A chef with a passion for local produce has been making waves nationally with his Wild Shropshire project. James Sherwin, who’s based at Ternhill Farm near Market Drayton, has appeared on Countryfile and BBC Radio 4 talking about his Shropshire-focused cuisine.
James explains, “Wild Shropshire is an exploration of how our county tastes; French winemakers call it ‘terroir’. In reality, we’re looking at how the soil, the microclimate, the seasons and the farmers and artisans themselves affect the distinct flavour of what we produce in this beautiful county.
“Wild Shropshire was initially meant to be a year-long project. What started out as a small idea has now become the philosophy that completely encapsulates what, how and why I cook. The project is completely led by what grows and what can be farmed in Shropshire; this is not just paying lip service but having it completely underpin everything I do.”
And it seems his approach is paying off – Wild Shropshire has been awarded Best Artisanal Seasonal Cuisine in Shropshire by the Welsh enterprise awards and Restaurant of the Year – Shropshire by Lux Life magazine.