Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has long been one of my ultimate food heroes. I love his enthusiasm for growing your own fruits and veg and for simple, tasty home cooking which all the family can be involved in. I supported his “Chicken Out” campaign and 100% fully support his “Fish Fight”. Information about these can be found on his website.
So I was very excited today because he was speaking at the Sissinghurst Smallholders Fair 2011, which was being held down the road at the glorious Sissinghurst Castle Gardens.
I had 2 scrambled eggs with fresh tomatoes for breakfast.
And then off to Sissinghurst to hear Hugh. My sister Lucy, who lived near the River Cottage and met him several times, has always said he is a very attractive man in the flesh. So to speak. And she is so right. He is lovely.
And he signed it for me and I had a chat and had several photos with him and he shook my hand. He has been a food hero of mine for so long, it was awesome to meet him and I can’t wait to start cooking some fish!
The Smallholding Fair was good too. There were people selling plants, food, livestock, and a wide variety of hand made products. There was also a great barbecue and a beer tent, both of which I stayed away from. Unlike my menfolk.
After a lovely time pottering about the fair in the sunshine we came home. Spaghetti Bolognese for a late lunch. And a large salad for supper using up some leftover grey mullet and potatoes with salad leaves from the garden, tomatoes, cucumber, celery and olives. Eaten on a tray in front of the TV.








Wow, sounds like a fantastic day. Interesting, fun and of course very healthy!! Well done!! I am thoroughly enjoying each days blog (I particularly like the headings!) and think you are doing a fantastic job! Keep up the great work and I look forward to see what tomorrow brings you 🙂
Thank you Lara. I am pleased you are enjoying my blog and I enjoy thinking about the headings. Glad they are appreciated 🙂
I am very jealous; HFW has been one of my food heroes since he first started his River Cottage series way back when. I appreciate the new haircut and fully support his Fish Fight too. Let me know how the recipes in the fish book go; I often need inspiring to try new fish although I am usually happily surprised when I do. Did you make his Coley Curry? This may be looking ahead but I highly recommend his Christmas Bread from his book ‘Everyday’. We took it to our local Hunt on New Year’s Day and everyone loved it. Keep up the good work, love your blog!
Thank you Sally. I haven’t tried anything yet but I will let you know when I do. I have read the list of fish we should eat and fish we shouldn’t (due to sustainability reasons) and I am looking forward to Thursday when I can go to the market and buy the freshest fish for miles around. Then I will come home and look up an appropriate recipe. Thank you for your kind and supportive words 🙂
I can’t believe after seeing the article in your local paper about this event I still managed to forget all about it and had a dreadful Sunday! And you met the spruced up short hair version of the delightful young man! Very envious, did he smell nice? xxxx
I would have reminded you if I thought you wanted to come. Sorry 😦
But where do you get your fish from? Surely not the co-oop? Is the Headcorn fishmonger the nearest and the best? Your advice please. Ax