We popped into the Real Food Festival tonight to do a bit of food shopping and chat to some of the UK's finest producers. We didn't stick around for the Sheep Show but we did take a few snaps of our favourite stands. If you're going this weekend, look out for some of these gourmet goodies...
One of our first stops was at Keen's Cheddar to pick up a sizeable wedge of Somerset cheese.
At the Bristol Pasta Company stand, a bit of excellent timing gave us the chance to taste fresh butternut squash and amaretti ravioli, piping hot, covered in parmesan cheese. Bliss. Pasta fans should also look out for more unusual options at La Tua Pasta like funky pink beetroot and ricotta and jet black squid ink tortelloni filled with crab.
These little beauties came all the way from Jersey with The Fresh Fish Company, along with some handy freezable tubs of handpicked white crab meat. If you're partial to a mollusc or two, their stand is right next to the guys from Jersey Oyster.
A colourful, seasonal display from Herefordshire veg company, Box Fresh Organics.
Organic chocolate treats from Cocoa Loco. £1 per brownie? Why not get five?
New season asparagus and smoked garlic from food show veterans, The Garlic Farm.
Petal, the gorgeous mozzarella-producing buffalo from Laverstoke Park Farm.
There are some great deals to be had over at the Cornish Sea Salt table. Do their sea salt vs table salt taste test - you'll never look back!
Here's our final haul. See if you can spot the little bottle of Scottish Pigs Nose whisky and the fresh basil pesto from the South London-based Little Sauce Company. Other must-buy goodies include organic back bacon from Clayton Farm; laksa pastes from Miss Khoo's Asian Deli; homemade sauces and gravy from Potts Partnership; eggs and sausages from Hazeldene Farm; first class Jersey Royals; and the deliciously light sticky toffee pudding from Burtree House Farm.
If you're going on Saturday (or Sunday for the bargains!), remember to bring a strong eco-friendly shopping bag or two and check out the Real Food Theatre schedule before you leave.
Comments