Lots of beautiful, pink, forced rhubarb this week.
Not our own rhubarb yet as we don’t have heated sheds but perfect, pink stems harvested by candlelight in the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle. Our Rhubarb this week is from the sheds of Robert Tomlinson a fourth generation grower in Pudsey, midway between Leeds and Bradford and pretty much in sight of my childhood home.
Once one of the UK’s most valuable crops – strictly speaking, a vegetable not a fruit – it was one of the few sources of vitamin C in the depths of winter. Field grown two year old crowns are dug up in the late autumn after the frosts needed to trigger growth and then “planted” on beds of “shoddy” (a by-product of the Yorkshire wool industry) in low, dark heated sheds. The crowns burst into growth and force up long slender pink leaf stems in the search for light. Hand-picked by candlelight, the first, young, sweet stems have once again become hugely sought after.
We have the fresh stems available for sale in the shop but also have a deliciously pink cordial, Rhubeena, an equally pink Sorbet and Rhubarb and Ginger Ice Cream for sale in the restaurant this week. We also have a new cocktail on the menu – Tyke’s Tickle is a combination of Rhubarb, Gin and Fizz and might be the perfect drink to toast your partner over a Valentine’s meal at the farm this weekend!
Alternatively, you may prefer Oysters, Lobster or Beef Wellington – all are on the menu to tempt you tomorrow!
