World Famous Producers, a Bit o' Sour Dough and Python Skin

This is the time of year when Food Producers everywhere are selecting their best ranges to be judged at various shows throughout the country and the East Midlands is starting to make its presence felt!

This year we were delighted that Sara Barton form Brewsters Brewery had decided to re-introduce her bottled Pale Ale and Porter onto the retail market after concentrating on cask beer for a couple of years. We had missed these beverages and so had our customers. This is a local brewery that was started up by Sara in Stathern in the Vale and has now had to move to bigger premises in Grantham. Last month they won the Gold medal for their Pale Ale at the International Beer Challenge which surely means that we are selling at the Store the Best Pale Ale in the World!

Chris from Shirevale Creamery in Cropwell Bishop also scooped several awards for her Cheese at the Nantwich Show in Cheshire. Her White Stilton won a gold and was particularly acclaimed because it has 25% less salt in it than other white stiltons. (Watch out for this one on our Cheese counter). Her White Stilton with Mango and Ginger which we also sell landed Gold and Silver medals. Well done to both of these talented ladies for giving us great products to retail.

We have a growing number afficionados who come to the Store on Fridays and Saturdays to buy bread from Hambleton Bakery. This is a far cry from the steambaked pap one can buy in supermarkets and is mainly baked from a sourdough culture. As one of our customers says: 'It's bread with guts!' and has great lasting quality. If this is a bit much for some of you, they also bake a flavoursome Crusty White and delicious Muffins, Olive Breads and Focaccia. And we have added their fruit and almond tarts and treacle tarts to our cafe menu at the weekend. This is saying a lot because normally we would not entertain selling anything on our Garden Cafe counter that wasn't baked on the premises.

Moving onto something completely different. Have you ladies clocked the interest in Python skin this Autumn/Winter? This snake's distinctive pattern seems to be printed on everything this season from sweaters, to tights to dresses. But if you hanker after the real thing then head for the Store where Bags of Style have a fabulous selection of Vintage handbags in this striking skin which will instantly update your wardrobe.

Finally, as the kids go back to school and you prepare for Autumn let me remind you of the excellent classes and groups in Colston Bassett that are ready to welcome you back after the summer:

W.I. Meetings on 1st. Wednesday of each month Sue Makin, President on 01949 81269

The Wiverton Souper Bowl Homemade soup tea/coffee and homemade biscuits 12.20 - 2.00pm

1st. Thursday of each month Tai Chi, Lisa Brindley 10.00 - 11.00 01949 860013

Thursdays Yoga Roger & Angela Tuck 7.30 - 9.00 01159 335719

And further afield the Toot Hill Comprehensive School Evening classes in Bingham are entering their third year with a whole new programme to tempt you. Brochures available at the Store.

The Garden Cafe will be open on the following evenings:

Saturdays, 17th September, 1st October and 15th October.

We hope you've had a great summer and look forward to seeing you soon.

Jan