are created in Masham and the popular Cartwright & Butler savoury and sweet  biscuits are made near Beverley

We have over 40 locally brewed bottled beers, cider made by the Monks at nearby Ampleforth Abbey, wine created at the Ryedale Vineyards and gin distilled just outside York.

Some of our other Yorkshire favourites include the most delicious gift chocolates made in Leeds by Lauden Chocolates. Flavoured chocolate bars from Choc  Affair in York, voted best chocolate brand in the UK 2019.

 

 We also love to encourage local organisations to work together. We approached local cider-makers Ampleforth Abbey and pie-maker Yorkshire Baker, to work together to create a brand new pie - Slow Roast Pork and Ampleforth Abbey Cider pie - which is available exclusively at Hunters. We did likewise with Sole gin producers SLOEmotion and Brymor Dairies, to create the world’s first Sloe Gin Ice Cream – delicious! 

British Food Fortnight is the ideal time to make a conscious effort to buy local. And we’re always happy to recommend some items which we know will quickly become firm favourites! 

Rice or roast

This next week marks the start of two foodie ‘awareness weeks’ (not that we think either of these things need awareness – they’re pretty well known!)

Launching on 18^th September, National Rice Week aims to highlight the nutritional benefits of rice, and ways to cook it. We have to say, rice can be an understated staple – you can get stuck doing the same old boiled rice as an accompaniment to bulk out a meal, rather than enjoying it in its own right. So maybe it’s a good thing to have a week celebrating rice and all the things you can do with it! Hot or cold, sweet or savoury – they’re all good…

How about using it to make some sushi? We have everything you need in store to create your own nigiri or maki rolls. Or why not try some sticky jasmine rice with a fresh thai green curry? Maybe it’s a good incentive to make your own instead of opting for a take away this weekend.

Risotto is always a winner – and we have the easiest, tastiest ready-to-go risottos going! Simply add water to the packs and simmer for 10-15 minutes for a quick, satisfying supper in no time! Choose from Mediterranean  vegetable and mushroom varieties.

As rice week comes to a close, British Roast Dinner Week kicks in on 24^th (of course it would have to start on a Sunday!). Who doesn’t love a roast dinner, but it has to be said they’re a lot of hard work. If you’re going to go to all that effort, you want to make sure it’s the best of the best. You can’t have roast beef without horseradish or mustard – we think Baytree's hot stuff horseradish  is perfect for the job. Roast lamb? Got to have some mint sauce. Tracklements do a lovely fresh mint jelly, or  a perfectly balanced traditional mint sauce. Just the thought makes your mouth water! Roast pork – bring on the apple sauce. We love Stokes brand brambly apple. And then we come to chicken or turkey. Of course, cranberry sauce is a well-established favourite, and we do a great variety. But we also do a

delicious, Hunters’ brand chilli jam which tastes amazing with poultry. Maybe not so much with gravy, but perfect for using up those leftovers with some delicious fresh bread and butter or a salad.

If whipping up a roast dinner is going to take more time than you have, why not pop in for one of our famous deep-filled roast beef sandwiches? We perfectly roast the beef on site, so it’s still slightly pink – the smell is enough to get your stomach rumbling! Served with your choice of accompaniments, choosing one of our best-sellers will definitely never leave you feeling hungry. In fact, you wouldn’t be alone if you could only manage half and had to share the rest with a lucky friend (or save it for later if you’re not feeling that generous).

So, whatever this week inspires you to eat, pop in to Hunters and let us help you make an ordinary meal extraordinary!

Six things you must do in Helmsley

The last couple of weeks of the school holidays are approaching – along with the last 2019 bank holiday where we’re likely to enjoy any kind of sunshine (although this is the UK, so stranger things have happened – it might well be sunnier on Christmas Day than August 26^th).

But although we’re never sure of the weather, one thing we are sure of – Helmsley is a great place to be this time of year. There’s so much to do, so much to see, and the surrounding countryside is spectacular – we’re in peak heather season, and nothing beats that magnificent purple as far as the eye can see.

