PHOTOGRAPHS: TOBY SCOTT, SUE LACEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Could it really be summer? We’ve had a few false starts this year and I hardly dare to hope. The barbecue has been hosed down and bufed (I am that sad person), the pots planted up and the forest of dandelions excised so, for once, all is set for warm days in the Barnes back garden.
Meanwhile, on the food front, strawberries, broad beans, peas and gooseberries (to name just a few favourites) are at their British best. It’s a time of plenty – both in nature’s larder and in the general feeling of bonhomie that comes with early summer, and every recipe in this issue celebrates the riches food lovers have come to look forward to so much.
It’s all about the produce, which brings to mind our Produce Awards. All our winners over the years have been exciting and worthy of their accolade – people who dedicate their lives and their passions to producing outstanding food. On p56 you can meet the Cole family from Broughgammon Farm near Northern Ireland’s wild Antrim coast. I love their tales of adventure, fun and ‘Houdini’ (escape-artist) goats that show a down-to-earth side of what can be a challenging life. The Coles’ goat bacon is one of the best products I’ve had the privilege to taste in our Produce Awards and it’s worth seeking out.