Flavour

Cruel summer? With the driest Spring since 1961 we visit a Market Garden and an allotment to see how crops & plants have been affected in Cambridge. Steve Thompson goes foraging, and fermenting with Kombucha! We get the lowdown on Transition Cambridge on the importance of local food through great projects & groups, and discover gut & hormone friendly pasta courtesy of The Nuffin Man! Presented by Matt Bentman and Dr Sue Bailey.    

Matt Bentman and Alan Alder discover Alex Rushmer of Vanderlyle's approach to designing new dishes with exciting, and often novel, combinations of ingredients. The story behind Fin Boys' much praised prawn toast. How Mulino Handmade Pasta succeeds by adapting to changes in the market. A visit to SweetPea Market Garden to find out how careful, environmentally sensitive growing produces excellent fruit, vegetables and salad crops.

The local market garden that grows tea and South American root vegetables alongside traditional salad crops, fruit and vegetables and which is a haven for owls and bats. The reasons for the imminent closing of the highly-regarded Harvey's Coffee House. Ideas for asparagus from local chefs. And a new café opens in Cambridge.    

Asli's Cakes and Bakery with hot Dubai-chocolate strawberry cup, homemade croissants and cakes. Local and good: Sweetpea Market Garden and The Cambridge Juice Company, which is celebrating 25 years in business. A new wine shop opens at Burwash which is also selling local beers. Plus, free food in Cambridge, food and drink news, social media updates and a jobs roundup. Presented by Matt Bentman.

It's an Asian fusion night at the next Gwydir Street Supper Club, Kirstan Horne talks about the food and the inspiration from his recent trip to Japan. Eastern European Cuisine on Cambridge Market: borek, pirozhki, placinte and others. The nose-to-tail banquets at Parker's Tavern. Ideas for rhubarb. Lots of food and drink news too, a jobs roundup and free food in Cambridge.  

Christ's Kiosk (and the one on Jesus Green): revitalised and foodie friendly. Noshe's Iftar menu, its other Ramadan offers and its remarkably good value. Steve Thompson on current foraging and his private dining work, with Cong Cong Bo providing matching wines. Tim Haywards' new column for the Financial Times, and what it is like reviewing restaurants.

The Coffee Founders Panel spill the beans on the pleasures and pressures of running a coffee shop, from laptops to lattes and flat whites to finances. The Pasta Bar, run by an Italian family and popping up around Cambridge. Tine Roche on classes at Cambridge Cookery, the favourites and her outstanding guest chef tutors. Chet Valley Vineyard, the grapes, the blends, the tours and the food.    

Darwin Coffee Society's tour of the city's coffee shops – what they find. Baking breads from around the world, Hot Numbers' Head Baker talks about his current project. Chet Valley Vineyard, the wines, the food, the tours.

A cafe, bar and arts space that help to honour the legacy of Syd Barrett. Inder (ex-Inder's Kitchen) returns with a pop up of Indian food. Details of a Latin American supper club whose first night approaches. Spanish food on Cambridge Market. Plus, food and drink news, free food in Cambridge, social media updates and a jobs roundup.

A stunningly stylish, deliciously different new café opens in the centre of Cambridge whilst another celebrates its first 25 years. Meanwhile, a café in Mill Road has new owners and a rather different menu. Plus, the principles behind Flourish Farm and Farm Shop.

A look back at some of the stories we covered in 2024: the local food trucks, markets, coffee shops, bakers, writers, growers beekeepers, cattle, providers of free food and chefs.

The Mill Road Winter Fair cancellation and how it affected traders. A home bakery leaves Washington DC and opens in Cambridge. What the people of Cambridge and local chefs and wine experts will be eating at Christmas. What to cook with the Christmas dinner leftovers. Plus local food news, job vacancies and social media updates.

Food and drink at the Mill Road Winter Fair. Christmas dinner wine recommendations. Winter Foraging. A trip to Trumpington Allotments. Plus, lots of food news, including a top Cambridge chef popping up at Claridges, Fin Boys' piloting of a new idea in January, and Vanderlyle's shop.

