This week marks the start of British Food Fortnight (BFF). Running from 16th – 1st October, the annual event showcases the diverse and delicious foods Britain has to offer and 2023 is set to be the biggest celebration yet.

Thousands of businesses up and down the country are celebrating the incredible breadth of locally produced food and drink on offer, as well as recognising those who source from British producers to use in their restaurants, shops, cafes and more on a daily basis.

From resounding UK locations such as New Covent Garden Market – the UK’s leading wholesale fruit and veg market, to Hand Picked Hotels – a collection of 21 luxury hotels across the UK dedicated to sourcing and serving local and seasonal produce, and Pivot Bar & Bistro – Covent Garden’s much loved British bistro.

Sustainable British products like Smokin Brothers are also involved, as well as Munchy Seeds – the UK’s favourite edible seed brand. The UK has some incredible businesses celebrating British food over the next few weeks.

Supporting Local Producers & Growers
Hand Picked Hotels is dedicated to creating memorable dining experiences, centred on bringing the finest quality food and drink to guests in its restaurants across the collection. Celebrating the very best of British food, each hotel focuses on working with a hand picked selection of local producers and suppliers, with a team of award-winning chefs crafting menus with seasonality and provenance at their core.

image003.png

For those who want to soothe the soul this Autumn and try a taste of modern British dishes, Hand Picked Hotels’ Autumnal package allows guests to indulge in a 3-course dinner made from local, seasonal produce. Guests can also enjoy a hearty Hand Picked breakfast, with dishes freshly made to order and with an authentically-local touch.

Stepping into the city and overlooking the iconic Covent Garden piazza, Pivot Bar & Bistro, headed up by award-winning chef Mark Greenaway, honours fresh seasonal ingredients focusing on quintessential British cuisine.

Greenaway has reworked the a la carte menu in time for British Food Fortnight to bring restaurant regulars and new diners alike a wealth of new dishes showcasing incredible produces sources from across the British isles. Starters includedDressed Asparagus with poached hen egg and hollandaise sauce, or Scottish Smoked Salmon served with capers and shallots.

Moving on to mains, guests are encouraged to tryhearty Beef and Bone Marrow Pie made using British beef shin. Vegetable Pie filled with lentils and spiced vegetables; and Roasted Ham Eggs & Potatoes which is designed to be shared by two people.

Events and Activities
As an official partner of British Food Fortnight, New Covent Garden Market (NCGM), which is the starting point for many on their hunt for the best of British produce and in turn sells huge volumes of British fruit and vegetables year-round, will be hosting a range of activities throughout the fortnight by highlighting some of the work its traders do with their British grower partners.

image004.jpg

Among the market’s BFF initiatives, Rushton’s The Chefs’ Greengrocer is using social media to highlight some of the great things happening within its British grower network, including regenerative farming projects and various other forms of responsible farming.

Two London based primary schools will receive a teaching pack and three different English apples varieties during BFF, allowing around 550 children to learn more about apples, health and nutrition and of course their local wholesale market.

And NCGM traders will resume their initiative to supply student chefs at Westminster Kingsway College with a different British fruit or vegetable each month to study and incorporate into the incredible dishes they create for the on-site restaurants.

NCGM press officer Tommy Leighton commented: “While the traders at New Covent Garden Market of course sell world class, seasonal fresh produce from all corners of the globe, everyone at the market is extremely proud of the relationships we have with British growers. Many of the businesses here have been working with the same British suppliers for several decades, through generations of families on both sides, and of course there are also new suppliers selling into the market every year.

“The beginning of the season for any British product generates excitement – there’s no doubt that the demand for homegrown fruit and vegetables remains very high across the independent retail, catering and hospitality sectors, because they know that their customers want to buy British too,” he added. “The ethos and values of British Food Fortnight reflect our passion for our suppliers and for what we do, and we’re keen to use the fortnight to make British consumers more aware that they can buy top class, affordable British produce from their local, independent businesses.”
Best of British Sustainable Products

As consumers strive to make more sustainable choices, they are in turn putting the responsibility back onto producers and retailers e and increasingly demanding ethically sourced UK products. British Food Fortnight provides the perfect opportunity to showcase products manufactured ethically in the UK.

Smokin’ Brothers salmon is sourced from a family run farm in Scotland and then crafted in The Cotswold’s. Redefining the ancient craftsmanship of smoked salmon, Smokin’ Brothers steadily smoke and infuse each salmon in the chamber before slicing each one using their signature sashimi-style slice.

Smokin’ Brothers has partnered with Wester Ross, a renowned salmon producer known for their ethos, quality, and sustainable practices. Since 1977, Wester Ross has been hand-rearing artisan salmon without hormones, GMOs, or antibiotics.

Their experienced farmers prioritise the health of each individual salmon, allowing them ample room to swim. By avoiding overcrowding and automation, Wester Ross ensures the well-being of their fish and produces superior quality salmon. Their commitment to sustainability extends to employing aquatic neighbours to keep the salmon content. Smokin’ Brothers is proud to offer customers this exceptional, responsibly sourced salmon.

Munchy Seeds, the UK’s favourite edible seed brand, are freshly roasted in the heart of Suffolk and distributed across the UK. Each pack mixes pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and chia seeds, adding vegetarian and vegan taste, protein and fibre to everyday snacking and cooking.