Eat - and Read - Locally

28 November 2005

Since we moved out from London, we’ve been more and more conscious about buying local produce. It’s not because somebody told us we should, but we naturally started feeling that way – seeing farming as we travel locally seems to instil a connection with local produce. After all, why buy food that has travelled across the country (and often across the world) when you can get it (and much tastier!) from producers on your doorstep.

We can get wonderful produce in East Anglia (which covers Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex), but if you live in the UK and consider yourself a foodie, you would know that Cornwall and Devon are definitely among the most desirable places – especially for seafood. Rick Stein is one high-profile resident whose restaurant has helped to promote food in the region – and the general level of food-awareness there is definitely higher than in most other places.
 


I’ve recently had the pleasure of working for a local food magazine called food based in Devon – they publish bi-monthly in Devon and Cornwall. I was asked to take a Christmas issue cover shot as well as doing the styling – it was a challenge but I really enjoyed it and I was happy to be a part of the local (albeit not to me) food scene. It’s not a big magazine, but I was really impressed by the amount they cover – cooking tips from top chefs, interviews with local producers, markets and food events, where to eat out and travel guide – I wish we had such a good local food magazine in our area! So if you live in Devon and Cornwall, grab a copy (it’s free!) from nearby cafes, restaurants, Waitrose or Habitat, as well as farmer’s markets. They are currently running a campaign: ‘Be a local foodie – support local food and farming’.
 

Misc        24 comments    Permalink

  • It’s a good job you didn’t get snowed in down there, my sister told me they were airlifting food to some kids snowed in at a devon school.

    Well,Congrats on the gig Keiko, you truly deserve the recognition.

    I spent all my childhood summers in the Padstow area so am very familiar with Ricky-Boy. I have his first 2 cook books with me here in SF and I will never forget the time he cut his finger on the mandolin (on TV) Aside from his fancy place in Padstow he has another cafe where you can buy cheaper food and dont need advance reservations. I remember his smoked haddock pasties fondly. Scrumptious. Cornwall is one of my favourite places in the entire world. That’s where I’ll lay myself to rest eventually, I think.

    Posted by sam | 28 November 2005 #

  • Congratulations on the job Keiko, they’d sure be pleased with what you come up with for them. I took a quick browse in the linked site, and it did look they’ve got quite a coverage. Thanks for sharing!

    Posted by chika | 28 November 2005 #

  • Congratulations Keiko!

    Posted by dilek | 28 November 2005 #

  • Very nice! I’v been reading your blog for some month now and like the photos. What do you do for a living, are you photographer?

    Posted by Elia | 28 November 2005 #

  • congratulations and well done!

    Posted by s. | 28 November 2005 #

  • hi keiko! congratulations, and you certainly did a great job from the look of thing - well done! have been your fan since i discovered this blog, and will continue to be.. :)

    Posted by Lil | 28 November 2005 #

  • Hi Keiko, congratulations, that is very exciting news!

    Posted by Michele | 28 November 2005 #

  • Well done, Keiko! I knew you’d end up doing professional photography. Now where can I buy that magazine? I don’t think my local newsstands have them.

    Posted by celiaK | 29 November 2005 #

  • Congrats on your opportunity, Keiko - its good to hear that nice things really do happen to nice people. I hope the magazine brings you the exposure you deserve!

    Posted by emily | 29 November 2005 #

  • Brilliant Keiko. Congratulations.

    Posted by Barbara | 29 November 2005 #

  • Keiko-san

    おめでとうございます♪

    すごーい、ぜひそのマガジン見せてくださいね。

    Posted by Sagami | 29 November 2005 #

  • keiko,

    kudos to those who support local produces.it not only support local farming econmically. It could also pave way for more environmental conservation as well as more organic & sustainable agriculture system.

    the effects of global markets, imho, have sort of depleting resource from one end to meets the demands of another. often resulting in overharvesting of resources that couldn’t recover in time to.

    so sometimes, I felt guilty of eating the salmon (which not local in my region) and hence I often attempt to eat locally available food (when possible) in whatever country I travelled to.

    Congratulations on getting your (?first?) local food mag assignment. can’t wait to see your masterpiece on their website.

    Posted by slurp! | 29 November 2005 #

  • Hi Keiko, It is wonderfull that you worked for a foodmag. What an opportunity!

    Keep up the good work.

    I also try at school, exams are approaching and the lots of work that come with that too... :-)

    Greetings

    Shanna

    Posted by Shanna | 29 November 2005 #

  • おめでとうございます!! (^_^)

    I have never seen this magazine, perhaps I should go out more? I will try to look for this copy in particular. well done!

    Posted by fiordizucca | 30 November 2005 #

  • congrats keiko... where can I get the mag? maybe celia can get me a copy...

    Posted by sha | 30 November 2005 #

  • Hi Keiko,

    Congratulations! I’m sure you did a wonderful job and I’m not surprised that they asked you to take the cover photo AND help do some styling for the magazine. Your photos here at the site always look so beautiful and professionally composed.

    Posted by Reid | 1 December 2005 #

  • Congrats! Let’s hope this is the start of more and more food bloggers getting more and more professional gigs. Of course, not all of us have your skills.

    Posted by Chubby Hubby | 1 December 2005 #

  • Congratulations on your success - well deserved. Your styling is always breathtaking (and appetite inducing).

    Cheers.

    Posted by tara | 1 December 2005 #

  • Very cool! I am so NOT surprised to see that you’re moving on to official publications. You have a real talent, and I’m glad you’re finding more opportunities to show it off.

    Posted by Alice | 1 December 2005 #

  • Hi there, thanks so much for all your kind words!

    Sam - Matthew’s mum was stuck in the traffic in Wales on the same day, she couldn’t get home for two days! I know you are fond of Ricky-Boy :) I like Cornwall too, it’s a shame I haven’t been to his place yet.

    Elia - I don’t work as a photographer, although I really enjoy taking photos :)

    Celia, Sha - I don’t think you’ll find it outside the area, I’ll bring a copy next time I see you.

    Sagami-san - 今度お会いする時、持って行きますね！

    Slurp - I totally agree with you; I wouldn’t say I never go to the supermarket or anything, but I think it’s important that people know about the fact and try to do what they can.

    Shanna - I’m glad you’re enjoying your new job, good luck and I’m looking forward to hearing more about it.

    Fior - Do you live in Devon? I’m not sure exactly where you can get it from, maybe you can ask them for more details.

    CH - I don’t think I have much skill, but I enjoy doing it. I’d like to take lovely shots like you do one day :)

    Posted by keiko | 2 December 2005 #

  • Keiko, i couldn’t agree with you more about supporting local produce. I constantly look to replace imported food with locally available ingredients. In the midst of it all, I think how the term "fusion" was created. You’ll never know what you’ll discover with the mix and match. The journey is a just as much an adventure. Good work with the magazine styling!

    Posted by steffles | 4 December 2005 #

  • Hi Steffles - thank you for your kind notes as always. I love your words ’The journey is a just as much an adventure’ :)

    Posted by keiko | 16 December 2005 #

  • I totally understand the idea of buyng fresh local produce of small production. Simething I really miss being in milan, even if with the restaurant businness we are pretty much on contact with a lot of small producers and always looking for new ones. ciao

    Posted by happycook72 | 5 February 2006 #

  • Hi Happycook - thank you for your notes and I’m glad you feel the same way. You must be able to get wonderful produce there...

    Posted by keiko | 16 February 2006 #

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