8th July 2007 – The Slow Food Cornwall Hog Jam

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Cornwall’s Geography is a major factor in what makes it such a unique visual and gastronomic destination. The stunning coastline encapsulates a county of diversity with a climate that can produce a delicious variety of produce. The ocean is as much a part of Cornwall as the land is and the Hog Jam event sought to celebrate the pleasures of taste and leisure that epitomise Cornwall.

Beach barbecues and surfing make up an integral part of the lifestyle of your average Cornish resident. Even if you don’t take to the water on a board, most weekends in the summer have us dashing for the nearest beach to enjoy what millions of tourists arrive for every year. Local people often get overlooked in the local social and financial economy. As Slow Food is all about the local economy, this event was generously sponsored by donations from all the companies listed below. This help keep the prices down so more people could enjoy the food on offer.

The Hog Jam combined a day of free surfing, live art installations a market of local produce and wares, BBQ and fresh local salad with the centre piece of a whole Large Cornish Black pig reared on Tresorn Farm, by Nick and Karen Stickings of the Cornish Pig Company. The couple rear the animals which are locally slaughtered and brought back to their farm to the butchery or made into delicious sausages and bacon served up in the café as part of the epic ‘Herdsmen’ breakfast. They also run a delightful farm shop which keeps its process as low as possible to encourage more people to shop local.

The roasting pig kept eyes and noses busy throughout the day as it cooked to perfection as a day of perfection unveiled itself after weeks of heavy rain. In an attempt to dispel the elite image of Slow Food, the chosen venue was the Treyarnon Bay YHA  as they already support local producers and stock the best of Cornish Ales including the various Skinners Ales from the eponymous brewery a few miles down the road in Truro. Steve and Sarah Skinner join Camel Valley in producing award winning beverages with a distinctly Cornish character, one particular character graces the most popular ale; ‘Betty Stoggs’ is a fabled fish wife of old Cornwall and a delicious accompaniment to a day on the beach.

No beach BBQ would be complete in Cornwall with out the bounty of the sea gracing the plates of diners. Surrounded by the ocean, fishing and Cornwall are inseparable and Presidia producers Nick & Mithe Howell of The Pilchardworks provided pilchards for the BBQ with expert instructions on how best to devour the silvery delights, negotiating the bones for the delicate flesh.

The lighter fare came direct from Riverford Organics, who, although based in Devon, source much of their produce from Cornish Farmers. This meant that vegans and vegetarians were equally catered for with wonderful baby plum tomatoes which lend themselves equally well to fresh salad or veggie kebabs as well as numerous other fresh salad vegetables and robust baking potatoes whose flavour need only the simplest enhancement of a pinch of salt and pepper and a knob of butter.

The day cruised by with free surfing on old ‘Hog’ longboards and funboards and the kids were entertained by a hearty Piñata bashing session with. Local musicians underscored the day with free acoustic sessions for a very happy and relaxed audience. As all contributors had supported the day free of charge, including media partner Stranger Magazine, the whole event was a relaxed and authentic experience which welcomed everyone young and old and fed them very well with some of Cornwall’s best produce for a very decent £10!

The evening rounded off with a raffle of wonderful prizes supplied by a surprising number of sponsors from the boardsports world like Etnies and ES who caused a sticker frenzy amongst the kids. Some local companies such as Dodopad who make a fantastic ‘Book For Cooks’ which helps protect your recipes from ‘extinction’. The Eden Project helped out by lending a pair of recycling bins that ensured the beautiful location was left as it was found.

New friends were made, hugs and words of pleasure exchanged between sunkissed smiling faces and a little bit of Slow Food soul went home with every guest.

The Pilchardworks - www.pilchardworks.com

The Cornish Pig Company – www.cornishpigcompany.co.uk

Treyarnon Bay Youth Hostel – 0870 770 6076

Stranger Magazine – www.stranger-mag.com

Skinners Brewery – www.skinnersbrewery.co.uk

Camel Valley Vineyard – www.camelvalley.com

Dodopads – www.dodopad.com

The Eden Project – www.edenproject.com