So, if you fancy a trip to the town, what should you do? It’s a great place to base yourself if you love walking or cycling or going on leisurely drives (and there’s plenty of fantastic hotels and B&Bs to stay in to make your visit last a bit longer). But for things right in the centre of town to enjoy, we’d recommend:

1.      The Helmsley Walled Garden is stunning at this time of year, and a riot of colour. It’s a great place for a wander round and sitting and admiring the wonder of nature. There’s also a very special cafe tucked away within it, which serves amazing food and drink!

2.      Helmsley Castle is another great place to visit. Dating back over 900 years, you can see how the castle evolved over the centuries, from a mighty medieval fortress to a luxurious Tudor mansion, to a Civil War stronghold and a romantic Victorian ruin. A must-see for history fans – but fascinating regardless of your interests! And with plenty of open green space, it’s fantastic for a picnic or to let little ones run off some steam.

3.      A great experience for all is the Helmsley Open Air Swimming Pool, which has just celebrated its 50^th birthday. Enjoy a cooling dip on a sunny day, or it’s just as amazing being in the warm pool while it’s raining! Make sure you book ahead of time, as it does get busy. Whilst you’re up at that end of town, there’s a playground next to the cricket ground if you’ve children to entertain – and even some fun outdoor gym equipment for the grown-ups!

4.      The award-winning National Centre for Birds of Prey in Duncombe Park is a brilliant experience. Make sure you time your visit to coincide with at least one flying display – Charlie and his team are super knowledgeable and you’ll get to see the birds do their thing!

5.      Make sure you don’t forget to just have a wander around the town. You’ll find dozens of unique and interesting shops, unlike anywhere else. It’s one of the reasons Helmsley won the Great British High Street’s Best Market Town award! It’s a great place to buy presents, or something a bit different for yourself or your home. There’s cafes, restaurants and pubs galore. You certainly won’t go hungry – from fish and chips and fine dining, to scones and cakes to authentic Italian bistros or Spanish tapas.

6.      And of course, last but certainly not least, make sure you call in at Hunters – Britain’s Best Small Shop! (we were officially given that title, we haven’t just made it up ourselves!) We can sort you out with a picnic to enjoy on your explorations, or some tasty Yorkshire treats to take home with you. Whatever your idea of good food, we’ll see you right!

For more information about what’s happening in Helmsley head to www.visithelmsley.co.uk . Hopefully see you soon! 

Exciting new gluten free range of pastries available for tasting!

We are delighted to announce that The Original Baker will be sampling their delicious new gluten free pies and quiche in store on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August.

And when we say delicious, we are not over-exaggerating! We would defy any gluten eater not to be impressed…

We are now stocking the newly launched all-butter pastry quiches and pies from The Original Baker in Malton so we thought it would be a great idea to let all our customers have a little try. We think these are going to be winners for those following a gluten free diet – and also those who aren’t!

Coeliac disease affects one in 100 people – however, only 30% of those who have the condition have been diagnosed which means there are currently nearly half a million people who aren’t yet aware they have it. Coeliac disease is a serious illness where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is eaten, causing damage to the lining of the gut and leaving the body unable to properly absorb nutrients from food.

It is not just those with Coeliac disease who enjoy gluten-free products, with research showing one in 10 people in the UK now avoid gluten in their diet.

The pies and quiches are sold individually wrapped to ensure they are safe for those who are unable to eat gluten. From the range, we’ll be sampling:

·        Smoked salmon & horseradish quiche

·        Sweet potato, pepper & chorizo quiche

·        Leek & bacon quiche

·        Slow-cooked beef & vegetable pie

·        Thai vegetable pie with a creamy coconut sauce

Is your mouth watering yet?! If not, they will be after you find out they come encased in an all butter pastry made with The Original Baker’s own handmade blend of gluten free flours to achieve the perfect texture, taste and appearance. No more card-boardy alternatives, at Hunters we’re all about the taste and these hit the spot.

