What seems like months ago but was actually the 10th and 11th March, myself and Kate were at the NEC for the 'British Travel Trade Fair'. The show is for Coach Operators and Group Travel Organisers looking for ideas and inspiration for coach travel in the future (planning for 2012 is underway already don't you know!). It was only fair that we treated them to an array of our stunning produce in order to lure them to Lancashire for Food and Drink based trips.
We had one of our stands focused purely on Food and Drink and had a brilliant array of 'tasters' for people to try. All the produce was from places that cater for the groups market such as the Fudge Factory in Rossendale. This fab fudge has a new home with more for the visitor (including a Fudge Theatre)- and the most sublime fudge (in the world???).
There was fine praise for cheese from the Lancashire Cheesemakers. The exclamations over the 'Tasty Lancashire' were brilliant to hear. People seemed truly shocked at how great the cheese was and were all dying to know where they could buy it. Of course we encouraged a trip to Lancashire to do this......
Two things that started to get to us during the show were the explanations of a Chorley Cake and Sarsaparilla. If we had a penny for every time we said 'yes, it's a bit like Dandelion and Burdock' or 'an Eccles cake is flaky pastry and sugar on the top but a Chorley Cake is shortcrust pastry and no sugar' we would both be wearing a fine pair of expensive new shoes.
The other samples we had were many and tasty, including Pendle Witches Brew from Moorhouses and Farmhouse Biscuits from Pendle. With all of this and our resulting popularity the show flew by and before we knew it we were fighting our way back up the M6 - happy to not only convert people to the fine spread of produce from Lancashire but also about 1/2 a stone heavier from grazing on the irresistable treats in front of us!
I'm already looking forward to doing the September show at the NEC... last year we had the brilliant Mrs Dowson and her magical ice-cream. Now my ambition is to have a stand that will get every coach organiser in the UK on at least a 3 day food and drink group trip in Lancashire (.. aiming too high????...)
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