Food & Drink

MORE than 300 people gathered in Northwood Hills for a Big Lunch street party yesterday (5).

Defying the looming storm clouds, members of the community shared a picnic at the green space in Salisbury Road.

HUNDREDS of people are set to descend on Rickmansworth for the annual May Fair this Saturday (14).

The hugely popular event, which is organised by local scout groups, takes place as part of celebrations to mark the 57th Ricky Week.

The fair will see the crowning of Miss Rickmansworth by the Rickmansworth Society, plus there will also be live music, funfair rides, a Pimms tent, barbecue and cakes and plants for sale.

A WINE-tasting evening took place in Rickmansworth on Saturday (5) to mark Fairtrade Fortnight.

Three Rivers Fairtrade Group organised the event, held at Rickmansworth Catholic Church, as part of the national campaign to encourage people to choose Fairtrade products when they shop, and help fledgling producers in developing countries.

CONTAMINATED batches of organic sprouts were discovered by environmental health experts at a Rickmansworth supermarket, prompting a national recall.

A hygiene inspection last week by Three Rivers District Council at Waitrose, in Homestead Road, led to a positive laboratory result for salmonella on the vegetables, supplied by Aconbury Sprouts Ltd.

The laboratory examination, which was conducted by the Health Protection Agency, has led to a national recall of the supermarket's Organic Mixed Sprouts and Organic Rainbow Salad, both with use-by-dates of February 19.

A FARMERS market and craft fair to raise cash for charity will take place in Mill End this Saturday (19).

The event will feature a selection of locally-sourced produce including beef, pork, gammon, cheeses, cakes, fruit and vegetables, honey and jams.

There will also be a wide variety of handmade crafts including jewellery and handbags.

GUIDED tours of the Barton Way allotments in Croxley Green will take place this Saturday (14) from 10am to 12.30pm.

As part of National Allotments Week, visitors can take a peek behind the barbed wire and see what can be grown in even the smallest of spaces.

There will also be a taster table with items made from allotment produce, plus fruit, vegetables and garden sundries will be available for purchase.

Call 01923 721 067 for more information.

A BAKERY in Rickmansworth can boast one of the best sour dough recipes in the country after claiming victory in the Great Taste Awards.

Cinnamon Square, in Church Street, won a gold star rating for its wheat and rye sour dough bread at the national annual competition, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

FOOTBALL fans in Northwood Hills can enjoy free pizza during England matches - if they happen to share their name with a player in the squad.

Papa John's in Joel Street is offering complimentary pizza to one lucky fan for each of England's games as the team (hopefully) progresses in the tournament.

Amit Singh Anand, franchise owner of the Northwood Hills store, said: "The lucky winners who register via the Papa John's Facebook page will get the Papa John's VIP treatment for all the matches.

A CROXLEY Green watering hole is celebrating after being named pub of the year by local real ale fans.

The Sportsman, in Scots Hill Close, won the title after impressing beer lovers at Watford and District CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), a local arm of the national organisation which promotes real ale and the preservation of traditional pubs.

Licensee Tracy Soden, who runs the pub with her husband, Jason, said she was 'gobsmacked' by the news, not least because they took over the tavern little more than two years ago in February 2008.