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World's largest Lancashire hotpot

Lancashire's food and drink year for 2008 launched

Lancashire, arguably one of the best areas in Britain for food and drink, has launched Taste Lancashire 08 - the Year of Food and Drink in partnership with Liverpool's 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The county renowned for Lancashire hotpot, Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, Lancashire cheese, black pudding, Pendle Witches Brew and Sarsaparilla launched the year-long campaign in Garstang (Wednesday October 10) by creating the world's largest Lancashire hotpot.

Loyd Grossman, as Patron of Taste Lancashire 08, and Councillor Lady Dulcie Atkins, chair of the Garstang & District Partnership, were on hand to stir the hotpot and sign the Guinness World Records forms. They also highlighted the town's forthcoming food festival, the first ever Garstang and Bowland Banquet from October 19 to 26.

Click here for The Blackpool Gazette's article about the record attempt and view their video link too!

Taste Lancashire 08, being co-ordinated by Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, will feature food and drink events and festivals, itineraries for foodies, gourmet breaks, themed promotions such as a picnic month, competition prizes including attending cookery schools, celebrity chef recipes and the latest food and drink news from the county.

Details of all eateries, that have been accredited through the tourist board's quality assessment scheme (nearly 90 since the scheme's creation last year) and the promotion of the Lancashire Hot Shots scheme for young chefs to develop their kitchen skills, will also feature.

A website, tastelancashire08.com, has been set up to carry information on the year.

The giant hotpot, now awaiting confirmation as a world record, was made by army chefs from Weeton Barracks near Blackpool helped by three trainee chefs from Lancaster and Morecambe College. They used local ingredients sourced from the Garstang area and based the dish on a 1936 traditional hotpot recipe which is very similar to Betty's Hotpot from ITV's Coronation Street. Local produce used included 75lb Bowland lamb, 75lb award-winning onions, 220lb potatoes, 15lb butter, salt & pepper, stock (made from carcass and vegetables), flour, herbs and spices.

The hotpot was cooked in a 12ft by 7ft tin weighing 200 kilos, crafted especially for the launch by local blacksmith Austin Warmsley.

Launching the year Loyd Grossman said: "Taste Lancashire 08 is going to be a very exciting promotion of all that's good about British food. Lancashire's diverse geography - including two areas of outstanding natural beauty and 136 miles of coastline - makes for a very special and lush place to grow quality crops, rear tasty meat, catch fish, create cheese and brew interesting beers. I hope through this campaign, people will be inspired to come and explore a Lancashire they perhaps never knew existed."

Councillor Lady Dulcie Atkins said: "It is good for Garstang to be chosen for this launch. As well as being the world's first Fairtrade town, we are fortunate to have a number of excellent award- winning food producers in our area supported by popular food shops, pubs and restaurants. It's nice to put Garstang on the map and be noted for good quality food."

Lancashire's focus on food and drink in 2008 is being supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of its regional role to promote and support Liverpool's cultural celebrations.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the Northwest Regional Development Agency said:

"2008 is not just a big year for Liverpool, but for the whole of the Northwest. When the spotlight shines on Liverpool next year, we want to ensure that the whole of the region is set to benefit from its legacy. By playing to its strength in regional food and drink, Taste Lancashire 08 will no doubt deliver a programme of top-quality events that will enhance and complement Liverpool's world-class line-up for its year as European Capital of Culture."