With no commute and a drastically reduced social calendar, we've got lots more time on our hands to learn something new. As keen foodies with our toes firmly in the food scene in the UK, the US and beyond, we've stumbled upon some excellent resources in recent weeks that are helping us through lockdown... From virtual events to podcasts, online guides to independent businesses now offering delivery, we hope some of these things will help you to stay occupied and keep your foodie fire burning (even if we can't eat at our favourite restaurant!)
GET INVOLVED
Quicke's Cook Along with Patrick Spinazza
On Friday 1st May at 7pm, join Quicke's Account Manager and former chef, Patrick Spinazza for a live Cook Along on Instagram.
British Cheese Weekender
The early May bank holiday weekend is when we'd usually be seeing friends and checking out a new spot to eat. This year will definitely look a little different in lockdown, but thanks to the Specialist Cheesemakers Association, Academy of Cheese, the Guild of Fine Food, and cheese writer/campaign founder Patrick McGuigan, 8-10 May sees the inaugral British Cheese Weekender hit your screens. With virtual tastings, talks and masterclasses on Facebook and YouTube, the weekend is all about encouraging participants to support small cheesemakers and retailers like us.
Buy some British cheese, pair it with wine, beer and cider, discover how to create the perfect cheeseboard and learn about cooking with cheese. Find out more here.
'Tuesday Night is Cheese Night' Live Cheese Tastings
Brought to us by Academy of Cheese, it turns out Tuesday nights in lockdown just became cheese night - and we've got no complaints. Each Tuesday AoC will go live on YouTube at 8pm to bring you a guided cheese tasting session. Simply grab your cheese, a drink, your device and join in the fun and up your cheese knowledge (times may vary). Subscribe to their YouTube channel here and catch up on the previous weeks episodes.
LISTEN
The Coronavirus Podcast with Nigella Lawson
Who'd have thought the queen of indulgent cooking Nigela Lawson would be the person we link to during a crisis? But during a recent interview on the BBC's The Coronavirus Podcast, Nigella gave some really relatable tips, recipes and go-to ingredients for quarantine cooking. Listen here.
Keep it Quirky Podcast
Katie Quinn podcasts about creativity & entrepreneurship, food & travel, and the discipline and drive to create. With episodes like 'Starting a food business in France' and 'The Fuss About Natural Wine & the Cheesy Decisions Behind Cheddar', you're guaranteed to learn something new. Listen here.
Paxton & Whitfield
Get a serious insight into the cheese world through this series of podcasts from London's famous cheese shop covering everything from cheese types to cheesemaking techniques. Listen here.
Is This A Brie
US-based Christine Clark brings us this entertaining podcast where we geek out about all things cheese. From late night cheese snacks to the best cheese to serve at parties, these are light and quick episodes that you can stick in your ears on your daily walk. Listen here.
Table Manners by Jessie Ware
The lovely Jessie Ware sits down with her Mum and a new guest each episode to talk about food, family, and the beautiful art of having a chat, direct from her very own dinner table. With guests like Jay Rayner, Yotam Ottolenghi and even Ed Sheeran, we get a rare insight into the foodie lives of celebrities and their favourite dishes. Listen here.
Desert Island Dishes
Born out of her lifelong passion for food, Desert Island Dishes sees Margie sit down with a wide variety of fascinating people - from Prue Leith, Anna Jones and Ruth Rogers to the Hairy Bikers - to talk about the food that has shaped their lives. Listen here.
The Kitchen Cabinet
Jay Rayner hosts a culinary panel show packed full of tasty titbits that might change the way we think about food, cooking and eating. Find out interesting new ways to cook with Jerusalem artichokes, how to use up a bag of dried figs, and what takes the panel show participants closest to food heaven. Listen here.
Food In Music
This one's a bit of fun, but if you're missing foodie frolicks with your friends, why not pour a drink, get on Zoom and play this playlist featuring songs about food brought to you by Taste Festivals. Listen here.
BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today
Listen to this podcast for the latest news about food, farming and the countryside. (We've even been featured ourselves). Listen here.
BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme
From cookbook reviews to bigger topics like 'The Future of Meat', The Food programe is an investigtion into every aspect of the food we eat. Listen here.
TV SHOWS
Daily Kitchen Live
Food writer Jack Munroe and author of Tin Can Cook and Cooking On A Bootstrap joins Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt to help inspire people with cheap and easy quarantine cooking ideas. Watch Daily Kitchen Live weekdays from 10am on BBC one for all your culinary quarantine needs. Or watch on catch up here.
ONLINE GUIDES
BBC's Gardening Guides
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/
RHS - Beginner's Guide to Gardening
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/beginners-guide
RHS - Grow Your Own Fruit & Veg
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own
Food Revolution Network
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/reduce-food-waste-regrow-from-scraps
ORDER BRITISH ARTISAN FOOD ONLINE
Bailey & Sage https://www.bayley-sage.co.uk/
Buchanan’s http://www.buchananscheesemonger.com/
Carron Lodge https://www.carronlodge.com/
Cheese Merchant https://www.cheesemerchant.co.uk/
Darts Farm https://www.dartsfarm.co.uk
Farmdrop https://www.farmdrop.com/
Fine Cheeses https://www.finecheesesltd.co.uk/
GAIL's https://gailsbread.co.uk/
Greendale Farmshop https://www.greendale.com/
Harvey & Brockless https://www.harveyandbrockless.co.uk/
Hawkridge https://hawkridge.uk.com/
Heritage Cheese https://www.heritagecheese.uk/
Peterley Manor Farm http://www.peterleymanorfarm.co.uk/
Rowcliffe https://rowcliffe.co.uk/
The Estate Dairy https://www.theestatedairy.com/
The Cheese and Wine Shop of Wellington http://www.thecheeseandwineshop.co.uk
The Cheese Hamlet https://thecheesehamlet.co.uk/
The Cheese Truck https://www.thecheesebar.com/
Sharpham Cheese https://sharpham.com
Veg In A Box https://veg-inabox.com/
West Country Plough to Plate http://www.apassionforfood.co.uk/
Whole Foods https://www.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk/