mud run 
mud run 
CMM with Dylan and Ian Jones
1 September 2019
September started with a splash – a muddy one!
Sunday 1 September I was one of 15 from @ScorpionTrainingBootCamp led by trainer @IanHarrison wading through over 100 obstacles of green mud in @nustchallenge in the #SurreyHills countryside. That evening – battered bruised and still a bit muddy despite a shower – I headed over to the studio at @BBCSurrey to join Ian Jones @LLLHillHouse.
I had secured an interview for Ian with journalist/presenter @NickyPatrick1. Together with his teenage son Dylan he gave a great insight on #FieldToFork and the pork specialities he produces at his Dorking farm. It was a great showcase for the #community in @SurreyHillsEnt.
2 September 2019
Speciality Food 
Speciality Food
A day at @SpecialityFair @Olympia_London gave me a chance to meet new food and drink producers and learn about new products reaching UK retailers. #Vegan-#Vegetarian was the big story with options such as plant and nut based alternatives to cream from Belgian #Pretexte, which was also one of the #freefrom solutions on offer. @ShadiaAl_Hili was there with her vibrant family team for @cuzenabrand. A joy to meet and their #Madamous dips, a Moroccan fava bean alternative to houmous, were delicious – loved Fiery Chilli Fava Bean Dip!
Among other taste highlights was @Sisserourum rum and coconut liqueur and amazing handpainted chocolate creations from sisters Yugna and Deepa @thepaintedpeacockcompany, who I’ve come across before and who deserve a lot more recognition. As a #chocoholic I also loved the fabulous ideas for Christmas from @ChocolatChapon and who could resist a stocking filler such as the cannabis flavour dark chocolate from #Mulaté – still I suggest a work in progress on flavour but a great novelty and brilliant artwork.
14 September 2019
Surrey Hills Food 
Surrey Hills Food
I thought I’d potter over to Denbies Wine Estate outside Dorking to see what was on offer at the Surrey Hills Food Festival. It was a far cry from the world offering at Olympia but disappointing in the limited number of local producer stands.
That said a demo by @BeaverbrookH chef #TaijiMaruyama preparing #sushi and #sashimi was amazing with plenty of valuable insights – that said the big take-home were the #edibleants he used as a garnish which it turns out is more expensive than caviar!
16 September 2019
It was great to finally sit down for a chat with Danielle Bekker of the #GoodLivingBrewCompany having bumped into her several events, including the monthly market @RipleyFarmersM and just recently at @SpecialityFair.
Really hope she gets lots of support for her 0.5% option during @GoSoberUK as she’s offering to give a 10% contribution to @macmillancancer throughout the month. Both @BinaryBotanical the almost no alcohol and 4% beers are worth trying – they’re described as a #beer for #winelovers or #prosecco beer – and it’s all the above and more!
I can hardly believe that this incredibly talented woman lives in the same village as me in #Woking. A veteran of the brewing industry she has created a light refreshing beer that’s great with food, low in calories, is a good alcohol strength for beer at 4% Vol, which of course is a lot less than wine. Incredibly her 0.5% alternative is also very tasty! Though she only launched 18 months ago she’s already available through @Ocado and @HarveyNichols. Watch out for the feature I’m writing on her for our local paper @Woking_NewsMail.
#beer #Surrey #localbusiness #localnews
