Chef Philippa says 'fill up' your family with local produce

Next month sees local food guru and TV chef, Philippa James, whet the appetite of Southport locals as Dobbies’ new Farm Foodhall welcomes guests for an evening of culinary treats.

Billed as the North West’s answer to Nigella, Philippa will be showing customers how to bring fresh ingredients from field to fork as part of her live cookery demonstration at Dobbies Southport on Wednesday 18th June at 6.30pm. With Dobbies Farm Foodhall as the backdrop and a wealth of locally sourced produce at her fingertips, Philippa will whip up a main course, dessert and a side dish which guests will also be able to sample.

Philippa says: “We are very lucky to have a wealth of delicious local ingredients right here on our doorstep in the North West and Dobbies’ Southport Farm Foodhall brings many of these innovative local suppliers together under one roof. These days customers are becoming increasingly aware of the ‘journey’ their food has been on and the distance travelled from production to plate, so it’s great to be able to pick up a pot of honey and know it is from bees just down the road, or slice up a mushroom, knowing it was grown locally.”

Philippa is no stranger to a live audience, having already appeared on BBC Radio Lancashire’s Ladies@Lunch ,  demo’ed as a special guest, alongside The Hairy Bikers, at the Lancashire Food Festival and she even has an avid fan base on You Tube! With an emphasis firmly on fresh, quality ingredients, Philippa says the Dobbies Farm Foodhall ethos sat comfortably with her own love of fresh ingredients. Philippa is a keen supporter of local farmers’ markets and endeavours to promote regional produce at Philippa’s …The Cookery School.

Part of the Dobbies Southport ‘Summer Fete Foodhall Evening’, Philippa’s demonstrations will be accompanied by the chance to meet and sample from many of the Farm Foodhall’s food and drink suppliers who share Dobbies’ passion for naturally good food. There’s also a tombola and a chance to guess the weight of one of the restaurant’s freshly home made cakes.  Tickets (£2.50) are limited and available in advance from the Information Desk at Dobbies Southport.                                              

For more information or to arrange an interview with Philippa James, please contact Dobbies Press Office:  Kerry Thomson 0131 561 6083 (kerrythomson@dobbies.com) or Rachel Walker 0131 561 6070 (rachelwalker@dobbies.com).