So, what makes them so special? Cheryl Barrett from The Original Baker, told us: “We have built a separate facility for our gluten free range and are using brand new equipment – this is something we take very seriously. We’re members of the Coeliac Society and we regularly test our products. When we started on this journey, we thought we’d use gluten free flour we could buy in, but it quickly became apparent that none were up to the standard we wanted so we have created our own blend. It was important to us that it baked to an appetizing golden colour, and that it tasted light and buttery and had a delicate texture – we think we’ve achieved that! And we look forward to being at Hunters on 9^th August to share them with customers and visitors.”

As well as the gluten free range, The Original Baker will also be offering samples of its wider range including freshly baked warm hog roast sausage rolls; BBQ pulled pork sausage rolls; peppered steak and ale pie; Mediterranean vegetable roll with feta; and brie, tomato and basil quiche.

And that’s not all! On Saturday 10^th August from 11am we will also be running a tasting of a range of new sauces from Michelin starred chef Tom Kerridge, including Chipotle Barbecue, Virgin Mary, Black Garlic and Gherkin Ketchups. All are handmade in the Lake District without any artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives and are gluten-free, nut-free and suitable for vegetarians.

So, we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the weekend to try out some new things which we’re sure are going to become to old favourites…

A picture of a modern picnic

The school holidays are here – bringing with them long, sunny days. Or at least that’s what we hope. The days will definitely seem even longer if they’re rainy!

Hopefully the summer will bring with it plenty of opportunities for picnics – nothing beats eating al fresco, setting up the picnic blanket at the seaside, in the park, or even in the garden.

But apparently, traditional picnic favourites are being replaced by more ’modern’ food choices. A new survey reveals that two-thirds of us have made a big effort to upgrade our picnic game in recent times, and more than a third admitted to getting competitive about their al fresco spreads. Oo-er.

In research conducted by Flora with 2,000 Brits, it seems jam sandwiches, hard boiled eggs and pork pies are out and hummus, sourdough bread and deli meats are in, all washed down with an artisan lemonade.

No more are we tucking into chicken drumsticks, quiche or cocktail sausages, it’s all about the olives and the rare roast beef.

Now, we like to think we’re a bit of an expert when it comes to picnics. And we think that’s a load of rubbish! Sourdough bread, deli meats, hummus and olives are delicious – and would be very welcome in any picnic we had. But so would quiche, sausage rolls, and hard boiled eggs – which seem to be all the rage in the current trend for high protein diets. You can’t beat a well made sandwich and a quality sausage roll or quiche – we’re not talking about soggy bread, dry pastry and stingy fillings here, we’re talking about the good stuff! Rare roast beef is always a winner – especially in one of our deep filled sandwiches with a touch of horseradish!

We have thousands of day trippers, local lunch grabbers, families, walkers, cyclists and bikers visit our shop every year, perusing our counters for the picnic lunch which grabs their fancy. Everyone’s tastes are different, but for most people their favourite sandwich or a pastry-based main, with maybe some salad sides and some ‘proper’ crisps, ticks all the boxes. Cheese and crackers is always a good one if you’re going for a fancier picnic with plates and cutlery! Finish off with a sweet treat (or maybe even start with one – you could always have an ice cream first. Our locally made Brymor ice creams are amazing!) and your choice of soft or hot drink (or even an alcoholic tipple if you’re not driving), and you’ve a picnic fit for a King or Queen.

The survey did show that whatever we’re eating, after food activities are still the same though in the main - 43 per cent take a football and a third a frisbee. A slightly more technologically-focused one in 10 take their laptop - presumably for catching up on a spot of work, and the same number take a drone.

So, whatever your favourite picnic treat, and wherever your favourite picnic spot – let’s hope the weather is kind this summer for lots of opportunities to get out there! 

What makes the perfect day? Good food, of course…

A study by Lottoland caught our eye, which asked 2,000 people in Britain what would constitute their perfect day. (Adults only – I dare say a kid’s day would have been entirely different and involved a lot more Peppa Pig, Xbox and Haribo)

It seems to keep us smiling, what we need is plenty of laughter, quality food and a good night’s sleep. Sign me up!

