Tag: food

Food Security – A Climate Problem

One topic that we haven’t discussed so far in our Climate Change Collective posts is food security. It is an important subject which affects everybody so it is great to see this month’s lead post tackle this delicate matter.

As the world’s population grows and temperatures increase, suffering harvests are starting to have a massive impact on food supplies and will continue to create shortages in future.

Caroline (@environlineblog) has produced a very thorough and useful article about many of the ways that food security is altering, largely due to climate change.

My Thoughts

I live in an agricultural area and come from a family of arable farmers. The Fenland region of East Anglia is covered in Peat which makes it a brilliant landscape for growing many different vegetables and fruits.

The land was reclaimed from marshland in the 1800s by a network of drainage ditches originally designed by Dutch engineer Vermuyden. Lots of market towns and villages are now scattered across this beautiful but flat countryside.

Sadly, with most of it being very close to sea level, predictions state that much of the Fens is likely to be returned to wetland by 2050. This will greatly affect the availability of food for lots of European countries. One third of the UK’s harvested food comes from here.

If the area is drowned once more, this will impact on wheat production as well as the provision of: carrots, onions, potatoes, sugar beat, lettuce, oil seed rape, peas, strawberries and many other types of fresh produce.

The impact climate change has on food security and how to help

In A Nutshell

Caroline has put together various suggestions of how to do your bit in helping us secure our food supplies. Environmentally, considering the food miles of products we buy can help to reduce pollution as well as supporting local farmers.

Of course, if our farmland shrinks or is continually flooded, we may have to consider growing different crops. Reducing the amount of livestock we rear could also make room for more arable fields.

The Climate Change Collective is a group of bloggers who write one lead post every month linked to global warming and sustainability. The rest of us then create link posts, such as this article.

For one of my previous articles in the group, check out Warmer Weather – What’s not to like?. Please take time to check out Caroline’s article and drop some comments with your views on this matter.

Why Am I Obsessed With Creme Brûlée?

This can probably be considered a weird article but I just had to write it. My interest in Creme Brûlée is steeped in history. So much so that I thought I would share my fascination. Especially after last night in Paris, when I had the dish pictured above.

You see, I am a sucker for sweet things. Ever since my nan laced my dummy with syrup to shut me up as a baby, I have loved sweet food.

Warning – A dummy full of syrup led to several brown teeth that had to be removed early. Yet I forgave nan as she was a perfect nan in every other aspect of nan-ness.

The Long and the Short of it.

So Creme Brûlée popped up on my radar when I was a child but was a very rare treat. Somehow I knew straight away that this delicacy was special.

Yet it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I actually fell head over heels for the delightful dish. My uncle worked as a marketing director for a dessert company and started bringing home new puddings. Every time I went round there would be a new sugary pudding to sample.

It was when he first brought out a creme brûlée and used a flame torch thing to burn the sugar on top that I got my first realisation of adoration. I instantly knew that this was my favourite kind of dessert.

From then on, if Creme Brûlée appeared on a menu at a restaurant I was present in then I was sure to buy it. I have tasted examples of it in various places around Europe. But last night was my absolute favourite.

The contract between the hard sweet top and the soft milky bottom was precise. It sent my taste buds into a frenzy. So I celebrate you – sweet Parisian restaurant whose name I have forgotten – for giving me the BEST Creme Brûlée that I have ever enjoyed.

For another of my recent posts, have a look at The Wonder Of Microforests.

Quality Rural Cuisine

A few years ago I wanted to see the site of Fotheringhay Castle and decided to pop into the local restaurant/ pub for dinner at the same time. I was instantly charmed by the place and have been back several times since. Here is my honest review of one of my favourite places to eat out for some quality rural cuisine.

I just love this cosy place to eat and chat.

This is not a sponsored post; merely a recommendation for anyone passing through Northamptonshire. It is the first time I have written about an eatery but I really do think it deserves a glowing write up.

Why Eat Here?

Why not? I was searching for the historic site of Fotheringhay Castle where Mary Queen of Scots got her head removed and Richard III was born, when I discovered this intriguing pub/ restaurant a few years ago. It has been my go-to place for birthdays and get togethers with close friends ever since.

I went last week and decided to try the tempura courgette which was really tasty and presented with butternut squash and a honey-based drizzle.

My main meal last week.

My friends had chicken supreme which they were also equally impressed with.

Chicken supreme with stuffed courgette.

One also had a fish called a Pollock, which I had never heard of but am keen to try next time.

Pollock supreme

For dessert we had such a lovely choice. I went for the strawberry soufflé which was mouth-watering and added the right finishing touches to a warm, satisfying evening.

Strawberry soufflé

My friends all opted for the sticky toffee pudding.

Sticky toffee pudding

We were lucky enough to have a chat with the chef and management team who told us that much of their ingredients came from the adjoining allotment. Elderflowers were picked from the beer garden itself.

The Falcon Inn Garden

So there is definitely an environmental aspect to the cooking that goes on here – something that makes it a winner in my eyes. I can sniff out sustainability a mile away.

My thoughts

I eat out a lot. Let’s be honest, it is one of the main pleasures in life. Whether meeting up locally or on route to somewhere else, stopping off at a lovely eatery like The Falcon Inn is a great way to combine belly filling with socialising. For more information about this wonderful Northamptonshire pub, check their Instagram page.

Thank you for checking out my blog. Perhaps consider following me for more bookish, lifestyle and environmental posts.