Thropton baker to feature in Taste event

Posted by The Journal on Oct 24, 09 11:51 AM in News

Heather Foggon's smallholding at The Chirnells, Thropton, where she cooks for The Chirnells Farmhouse Kitchen, is always filled with the scent of baking.

"I produce everything in my own kitchen. It's meant I have to have six stoves put in but everything is made there."

Heather Foggon in her kitchen at Thropton

She is delighted to be taking part in The Journal's Taste event at the Metrocentre next weekend, on Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, describing
the event as a "happy family get-together".

The Chirnells Farmhouse Kitchen will feature on a stall alongside great producers, including everyone from Beckleberry's to The Northumbrian Cheese Company.

Heather's ovens are always on the go to make sure plenty of baked goods are available at her stall.

"Currently its Christmas puddings," Heather says, "but over August Bank Holiday I made over 2,000 scones."

Heather, who is married to Christopher, 49, a careworker for Age Concern, has always baked since she was a child.

For 13 years she and her mother, Avril Easton, ran The Sun Kitchen in Rothbury. Heather quit The Sun Kitchen when her mother became ill. She remembers: "After she passed away my friends said 'why don't you start doing farmers' markets?'"

Heather says most of the recipes she uses have been handed down through the generations and her philosophy on food is "farmers' market rules".

She adds: "I use as much local produce as I can, I never buy in to sell, I make all the produce myself."

The Chirnells Farmhouse Kitchen have taken part in festivals from Langou in France, to the north of Scotland.

But Heather says she enjoys working in the North East the best.

"The same people come back, and the Taste events are always fantastic."

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