Northumberland produce chosen to represent taste of North East

Sep 15 2010 By The Journal

THE TASTE of the North East has been pinpointed by tests.

The project by the National Trust was conducted to highlight its Food Glorious Food campaign, which celebrates local and seasonal produce and supports environmentally friendly farming.

It suggests there is a single, standout flavour for every region of the UK which is as distinct as the local accent.

The North East came out top for earthy and sweet flavours which continue on the palette, evoking good honest fare. A Taste the Land panel made up of wine expert Oz Clarke, chocolate entrepreneur Willie Harcourt Cooze, perfumer Angela Flanders and the National Trust’s head training chef, Brian Turner, sampled foods from every region of the UK.

Dandelion and Burdock from Hexham- based Fentimans, National Trust beef from the Wallington estate at Cambo, Doddington’s ice cream from Wooler and Carroll’s Heritage potatoes from Tiptoe, near Coldstream, were the samples chosen from the North East.

Kenny Atkinson, chef at County Durham’s Rockliffe Hall hotel said: “The tastes and flavours of our   region I would say are honest, simple and robust.

“It is so important for people to buy locally-produced seasonal food.”

The National Trust is staging Taste Cragside at its property near Rothbury between September 25 and 26 which will see scores of local producers lining up alongside  North East chefs.

The event will also include a fruit and vegetable show for amateur growers.