Real Food Festival - Sherston Tea Company

Another boutique purveyor of fine products, the Sherston Tea Company is owned and operated by Clare Mitchell. I knew that someone with a creative flair had their hand in the packaging of these products, because it is nothing less than theatrical. Sadly, my photos don't really do it justice, but each little air tight pot was wrapped in decorative, vintage paper reminiscent of a Liberty pattern.

Further investigation revealed that my suspicions were indeed true, for Clare is set designer stage productions. How well this was all fitting together. Not only had I met another friend of the theatre, but woman of divine aesthetic. On the table in front of me was a tray populated by small glass jars. Each jar contained a different variety of tea.

The first I reached for was the Earl Grey, decorated by beautiful blue cornflowers. My heart sang because the telltale fragrance of bergamot was sublime.

The website has some gorgeous glass tea pots, that will inspire even the most adamant coffee aficionado.

The Food Festival - Baruzzo Chocolate

This is Raffaella Baruzzo, Chocolotisa Extraordinaire. Italian by birth and certainly in heart, hers was the first booth that I came across at the Real Food Festival. Still not sure why I stopped at this small stand, but I am positive it had something to do with the impeccably dressed woman with a generous smile. I learned that Raffaella worked in the UK's chocolate industry for twelve years before branching out with her own aptly named brand, Baruzzo. These days she spreads her time between Italy (where the chocolate is produced) and the United Kingdom (where it is distributed) - but manages to find time in between to source beans in Ecuador.

The first thing I sampled were the chocolate pralines and by far my favourite was the Pink Heart which is "70% Ecuadorian ganache - perfect for the chocolate purist". I love dark chcolate and can be quite particular about it, but this was superb. Richly, deeply flavoured, without the bittness of some darks. Baruzzo also infuses their premium chocolates with exotic flavours which include:

- White ganache flavoured with pure Tuscan rose oil

- Northern Italian honey, marigold flower extract and dark chocolate ganache

- Oolong tea with Jasmine and milk chocolate

- Fine Almond paste from Sicily and milk chocolate praline

Sadly, Baruzzo doesn't have an online shop yet - but I imagine it will be coming soon. Keep your eyes on www.Baruzzo.co.uk

The Real Food Festival - Introduction

This was my first trip to the Real Food Festival and I hope that it won't be my last. Thursday afternoons, from 4-8pm tickets were discounted by half, the place was pretty much empty and I was able to wander with out the interference from pesky crowds. I talked to a cow, fed a sheep and cooed to a little lamb. Not to mention pick at cheese, wine, salami, you name it. I am creating a list of some of the vendors I met - and the delightful samples tried. Inspired by these people's stories, the quality of their produce and palpable passion for what they do - I needed to scurry back to my blog I and share.

1. Baruzzo Chocolate

2. Sherston Tea Company

3. Serious Pig

4. P.E. Mead & Sons, Chiltern Rapeseed Oil

5. Big Barn Market