Popping Up At The Shops At Dartington: A Gastronomic Feast

For one night only, renowned cookbook writer and former head chef at Riverford Field Kitchen, Jane Baxter will be tantalising taste buds with a pop-up supper to celebrate the launch of this year's The Shops at Dartington Food Fair (24th – 25th May 2015). Set in The Shops at Dartington's enchanting courtyard, Jane will be wowing all with her culinary skills and preparing a delicious feast using locally sourced, seasonal produce. Marking the fifth birthday of the Food Fair, this delightful pop-up restaurant, a first for The Shops at Dartington will take place on Saturday 23rd May at 7pm.

Guests will be tempted with divine sharing-platter starters of mixed antipasti including mussel, leek and bacon bruschetta, arancini, cured salmon and charcuterie.  Jane, well-known for her innovative Baxters Movable Feasts, will continue to amaze diners throughout the main and dessert courses using local food and drink, most of which will be sourced from suppliers in 'The Food Shop'.  The mouth-watering main course comprises of lamb cooked three ways, served with roast asparagus, new potatoes and seasonal spring greens. 

Heavenly desserts on offer include rhubarb and strawberry amaretti crumble, berry pavlova, baked custard and an ample cheese board.  Selected fresh vegetables served during the meal will be supplied by LandWorks, a work-based training scheme on the Dartington Hall Estate which provides a supported route back into the community for current and ex-prisoners.   An evening to be remembered, the pop-up restaurant not only marks the birthday of The Shops at Dartington Food Fair but also the start of English Wine Week (23rd May - 31st May). As a special treat, Duncan Schwab, head winemaker at Sharpham Wine & Cheese will be offering guests a glass of fizz on arrival.  To book your place, visit www.dartingtonfoodfair.org, tickets cost £40 per person and include a glass of fizz, half a bottle of Sharpham wine and a tasty three-course meal.

Commenting on the pop-up supper, Jane Baxter says: “I love The Shops at Dartington and their ethos of supporting and showcasing local food and drink producers through 'The Food Shop' and 'Devon Drinks'.”  Jane continues: “Pop-up suppers are always a huge amount of fun and a great way to encourage people to try something new.  With the spectacular setting of the beautiful courtyard, it's a special way to launch this year's Food Fair.”

Held in association with the dynamic Food & Drink Devon there will be forty food and drink producers present at the free to enter The Shops at Dartington Food Fair, which this year is inspired by the charming tale of Alice in Wonderland.  Foodie delights taking place over the two days include a workshop with Ben Palmer, chef patron at The Greedy Goose and executive chef at the appropriately Alice in Wonderland inspired Glazebrook House Hotel.  Ben will be conducting a captivating session on the Monday (1pm - 2pm), one of five workshops which will be taking place daily over the long weekend. 

Other enthralling sessions guaranteed to draw in the crowds on the Sunday include regular wine expert on BBC1's 'Saturday Kitchen', Susy Atkins, who will be teaming up with Manna from Devon Cooking School to educate all on food and wine pairing, last year's MasterChef semi-finalist, Michael Sanders, foraging with Rachel Lambert, 'crab cracking' with Alan Steer and a DIY Devon Dinners workshop with both Rachel and Alan. Whilst on the Monday there'll be a porridge competition with Transition Town Totnes, a culinary workshop with Dartington Hall's very own, Anuj Thakur and BBQ recipes with TV chef, Mal Harradine. The Devon Scone Company's, Richard Hunt will be judging the bake and decorate a cake competitions (under and over 16 categories) on the Monday which is free to enter. Tickets for all the workshops can be purchased online fromwww.shopsatdartington.co.uk.

For further information on The Shops at Dartington Food Fair visitwww.dartingtonfoodfair.org.  For up to date news and offers follow @Shopdartington on Twitter and 'Like' on Facebook.

The Shops at Dartington is owned by the Dartington Hall Trust, an independent charitable organisation, trading ethically and sustainably as a social enterprise in order to help support the Trust's activities in Social Justice, Sustainability and the Arts. 

Chef Wise website .