Branston, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of potatoes, celebrated the launch of this year’s Cornish New potato season with a spud-tastic event at Stennack Farm near St Ives.
Celebrating Cornish New Potatoes with a BBQ Event
In partnership with Tesco, Branston and its national Seasonal Spuds campaign, which celebrates the versatility of potatoes, hosted a delicious BBQ event educating guests on the Cornish New potatoes, which are freshly grown locally and supplied to Tesco stores nationwide through the summer months.
Engaging and Educating Attendees on Potato Versatility
Hosted by Cornish BBQ chef Marcus Bawdon of Country Wood Smoke and Branston’s Charlie Flack, better known as CharlieBoy_BBQ, guests were treated to a delicious menu of Cornish-inspired recipes demonstrated in front of them. These included a picanha steak with chimichurri sauce, spiced butter monkfish and a spiced butter charred hispi cabbage, all complemented by a smashed New potato salad, crushed New potatoes with chermoula dressing and hasselback New potatoes in a Vodka BBQ Sauce.
With BBQ season here, the pair shared their top tips, including adding flavour by building up layers of marinade, adding bone marrow to potatoes for extra flavour, using indirect heat when cooking vegetables, and how to have fun experimenting with food.
A Memorable Experience with Cornish Flavors and Fun Activities
The 30 guests, which included Cornish potato growers, local foodie influencers and bloggers, and representatives from Tesco and Branston, also enjoyed a selection of garden games provided by Cornwall Hire and hand-drawn caricatures by Cassie Kemp of Cornwall Caricatures.
Held at the picturesque wedding venue Stennack Farm, the evening included a talk from Ben Mitchell, procurement and agronomy manager at Branston, discussing the complexities of growing early Cornish crops. This was followed by a talk from Harry Holder, assistant veg and potato buyer at Tesco, sharing his enthusiasm for championing British seasonal produce.
Even the desserts were on brand, with Branston’s development technologist Sam Dunn cooking a tasty sweet potato brownie for dessert.
Guests were also treated to Cornish gin from local distillery St Sithney, and left with goodie bags filled with Cornish New potatoes, Cornish Sea Salt, Potato Vodka from Colwith Farm Distillery, aprons and earring dishes from Jo Downs Handmade Glass. There were also prize draws to win handmade glass wall art from Jo Downs glass and a bottle of Aval Dor Cornish vodka.
Cornish New Potatoes are some of the earliest UK mainland New Potatoes of the summer. Thanks to the milder maritime climate, Cornish farmers can plant their spuds well before spring arrives in the rest of the UK, and they’re freshly harvested to order while they’re still small and naturally sweet, with a delicate fluffy skin.
Available in Tesco stores from now until Mid-August, there are lots of recipes on Seasonal Spuds to help you make the most of Cornish New potatoes.
To find out more about Branston’s potatoes and lots of lovely recipes visit: https://www.seasonalspuds.com/blog/a-guide-to-cornish-new-potatoes-and-recipes-you-will-love/
