Healthy Eating: HARTNETT & HUGH - a 20th Birthday mash-up!

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We are thrilled to announce a very special event in the River Cottage 20th Birthday Calendar, as we welcome the renowned chef, cookery writer and broadcaster, Angela Hartnett MBE to River Cottage. Angela and her team will be joining Hugh and his team to create a fantastic 7-course feast at River Cottage HQ.

Angela Hartnett is one of the UK's most loved chefs and restaurateurs, known for her outstanding yet simple Italian-inspired cooking. She has written two successful cookbooks, and is chef-patron of Murano restaurant and café and Lime Wood Hotel and Restaurant. Angela is a regular on our TV screens, and this year's lead judge in the BBC Food and Farming awards.

Joining Angela to prepare the feast will be Lime Wood Head Chef Luke Holder, Neil Borthwick, Head Chef at French House and Emily Brightman Head Chef at Murano and Cafe Murano. Each of the four chefs will create one course of the spectacular seven-course dinner, with the three further courses being taken by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, his Executive Chef Gelf Alderson and Head Chef Dom Moldenhauer. The 7 chefs will collaborate on the menu which embraces their shared passion for local, seasonal, sustainably sourced produce. There will be a drinks pairing menu to complement the dishes including carefully matched wines, cider and an unmissable kombucha.

Guests will be welcomed by Angela and Hugh before the evening begins with an "in conversation" session and a Q&A. Angela and Hugh will talk together about their illustrious careers and shared passions, before handing over to their teams for the uniquely created seasonal seven-course menu with drinks.

It has been 20 incredible years since Hugh introduced us to his fantastic food philosophy in the Channel 4 series 'Escape to River Cottage'. As a campaigner, food writer and broadcaster, Hugh continues to blaze an ethical trail, challenging us to think about the provenance of our ingredients and encouraging us all to grow and cook as much as possible.

This autumn Hugh and the brilliant RC team will be hosting a special event for just 60 people, capturing and sharing the principles and passions of River Cottage. The day will be held at our beautiful HQ, nestled in the stunning Axe Valley on the Dorset/Devon border

Hugh and the team have planned an exciting autumnal schedule, which will include: a foraging foray on the farm with Head Gardner Helen Musgrave; joining Gill Meller for an outdoor cookery session; learning the art of fermentation with our tutor Rachel de Thample; a booze-inspired workshop in the 17th-century farmhouse. Hugh will join the event for a Q&A, book signing and aperitif before the evening feast.

Great food is at the very heart of River Cottage. Your culinary experience will begin the moment you arrive at HQ, from a welcome treat, a sharing board lunch and tasters throughout the day, culminating in a four-course dinner (plus canapés and petits fours) in our stunning 18th-century threshing barn. Hugh will introduce the finale of the celebration before leaving you in the capable hands of Head Chef Dom Moldenhauer and the talented kitchen team.

Hugh has been closely involved in planning this amazing day and says: "Autumn is such a bountiful time of year here at River Cottage. We make the most of every harvesting, foraging and preserving opportunity – so we wanted to capture this in a special seasonal event. This really is a "taste of River Cottage" - it's about what we do, what we stand for, the finest food we can make and of course 20 years of sharing the very best of River Cottage with you. I can't wait!"