A tasty day out for gardeners at herb farm open day (From Gazette Series)

Local businesses work together to offer great day out

12:42pm Monday 28th March 2011 in Gloucestershire news By Liza-Jane Gillespie

WOULD-BE gardeners will get the chance to try some fine dining this spring thanks to two local businesses.

Jekka McVicar’s nursery in Alveston starts her new season of herb farm open days this weekend.

The herb farm is usually closed to the public so the open days are a unique opportunity for visitors to browse the 600 varieties of organic herbs that Jekka grows.

However, this year to make the experience extra special for visitors Chelsea Gold award-winner Jekka has invited Cam-based catering company Berry Blue Creative Food to run a bistro at the farm open days.

The bistro will offer visitors not only the chance to buy the herbs but to taste them as well.

"They offered me not just a solution, but a creative concept that would make our visitors happy," said Jekka.

There will be a brunch menu, bistro lunch and afternoon teas, as well as coffee, teas and cakes available all day.

Louise Brown, owner of Berry Blue, said: "We are so pleased to be working with Jekka McVicar, as she is a very respected herb grower and is passionate about good food.

"We’ve tried to create unusual and creative dishes to inspire people to use herbs in their food, not just as plants for the garden."

Visitors can expect to see dishes such as tartlet of wild mushroom and thyme served with Jekka’s Provencal salad mix, beef kofta tagine with Jekka’s bergamot and cous-cous salad, pitta bread, mint and yoghurt dip or lemon and rosemary posset with rosemary shortbread.

The first open weekend takes place on April 1, 2, and 3. For more information visit, www.jekkasherbfarm.co.uk