A Supper Club begins in Gwydir Street. We catch up with Tine Roche of Cambridge Cookery. There's wine recommendations to go with game. We talk about the Cows on Cambridge's commons. Visit the cafe at Esse in Melbourn, plus free food in Cambridge, social media updates and jobs. Presented by Matt Bentman & Alan Alder.

A highly regarded local chef who adjusts the flavour of a dish by how it smells whilst cooking. A visit to Northstowe Tap and Social to find out how it is providing an important social hub for the community. Darwin Nurseries, what fruit and veg they're growing and the people who work there. Plus, lots of local food and drink news, sources of free food, social media updates and local jobs.

Ellimatta, a highly praised new cafe set up by a couple new to this country with no local food links, no previous experience and who make almost everything themselves. How they did it. Cambridge's wine shops, how they coexist and what's good to drink at Bacchanalia at the moment. Neera's highly praised curries, back at the Derby Stores.

On the track of The Wandering Herd, finding out why their meat is world class and how to get your hands on some. Tristan Welch on what he's been up to since Parker's Tavern, his future plans and his favourite Cambridge restaurant. Olio: a local free food distributor talks about their work, and Olio's founders speak.

Victoria from the new Victor Vitoria cafe in Sawston, Ben who runs the King Street Cellar in King Street and the Cambridge Cheese Company A celebration of the Cambridge Cheese Company's 30th anniversary; a look at how it has developed over the years, and at its new initiative enabling customers to try items they've not had before, at a much reduced price. And visits to Cambridge's newest wine merchant and to Sawston's newest café. Presented by Matt Bentman and Alan Alder.

A visit to Noshe, the wonderful new Afghan coffee shop and restaurant in Mill Road, and to Africfood which has opened up in Hills Road. Duncan Gammie of Wee Vinotecca provides wine and food pairing advice. What's available at Daily Bread, including their new home delivery service.  

Pascy Benedetto of The Rupert Brooke in Grantchester, Spencer Drake (top middle), Steve Thompson The Foraging Chef (right), and Victoria & Edvard Rothe of The Apothecary (bottom). A popular ex-Cambridge restaurant owner takes over a Grantchester pub; Tea Apothecary opens in Magdalene Street. Steve Thompson forages wild Mirabelle plums, wild fennel and other seeds; Bee keeping. Presented by Matt Bentman, Alan Alder and Sue Bailey.

Coming soon, one of the biggest gatherings of food trucks Cambridge has seen. As more very hot weather approaches, advice on which wine to drink with a barbecue. Cong Cong Bo talks about her series of wine and cheese pairing classes and news from the community garden on Empty Common.  

Summer menus, why some eateries change their menu while others don't, and what customers think. Korean-style corn dogs and other delights from Manna Seoul. A wine merchant that focuses on wine-food pairings. Dave Fox on the combined weed-slug menace hitting allotments now. Presented by Matt Bentman, Alan Alder and Sue Bailey.  

The future of Cambridge Market, what is planned, what the traders think and how you can have your say. The new Amelie restaurant, cafe and bake shop. Radmore Farm's online farm delivery service. With Matt Bentman and Sue Bailey.

A summer food and drink special, including advice from Alex Rushmer on building a salad, picnic foods from Culinaris, drinks from Bacchanalia and Gutter and Stars, pizzas from Scott's All Day, and summer cafe foods at Abantu

A Flavour Special, featuring Tim Hayward on his new book, Steak The Whole Story. A deep dive into cooking steak including reverse searing; steak history, including the 'monkey gland steak' and choosing a steak. Also Velvet magazine's top local food and drink heroes, a live tasting of durian ice cream and news from the New Radegund.

National Biscuit Day approaches, Rosie Sykes talks about their crunchy pleasures. From shop in Green Street to big name restaurant suppliers and then a return to more local provision, Kale and Damson tell their story. An allotment tale is told.

City centre food pleasures. Enjoying quality Caribbean cuisine alongside live music. Market Square burnt Basque cheesecake with Algerian coffee. How independents and their customers are affected by new import charges. Surviving lockdown, how the Cambridge Fruit Company did it. Getting on top of weeds in Good to Grow week.

Kitsch Hen reinventing the Scotch Egg with flavours like kedgeree and pork with black cherry. Indian street food on Cambridge Market. April foraging ideas. Allotment tips including extreme parsnip growing and Dave Fox's century allotment history project.

