There are now several new ways to discover local foods when you're exploring our isles.
Hampshire has named what it believes to be the UK’s first Food Tourism Ambassador, a new role which is intended to represent the very best of Hampshire’s food to the rest of the UK and further afield.
Other regions are also stepping up to the plate (pun intended) with food trails and a huge number of food events.
Let's take a look at these new ways to experience local foods.
What does a Food Tourism Ambassador do?
James Durrant, Chef Patron at The Plough Inn, Longparish, has been named as the first Food Tourism Ambassador of Hampshire. You might remember him from BBC Two’s Great British Menu, where he was a main course winner. The Plough Inn also came fourth in the Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK.
With over 18 years of experience working in the restaurant industry, and a decade in Michelin-starred establishments, Durrant seems like a good choice. The role is a voluntary 18-month position, meaning that Durrant, and those who follow in his wake, will be primarily fuelled by their passion for food, not monetary gain.
It will be his job to promote the artisan producers of the region, as well as the best dining experiences, local talent, suppliers and growers of Hampshire, in an effort to boost tourism.
He says that Hampshire is a “top destination for exceptional food and drink… [there are] plenty of foodie delights including some of the best trout fishing in the country and some of the UK’s finest vineyards.” Lots of selling points then.
It will be interesting to see if other counties and regions follow suit and name their own ambassador.
Food trails
Food trails are a relatively fresh idea that have gained popularity over the last decade or so, and the beauty of them is that you’re not confined to one sitdown meal but get the opportunity to move around and taste the best food up for grabs in an entire region.
Some of these, like the Ribble Valley Food Trail provide you with marked maps from which you can plot your own route – perfect for a relaxed food-oriented holiday. Others, like the New Forest, give a set of walking routes to choose from, which will lead you around various producers and villages at which you can rest your feet and enjoy a snack or a meal.
A third kind of tour is the type that offers a guided experience. These can be quite pricey, depending on what trail you go for, but some offer food-making, tasting and meals as part of the trip. So it actually works out as good value in some instances. Yorkshire Food Finder is one such organisation that offers this kind of guided tour.
What do you think of the idea of a Food Tourism Ambassador? Do you like the sound of a food trail experience? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below.
Pictured above: Sue Nelson, founder of Yorkshire Food Finder. Photography by Jonathon Pow.
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