What is quite nice is that, actually, many of the things which feature, are very realistic and achievable. And we perhaps just need to make more time to do them, rather than spending hours flicking through our phones or staying late at work (which didn’t appear on the list…)

Of course, we knew good food would feature highly. Apparently a third would pick a full roast dinner to tuck into, while 28 per cent would choose a pizza – although we reckon there’s a few more exciting options we could think of! Enjoying the perfect steak or having a barbecue is a popular component of the perfect day. The smell of bacon cooking in the morning or doing a spot of baking also went down well. Drink too – a good cup of tea, and a drink with friends makes us smile according to the study.

Music also took a starring role for four out of 10 of us, with some of the songs to make us happiest including Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”, Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”.

Other things Brits love to do are binge on a boxset, have a family day out, watch a film (Dirty Dancing, Mrs Doubtfire, Star Wars or Love Actually), indulge in some retail therapy, pop to the pub and read a good book. Some were more active – spending time on a long walk in nature or going to the gym (although that was only 8 per cent), while others fancied spending the entire day in their PJs.

Slightly more bizarrely, one in 10 wanted to belt out a song in the shower (easily pleased) and one in three hoped to ‘find some money’. Well isn’t that everyone’s dream – although I’m guessing they mean more than a dropped penny.

We’d wake up at 8am and go to sleep at 11pm – 15 hours of free time and 9 hours of snoozing. Nice.

We love the fact this study shows that actually any day can be a perfect day. So, if you’re planning yours, why not pop along to Hunters and we’ll set you up with a feast fit for a King or Queen? After all good food and drink is definitely the key!

How to stop the kitchen fall outs

Picture the scene – an amazing smell is coming from the pan simmering on the hob, the table is set, the wine poured. Perfect. Except, according to new research, we’ve probably already started bickering with our loved one over everything from timings to meddling in the preparation.

The research from HelloFresh looked at the top reasons couples fall out in the kitchen. The most common bust ups are over what to eat – there’s nothing worse than one person fancying pasta and the other a roast dinner. The second most common row is around what time to eat – again, annoying if you’re an early diner and your partner prefers a late supper.

The third reason – which most of us can probably identify with – is leaving the kitchen looking like a bomb has hit it! Using every pan, spoon, knife and chopping board in the house is never going to go down well. Interfering in the other person’s cooking was fourth on the list – back seat chef-ing should be avoided. Fifth was pretty much giving up on cooking altogether and arguing over whether a takeaway was a better idea!

Other ‘boiling point’ topics included boring meals, ingredients loved by one and loathed by the other, washing up, spiciness, shopping, waste, repetition, failing to replace an item or hoarding too many, unhealthy foods and meal planning. With 25 argument-causing topics on the list there’s certainly lots of reasons to row! Some of the more bizarre included whether a meal was too healthy, and whether or not there’s enough sauce. Who knew!

Because of these rows, more than one in ten couples haven eaten separately, while a similar number have refused to cook for the other person or ordered a takeaway for themselves. 

That said, the research also showed how much we love to talk about food. Apparently, the average couple will talk about what to eat for their evening meal for at least 10 minutes a day (61 hours a year). Obviously here at Hunters you could probably multiply that by 10 – we love a good chat about food, anytime, anywhere!

But the research definitely shows that a lack of variety is at the centre of many of the disagreements – arguing about eating the same foods all the time and feeling bored with what’s on the plate. Apparently, of the seven evening meals most of us make every week, five will be the same – often including a roast, spaghetti bolognese and pizza.

One third of couples said they would like to be more adventurous with their food choices but blamed their partner for being stuck in their ways when it came to mealtimes. Although one in four also admitted they’re usually too tired at the end of a busy day to go too crazy trying out new recipes.

Well, we don’t think that trying out new things has to be complicated or difficult – we try and make it straightforward and delicious! So, if you’re looking for some inspiration, why not come and have a chat with us? We’ll help reinvigorate dinner (lunch and breakfast) time – and stop those rows in their tracks!