Susy Atkins showcases Devon’s finest food and drink

What better way to celebrate the start of English Wine Week (23rd May - 31st May) than with a workshop dedicated to local food and wine pairing. Hosted by regular wine expert on BBC1’s ‘Saturday Kitchen’, Susy Atkins and South Hams food hero, David Jones, this enlightening session on the Sunday of The Shops at Dartington Food Fair (24th – 25th May), at 2.30 – 3.30 pm, will see both Susy and David educate all in the art of food and wine matching.

Throughout the informative one hour session ‘The Perfect Pairing: Food & Drink Partners’, Susy will be sharing her knowledge on Devon’s finest drinks including wines, ciders, ales and soft drinks. Whilst Susy informs all on the fantastic selection of beverages Devon has to on offer, David Jones, co-owner of Manna from Devon Cooking School, will cook a tempting selection of tasty treats to accompany them. ‘The Perfect Pairing: Food & Drink Partners’ workshop costs £10 per person with plenty of samples and laughs guaranteed.
In addition to David and Susy’s session there’s a varied selection of other workshops taking place during the two days.

Ben Palmer, chef patron at The Greedy Goose will be conducting a captivating session on the Monday (1:00pm – 2:00pm), on how to create a ‘Three-course springtime menu’. Delights Ben will be cooking include foraged wild garlic and nettle soup served with a crispy duck egg, spring green risotto with Devon blue cheese and 'a bit of strawberry mess'. The session costs £5 per person.

Rachel Lambert will be demonstrating what forageable foods await in Devon’s miles of glorious unspoilt hedgerows with ‘Foraging the Dartington Estate Hedgerows’. Participants will complete a trail through the stunning grounds of the Dartington Estate where Rachel will advise what plants can be foraged during which season and how to cook with the foods which have been discovered. Rachel’s two sessions take place on the Sunday at 11:00am – 12 noon and 3:00pm – 4:00pm, priced at £3 per person.

Back after his huge popularity last year, local fisherman Alan Steer will once again be showing all how to ‘Crack a Crab’ during his masterclass. Alan will be sharing his top tips of how best to prepare fresh Devon crab with participants leaving with their dressed crab. Alan’s workshop will be running on the Sunday (10:00am – 11:00am), tickets cost £6 per person.

For visitors to the Food Fair keen to learn both the art of cracking a crab and food foraging, ‘D.I.Y Devon Dinner’ is the perfect session. Incorporating both Alan and Rachel’s expert knowledge, this two hour session will see participants learn how to prepare and dress freshly caught Devon crab using their forged foods. Not only will participants take home a new found skill but also their tasty masterpiece. ‘D.I.Y Devon Dinner’ takes place on the Sunday (12:00pm – 2:00pm), £9 per person.

Mal Harradine, another Food Fair favourite returns. A regular on TV channel, Ideal World, Mal will be sharing his passion for pasta making with his workshop ‘Start from Scratch: Pasta making’. From learning how to use a pasta machine to preparing fresh pasta dough and creating Tagliatelle, participants will gain new found skills and recipes to create delicious pasta dishes. ‘Start from Scratch: Pasta making’ takes place on the Sunday (11:30am – 12:30pm), costing £8 per person guests receive a free Dexam ravioli making kit.

Dartington’s very own Anuj Thakur, head chef at The White Hart will be wowing crowds on the Monday and showing all how to recreate his chicken blanquette, a new addition to the menu at The White Hart. Anuj will be using the finest ingredients serving the dish with asparagus, Devon new potatoes and a wild mushroom veloute. ‘Behind the scenes of The White Hart: Chicken Blanquette’ takes place on the Monday (2:30pm – 3:30pm), £5 per person.

MasterChef 2014 semi-finalist, Michael Sanders will be hosting two educational workshops, 'Feeding a family for £5' and ‘Cooking without waste'. ‘Feeding a family for £5’ will see Michael demonstrating with audience participation an Indian inspired recipe, Spring greens and chick pea curry with garlic flat breads and onion bhajjis. With only eight spaces available on Michael’s workshops, make sure you book early to avoid disappointment. 'Feeding a family for £5' is on the Sunday (4:00pm – 5:00pm) with ‘Cooking without waste' taking place on the Monday (4:00pm – 5:00pm). Both sessions cost £5 per person.

Held in association with the dynamic Food & Drink Devon, there will be forty food and drink producers present at the free to enter The Shops at Dartington Food Fair, which this year is inspired by the charming tale of Alice in Wonderland. Back by popular demand for another year, taste buds will be tempted with the bake and decorate a cake competition. To celebrate The Shops at Dartington’s Food Fair’s fifth birthday, entrants will be required to create a magnificent cake fitting for the occasion. Cakes will be judged on the Monday by The Devon Scone Company’s highly acclaimed Richard Hunt. Fantastic prizes include a £50 gift voucher to spend in The Shops at Dartington’s spectacular Kitchen Shop (over 16 category) and a £50 voucher to spend in the enchanting Toy Shop (16 and under category). Visit www.dartingtonfoodfair.org for further information and to download an entry form.

For one night only, renowned cookbook writer and former head chef at Riverford Field Kitchen, Jane Baxter will be launching the Food Fair on Saturday 23rd May with a pop-up supper in The Shops at Dartington’s enchanting courtyard. Tickets costs £40 per person and include a three-course feast, glass of fizz on arrival from Sharpham Wine’s head winemaker Duncan Schwab and half a bottle of Sharpham wine.

Tickets for all the workshops and the pop-up supper can be purchased online from www.shopsatdartington.co.uk For further information on The Shops at Dartington Food Fair visit www.dartingtonfoodfair.org. For up to date news and offers follow @Shopdartington on Twitter and ‘Like’ on Facebook.

The Shops at Dartington is owned by the Dartington Hall Trust, an independent charitable organisation, trading ethically and sustainably as a social enterprise in order to help support the Trust’s activities in Social Justice, Sustainability and the Arts.