TASTE OF THE WEST

from The Visitor Magazine Issue 466 September 2022

MENTIONED in DISPATCHES

Stripy Duck Bookshop Cafe, Bruton

THE STRIPY DUCK Bookshop Cafe on Bruton High Street has a wonderful selection of Gluten, refined-sugar-free and Vegan cakes. Becoming a high street favourite; very smooth rainforest alliance Lavazza coffee. A wide selection of Pukka teas, locally made Dowding's apple juice and Gusto organic fizzy drinks made with Agave syrup.

Their cakes are made in Frome by Liam Parker @liamscakes238. Since childhood Liam has had a passion for freshly baked brownies. This inspired him to find a healthier alternative without sacrificing any flavour and hand on heart; there is certainly no sacrifice to flavour in Liam's cakes. They are truly full of magic, made in Liam's musically infused kitchen, using locally sourced produce and mixed with love, joy and some funky dance moves. “A perfectly light and lush treat to brighten your day.”

Stripy Duck Bookshop Cafe, Bruton. Tuesday - Saturday 105, 01749 814814. instagram@ stripyduckbookshopcafe.

Tea and tart; watch the world go by. Liam's Vegan tarts and spectacularly delicious Gluten free brownies. Trading Post Farm Shop, Lopenhead

The Trading Post Farm Shop in Lopenhead near South Petherton is the place to go if you are looking for locally sourced ingredients and locally made produce. Supporting over 8 local producers their shelves are brimming with jams, marmalades & chutneys, fresh bread delivered daily, a huge selection of cakes and treats from local bakers alongside local beer, cider, wine and spirits. Based on an organic veg farm in the Somerset hills they have freshly picked veg daily and a westcountry cheese counter to complete your visit!

The Buttercross Tearooms, Somerton

Situated in the heart of Somerton’s Market Place is the award-winning Buttercross Tearooms. They always source local foods and produce, make as much in-house as possible, and stick to a seasonal menu which ensures the freshest flavour. Buttercross Tearooms have loved welcoming back their customers as well as new passers-by. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. Find out more at www.thebuttercrosstearooms .com.

George’s Greengrocer and Fruiterer, Castle Cary

With George bringing a wealth of experience of the fruit & veg trade, together with partner Lauren, a talented and highly skilled local florist, George’s opened their doors for the first time in 2017.

The local produce on offer is

Buttercross Tearooms, Somerton.

THE BUTTERCROSS TEAROOMS

Market Place, Somerton (01458) 273168 Homemade Cakes & Scones Morning Coffee, Cream Teas Lunch Served 12 – 3pm Open: Tue – Sat 9am – 5pm

sourced from some of the best growers in and around Somerset, ensuring the variety of fruit and vegetables are consistently of the highest quality and beautifully fresh. They also do a few specialities such as fresh orange juice, Castle Cary Honey, local preserves and jams, they supply local milk and eggs.

Coming soon … George’s will be launching their online social media accounts, and an Online Box Ordering service is on its way too!

Shop in store at 1 Park Street, Castle Cary, or email george@georgesfruitandveg.com.

Blackmore Vale Butchery of Bowbridge near Henstridge is tops for taste, quality and full traceability

When it comes to superb quality meat sourced from local farms and smallholdings for whom animal welfare is a top priority, local family run Blackmore Vale Butchery on the Somerset/Dorset border is hard to beat.

Since 2006 it has forged a bond with local butchers and created a trusted local supply chain which supports small family run local farms and puts locally grown and reared beef, lamb and pork on its shelves, as well as other local butchers and farm shops in the Somerset/Dorset border and Wiltshire.

For this it was awarded the Taste of Dorset Outstanding Contribution to Local Food Development in Dorset as well as the Blackmore Vale Media Business Awards Farm Business of the Year, and has earned a fastgrowing loyal retail customer base who choose to go there for meat, based on the short supply chain with full traceability, top quality products and of course - fantastic taste.

“When we started out we were mainly known as a wholesaler, but demand has grown so much that our retail counter is now open six days a week,” said butchery manager Gavin Keen, who along with his staff have more than 50 years experience in the meat trade.

“We can offer a choice of different beef breeds including Red Devons, Dexter, Hereford and White Park, all fully grass fed and aged between 28 and 35 days.

“Respecting the animals is a big part of good butchery - we know who raised the animal and where, what it ate, how old it was, where all the cuts of the animal come from and how best to cook them. We can say exactly where our meat comes from because we have seen the animals on the farm where they were raised. “You’ll see what meat we have in fresh daily. We can advise about various cuts, their different cooking methods and what to serve with them, and we’ve won a whole clutch of awards for our own products.”

As well as winning the Best Butcher Award in the 2017 Taste of Dorset Awards, recent accolades include Taste of the West champion Product Awards 2019 for faggots and Gold Star for pork pies, and Great British Butcher Awards 2019 Gold for their highly sought after pork and wild garlic sausages (only available in season) and pork ribeye in chilli and pepper. Most recently they have been given 2 Gold stars for their Dry Aged Tomahawk Steaks from the Great Taste awards 2022.

A top seller at Blackmore Vale Butchery is South African style dried sausage droewors (drywors) and hand cut biltong, cured in house. “Some customers come in and buy it in bulk,” said Gavin. “It’s high in protein, low in fat with no additives, so is very popular with sportspeople and people who like to keep fit.”

Poultry is from Castle Mead Poultry and Creedy Carver and the Butchery cures its own bacon, offering dry cure (green), black treacle and smoked. Their sausages have won several Great British Banger Awards and their burgers are a favourite staple on barbecues across the region.

Their bacon is nitrate free and there is also a wide choice of gluten free products.