5th October 2011

Sunny days = countryside picnics
Rain or shine, the Boy and I are always thinking with our bellies. The freak October heatwave gave us the ideal opportunity to have one last summer picnic so we raided Newlyns Farm Shop and found a sunny spot with a fab view of the beautiful Hampshire countryside.

Newlyns Farm Shop: 

It is no secret that I am a massive supporter of good animal-welfare practices. I believe that some things are worth the high costs and that moral values go hand-in-hand with our consumption of meat and dairy products.
When you drive into the Newlyns car park you are met by a small tribe of pigs, chickens and sheep. They are kept there in spacious pens as an example of the husbandry methods used throughout the farm. For some, walking out of the shop past the pigs, sausages in hand, might be too much. But to be shown how well-kept these livestock are means that I can be content that my purchases have not lived lives of suffering, and that makes my lunch just that little bit tastier.
If you are happy to invest in good food (it really is not a cheap place to shop), even once in a while, it’s worth having a splurge here.

What we ate (an edited selection):
•Ham hock terrine: A moreish, mustardy deli favourite. Perfect with homemade piccalilli.
•Rosemary crusted sheep’s cheese: Unfortunately not as fragrant and herby as expected, instead rather musty. Not recommended.
•Bramley apple juice: Surprisingly sharp but much more refreshing than a Braeburn or Katy variety. Would be lovely with a cheddar.
•Chicken liver and wild mushroom pate with garlic: Much richer than the average chicken liver pate, the strong garlic gave it a very ‘grown-up’ flavour.
•Mars bar rice crispy bites: A sickly but fun Newlyns classic.