A good race and the best oysters known to humanity

or at least David and I at any rate. Last Thursday we took part in the final race of the season on board Moon (pictured above). I've been racing on her all summer, and can honestly say it's been a complete joy. God only knows what I'm going to do over the next 6 months until racing resumes.

Anyway, I digress... The last race is called the Silver Oyster race, and has two classes - one for the normal racing working boats, and the other for the actual dredging boats. I am happy to say that we won, although with only one other boat in our class and a super racing mastermind on-board it was a somewhat hollow victory. Racing commenced at 10 in the morning, and with this now out of the way we swiftly got on with the order of the day - drinking. Luckily empty stomachs were abated with a delivery of hot pasties and a cool box full of fresh Falmouth oysters, courtesy of Ranger.

I can honestly say (and I'm not alone here) that they were the best oysters I've ever eaten. Natives, rather than Pacific oysters are definitely my faves, and these did not disappoint. They tasted absolutely of the sea, and were a perfect accompaniment to the day's celebration. Please support Ranger by visiting his site. All oysters are dredged, cleaned and delivered all by him and his crew, from the last wild oyster beds in Cornwall.

Open season

Today is the first day of the oyster (dredging) season, hurrah. Pictured above are two of the Falmouth Working Boats; the only fleet of oyster dredgers allowed to use wind or manpower for dredging oysters.

Bring on the festival: 15 - 18 October 2009

A fine time had by all

I've just got back from a long weekend in Falmouth, and boy oh boy do they make some stinky cheese down there! Hailing from Penryn (or 'ryn to locals) Menallack Farm make some particularly fine cheese, as sampled by me from David's plate (sorry David), at Ratho.

I really like eating at Ratho as they always seem to go that little bit further than others. For example, in offering fine cheese made about 5 miles outside of Falmouth, served with handmade biscuits made on the premises - superb!

Sadly Menallack Farm do not seem to have a website, however they do offer a mail order service boasting a wopping 36 Cornish cheeses, 16 of which are made at the farm, in addition to another 5 from outside the county such as good ol' Montgomery's Cheddar.

No piccie, but I hope you'll forgive me... I seem to have been quite slack on the photo front recently, but promise to make it up to you.

On another note, dates for this year's Oyster Festival (again, in Falmouth) are 16-19 October. I should be teaching by then (all being well) so I do hope that falls in the half term!

Falmouth Oyster Festival

I headed back to Falmouth this weekend as it was the Falmouth Oyster Festival. David and I stumbled upon this last year, and it was such good fun we decided it was definitely worth going again. It worked out particularly well as the Beer Festival was on at the same time.

I've been aware of the Oyster festival for years, but for some reason never managed to make it along until last year. It's absolutely top - lots of funny bands, cooking demonstrations, LOTS of drinking and of course Falmouth oysters and seafood. My particular favourite entertainment-wise was the Old Glory Creole jazz Band with Lee Adewole: a bunch of old slightly Grandad-type looking chaps in white shirts, black trousers and skippers hats, well worth checking out if you ever should happen upon them.



Food-wise we an excellent mature cheddar from Worthy Farm (based out towards St Just), the best Scotch Egg I have ever eaten from The Primrose Herd, smoked crevettes from The Cornish Smokehouse, and of course more seafood than I could possibly mention here.

The beer festival was also excellent, held up at Princess Pavilions away from town itself, there were over 150 real ales for tasting, along with a Perry and Cider bar. Believe it or not, not a drop of cider passed my lips, as I'd already been on the Knocker since lunchtime, and was worried about peaking before the rugby game. Still, Helford River from Lizard Ales was particularly fine.

All in all it was a mighty fine weekend. I feel so proud to see Cornwall embracing good, local, fresh food in a way that seems only available to the few that can afford it elsewhere. Perhaps it's due to the distance it is from everywhere else, or the climate - people just seem to be so willing to give it a go, and be proud to produce something themselves.

Incidentally, picture-wise I realise there isn't an oyster in sight, but what can I say - I was happier eating them than taking pictures!