What an experience – 18th May - attending the BBC Best British Menu Banquet hosted by TRH’s The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.  We finally were told the venue of the event was to be held in the Bath Assembly Rooms .

Beautiful chandeliers  overhead and the scent of the summer flowers  filled the room arranged on the circular tables and also on the 5 marble fireplaces with silver candleabra a lite, the polished wood floor glowed and the cold wine flowed – getting poetic – as the occasion certainly was a feast for the senses.

Cameras were everywhere – on the balcony the chefs popped up and looked over to see how we all were enjoying thier food,  often caught on camera with a mouth full saying ” this is gorgeous” and ” chips to die for” a truly super meal .

To start , rabbit & leek turnover with piccallili – little parcels of moist marvels,then what I called a posh fish finger but it was so good – mackerel fillet  with gooseberry jelly -really had to be eaten to believe the flavours – followed by slow cooked duck with duck fat chips & gravy – THE MOST divine taste especially the little pot of duck leg pea and lettuce with a little shredded mint salad which did not get a mention on the menu, it was summer in a pot – and to finish a strawberry jelly that just ooused berryness with poached rhubarb hidden in it and a tube of lavender icecream rolled in crushed honeycombe served in a caramel tunnel.

We had a long drinks before the meal and chatted to the other farmers and producers some from Ireland and Scotland – so interesting to hear of their lives.  Then we met HRH Prince Charles and as you do,talked about spotty pigs, he is a fan of Gloucester Old Spots too.

I have to say we did enjoy the evening – which must have been a nightmare to organise – well done BBC and all the girls at Optomen TV.

Our chef Henry Herbert did not get through to the final but maybe we will get the chance to use our produce again for the programme.