I have always been interested in artesian food.

Whilst spending a weekend in Worcester with friends, I discovered that Worcester is still alive with small suppliers and shops.

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To start with, I tried Lightwood Cheese.

Lightwood Cheese is sited on Heath Grange Farm – Grange Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcester, WR2 6RW. Tel: 01905 333 468.

The owner (Phil Hulland) supplies only small outlets and not large supermarkets. His cheese is available in a variety of outlets as well as mail order www.lightwoodcheese.co.uk

His farm is just off the A44, near Elgar’s Museum. He sells from his farm (by appointment). There is no shop but you get to walk into a large chiller and choose your cheese. Tasting is not available as all the cheese are wrapped. Phil offers an award winning mature hard cheese (Elgar), a smoked version, soft cows and goats cheeses. I bought the Elgar as well as the Lightwood Chaser (soft cows milk cheese) and his goats cheese. I shall report back later this week on what it tastes like.

Update: The Chaser was fantastic. It was a creamy version of brie/camembert

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Next is the Foregate Patisserie – an old fashion small baker. www.foregatepatisserie.co.uk

They have 2 retail outlets:

14 Foregate Street, Worcester Tel: 01905 22991

22 St John’s, Worcester Tel: 01905 427134

I visited the St John’s branch. Most of the products looks very good but I was paticularly interested in their batons (granary or white)they are about 2 inches by 6 inches and will take two large frankfurters. I have had them before and thought that they were wonderful. On the day I bought 24 of these rolls , a granary cobb loaf, 4 cornish pasties and 2 suasages rolls for just over £18. By the way the pasties were all right but not great as they use mince and not chuck steak. I am a connoisseur of pasties and will usually tried one when I come across a new outlet.

Their bread tend to be light and soft not heavey – see Lorentzen Bakery (Teme Valley Sunday Market|)

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Across the Bakery is a butcher – 9 St John’s. Tel: 01905 422 459.

This is an award winning butcher and they are Gold Medal winners of meat products (sausages, pies etc) in the national competition.
They do a wonderdful pork pie – two versions, with or without chives and also scotch eggs (with or without chives) and a nice range of sausages. When in season, they offere game.

For St John’s, park in the street round the corner. You get 45 minutes or park in Sainsbury around the back of St John’s high street.

E

September 2010