Gary Rhodes' Local Food Heroes
South West - finalists 2007
Find out about the finalists from the South West for the Local Food Hero Awards 2007
St. Werburghs City Farm Café
Leona Williamson - 2nd placeBuilt on a belief that everybody should have access to good food, Leona set up a St. Werburghs City Farm Café in the heart of Bristol. The majority of the produce she uses comes from the farm, or from local producers. As well as thinking locally, Leona also thinks globally, selling organic and fair-trade wherever she can. She’s thankful for her two hugely creative chefs, who turn baskets of ever-changing ingredients into delicious dishes for the customers.
Butternut Deli
Lucy MorganBeing made redundant pushed Lucy Morgan into starting her own business. She began baking produce at home and selling it at a local farmers market. Following the success of the farmers market Lucy opened the Butternut Deli. She still keeps her stall at the weekend as she thinks it’s a great way to meet food lovers and other producers. Brownies are her current best seller made from chocolate, toffee, pecan and prunes.
Ceri Collingborn Cheeses
Ceri CollingbornA fifth generation cheese maker, Ceri was at first unsure about going into the family business and trained to be a teacher. After a few years she realised that her heart was with the farm and that she wanted to keep it going, along with their herd of pedigree British Frisian cows. Ceri loves taking her cheese down to the farmers markets and watching her customers get excited about the produce. Her popular seven pepper cheese recently won an award at the British Cheese Awards.
Allium
James GrahamWhat sets James apart is his heavy involvement in sourcing the produce he serves at his restaurant. He regularly visits the farms where he gets his pork and chicken and even shoots the venison himself! His passion for high quality produce is mirrored in his menu, which is rich in seasonal produce and rare breed meats. His moto is "use it or loose it", so if you want rare breed meats available, you’ve got to create a demand and actually eat them!
The Cheese Shed
Ian WellensSpecialising in West Country cheeses, Ian’s online mail-order company sells over 80 varieties of cheese to customers across the UK. By offering such a wide range Ian calls on the help of his local deli to supply him with the goods as the orders come in. He loves to discover new cheeses, often from tiny artisan producers, and the texture, taste and quality never ceases to amaze him.
Hidden Valley Pigs
Debbie DawsonDebbie gave up her career as a solicitor in London to set up this business with the help of her husband, Simon. They started off with just one piglet and gradually progressed from there. The ethos behind the business is to rear the happiest meat possible with the fullest flavour. She only eats animals she has reared herself as she wants to know that the animals have had a long happy life, and that it really shows in the meat.
