A Taste of Cheshire

If you’re really passionate about food, there’s only one way to discoverwhat’s special about  Chester and Cheshire: come and try it for yourself! Eating out is everyone’s favourite activity in Cheshire, so there is plenty to choose from wherever you are, and the standards are high.

Restaurants range from the sumptuous Michelin starred Arkle Restaurant at Chester Grosvenor & Spa to the long-established favourites of Cheshire’s rural towns and villages, and cosy gastropubs in the countryside. And this is farming country, so you can expect to find plenty of local produce on the menu.

Enjoy Cheshire’s produce

Farmers or regional produce markets take place across the county. Such markets encourage us to return to buying from local producers – farmers, butchers, bakers and fishmongers – not only out of nostalgia, but as a way to find the best quality food and service around. The produce on sale is diverse: from fruit and vegetables, meats and dairy produce to wine, jams, chutneys, pies, herbs and even speciality rare breed meats. Here is a
selection of the county markets:

NANTWICH – last Saturday monthly (except December when it takes place on the Saturday before Christmas). 9am – 3pm, Nantwich Town Square

CONGLETON – first and third Tuesday monthly. 9am – 2pm, The Bridestones Centre, Princess Street

FRODSHAM – every Thursday (except mid-December to third week of January). 10am – 4pm, High Street, Frodsham.

Food Festivals

CHESTER FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL - With over 80 exhibitors featuring Cheshire and North West produce in the Taste Marquee, and exciting chef demonstrations, this really is a superb family event for the Easterweekend. The whole festival takes place over the week in Chester, with restaurants
adding to the event by featuring local produce on their menus at heavily discounted prices. www.chesterfoodanddrink.com (external link)

NANTWICH FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL - The Nantwich Food & Drink Festival takes a well-earned place in the foodie calendar. The Festival is an annual celebration of food excellence and offers a mouth watering selection of regionally produced food and drink. www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk (external link)

NORTHWEST FOOD LOVERS’ FESTIVAL, TATTON PARK - In addition to over 70 food & drink stalls, a variety of entertainment is featured for the duration of the show, including children’s entertainment, fascinating foodie seminars, chef demonstrations and gourmet catering. There’ll be something for everyone... and  much, much more! www.foodloversfestival.co.uk (external link)

NANTWICH INTERNATIONAL CHEESE SHOW - A massive event held annually at Dorfold Hall Park, Nantwich, in the heart of Cheshire farming country, with over 1800 entries not only from Cheshire and Britain, but from all over the world. nantwichshow.co.uk

Feed Your Soul

While in Cheshire why not dine out in one of the fabulous individual restaurants showcasing the finest in local produce and demonstrating the high-quality chefs Cheshire has to offer. Some to try include:

• The Belle Epoque, Knutsford
• Cabbage Hall, Little Budworth
• Yellow Broom Restaurant, Holmes Chapel
• The Duke of Portland, Lach Dennis, Northwich
• Pastarazzi, Chester

Cheshire Cheese

Cheshire Cheese can be dated back to Roman Britain and is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In the 16th century it was reputed to be the best cheese of Europe and was a favourite at the Court of Elizabeth I. Originally, Cheshire Cheese was made near Chester, then a village, on the River Dee, but it soon spread to farms throughout the county of Cheshire, with its mild climate, vales and undulating hills.

Cheshire Cheese is usually white or red in colour but there is also a blue Cheshire. The distinctive flavour of Cheshire Cheese is due to salt springs which run under much of the pasture land. These give the milk, hence the cheese, a slightly salty tang, which is still a characteristic of Cheshire Cheese today.

For the real flavour of Cheshire Cheese, why not go to farmers’ markets, specialist cheese shops, or visit Cheshire’s cheese-making farms and buy direct. The Bourne family of Malpas are among Cheshire’s best-known cheesemakers and have won countless awards for their own varieties of cheese.