Alex Rushmer on Vanderlyle's first five years and what the future holds. Barry Vera of the Green Man in Grantchester on the importance of serving the local community and his ideas for it, also the full opening of the garden. Cambridges 'Cambucha'. Dave Fox on growing advice for Spring. Flavour is presented by Matt Bentman, Alan Alder and Sue Bailey.

Caroline Biggs on her new book telling the shocking story of the university's imprisoning of women who were out alone at night. But what did they get to eat?? The imminent opening of the Northstowe Tap and Social which will have a permanent Steak and Honour base serving a brand new product. A visit to a new and very stylish Cambridge cafe. The ex-restaurant owner in Cambridge who's switched from owning to franchising explains why.

Jennifer Marshall owner of Sourdough Hub The stories of two successful local bakers, one previously an international concert pianist, the other a recent winner of multiple baking awards. Exciting new lattes on sale at a Cambridge cafe. Life on Cambridge Market. Ideas for onions from Rosie Sykes. Lots of food and drink news, jobs and where to get free food from.

Developing new skills. Rosie Sykes on her new book that helps you build your own recipes. Spencer Drake on keeping bees. Food workshops in and around Cambridge. Foraging tips from Steve Thompson. Also, developments at Fin Boys and the end of the Radegund rebuild.

Rafael who runs the Pinchito's Spanish food stall at Cambridge Market one of three small features looking at food stalls on Cambridge Market. (Photo: Matt Bentman) Hot food on Cambridge Market; Frank's Farm in Elsworth; Rosie Sykes' potato recipes and Grantchester's Orchard Tea Garden. Matt Bentman and Dr Sue Bailey present.  

College chefs open their own restaurants, families open cafes, new cookbooks from Cambridge food authors, the latest happenings on beer and wine, and food foraging. The Flavour team take a look back over some of the stories they reported in 2023.  

What to eat at Christmas, Tim Hayward and others give their thoughts. Rosie Sykes cooks up some Boxing Day meals from the leftovers. And what to drink? Cong Cong Bo of Amphora advises on wines, and Crossover Blending introduces its aged oak beers. Lots of food and drink news too, free food and the jobs section.

Food and drink to look out for at the Winter Fair. Foraging news, including a rose hip syrup pour over for mince pies and Steve Thompson's foraging meal pop ups at Amphora. What's on offer at the new Grape Britannia shop. And great recipes for squash from Rosie Sykes.

Discovering what local independents have in store for Christmas eating and drinking. Afternoon tea and Christmas specials at Kibou. Buying a coffee machine as a present? Jake Bosworth from Coffee World has a summary of what's on offer, and his recommendations. Lots of local food and drink news too. Presented by Matt Bentman and Alan Alder

The day that Jay Rayner came, the behind-the-scenes story at Fin Boys. Bee Wilson's favourite Cambridge food places. Food for the Planet with Cambridge Sustainable Food and Tristan Welch. Barista training. Fish stew ideas. With Matt Bentman, Alan Alder and Dr Sue Bailey.

Bee Wilson, in an extended interview, talks about writing her first cook book, and how her career as a food writer began. As part of National Coffee Week, advice on making the best of your coffee at home. A new Sri Lankan restaurant and take away opens. Weekly seafood popups in two local pubs and ideas for fish pie. Plus local food and drink news and jobs.

How two local pubs bucked the trend of permanent closure and reopened successfully and how a local cafe adapted and prospered. Increasing your enjoyment of cheese, tips from a local cheesemonger. Getting the best from prime fish, tips from fishmonger Ben Roberts. The forthcoming Tuna Nights at Fin Boys. Also, lots of local food and drink news, chef jobs and where to get free food in Cambridge.  

An extraordinary dining event coming up at two Cambscuisine restaurants; our pick of the exhibitors at the Cambridge Food and Craft Fair; Cambridge's orchards and ideas for onion dishes from Rosie Sykes and Tristan Welch

Jams, crumbles, Pontack sauce, wine and vinegar! The humble blackberry & elderberry take the spotlight as we head into the fields with Steve Thompson the Foraging Chef. And we chat to a local team captain at Olio; the phone app that details free food available in your area. There's also a pick of the latest food news and jobs! Presented by Matt Bentman.