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Micheal Caines Academy Visit

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 12:18PM

Filed in: General Pipers Farm,

Last week we were visited by a group of students from the new Micheal Caines Academy at Exeter College. The academy, in partnership with City & Guilds, includes practical and theoretical workshops but also takes knowledge development beyond the classroom. Activities include masterclasses from the region’s leading chefs and producers. The aim is to connect students with the food and drink they will be using throughout their careers.

Having worked with Micheal for years supplying the Royal Clarence and Gidleigh Park, we were happy to show the students the processes here, from farm to fork. First of all Peter gave them a farm walk, showing them how we rear our animals and explaining the deliberate choice in using slow-growing breeds. The students then went to spend time with the butchers who showed them the carcasses, explained why we hang them for up to 4 weeks, and demonstrated the principles they work to to produce good quality cuts. Our chefs also talked the students through the pies and ready meals that they develop and produce in the Pipers Farm kitchen. Overall it was a good morning and we hope that the students got a lot out of it!

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A Farm Full of Fruit!

Monday, October 10, 2011 at 02:29PM

Filed in: General, Pipers Farm

At the moment, we have an abundance of beautiful fruit here at Pipers Farm. We've got lots of damsons, so many in fact that one of the trees split in two with the weight! There's also crab apples and cooking apples. We've made jam and have been snacking on the apples but we simply can't find a use for it all.

Thankfully we were put in touch with Hillside Speciality Foods, a local company who are renowned for their award-winning handmade fruit pastes, relishes, pickles and chutneys. Hillside is run to by two talented brothers, with chef backgrounds. They came recently, took away a hoard of fruit, and came back once they had turned it into some absolutely gorgeous products! We've tried them and they taste great, and we feel they will complement our meat perfectly.

We are now selling a selection of their other lovely products both in our Exeter shop and online. The chutneys go beautifully with our hams and the fruit pastes melt into gorgeous sauces which are the perfect accompaniment to a steak. Try one and let us know what you think!