Lend a Shed

Bit if a weird one, but Milford on Sea Community Centre are looking for somewhere to paint scenery for forthcoming show productions and the pantomime.

Previously the youth room in the Community Centre has been used, but moving the structures in and out constantly has became a real pain.

If anyone has a large spare shed, workshop or garage that they would be happy for the scenery men to work and store their scenery in for a few weeks, it would be gratefully received.

If you can help, please contact: Sue Whitlock on 01590 643404
susan@hwsolicitors.com

Flower & Produce Show Entries

The free entry form and schedules for the Milford on Sea Flower and Produce Show are now available at Gwen’s. The show takes place on the 21st July and it hopes to attract new and novice entries, as well as old hands to take part in the Greatest Produce Show in Milford.

There are lots of classes to enter including Craft, Photography, Baking, and more for the non gardeners, there are also childrens' classes to encourage a new generation to get involved in our village activities.

Admission to visit the show has been held at 50p and accompanied children are admitted free. Not quite the Chelsea Flower Show, but a lot cheaper and local fun!

Curry Cash for Hospital

Our local Indian Restaurant held a Hospital charity night went great raised £310 Thursday 19th April in association with Milford Hospital League of Friends.

The evening had a ticket price of £20, which included a 10 item ‘eat as much as you like’ buffet.

A good night was had by all, and half of the nights total ticket sales were donated to the charity, raising £310 for Milford on Sea Hospital.

http://www.zaikanewforest.co.uk/

What a Food Week!

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It was very difficult to identify which part of my body hurt the most come last Sunday evening.  Marathon runners talk about 'hitting the wall', well, us foodies suffer just as much when we 'hit the plate'.

Before Food Week kicked off, the Information Centre, housed in the promotional trailer generously lent by Shorefield Country Park, was open on the village green, and manned by a host of volunteers giving information to anyone passing.

Easter Bank Holiday Monday arrived, and Milford on Sea Food Week was underway with the CakeFest.  The weather felt like the end of the world, but it soon became clear that a few massive thunderstorms were not going to stop anyone getting to the cakes and WI lunch!

Milford on Sea, may be a small seaside village on the South Coast edge of The New Forest, but it is fast becoming recognised as a ‘Foodie Heaven by the Sea’, due to the wonderful selection of dining options provided by the twenty excellent places to eat in the village, and of course, the now annual Milford on Sea Food Week.

This year over 100 food related events took place, all involved local people organising, participating and enjoying a vast variety of fun food related activities.

Around 12,000 people visited a least one event over the seven days, some coming from miles around, and from every generation, young and old. There was plenty for everyone to enjoy whatever their age or preference, basically, if you love food, you will have loved Milford on Sea Food Week!

Milford on Sea Food Week included themed dining nights in all of the restaurants, wine talks and tastings, a food market featuring over 55 local producers and a surprise ‘Flash Mob’ performance by the village Total Voice Choir, community organised breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, lots of fun and educational activities for the children, food quizzes, live music dining shows, a professional Cookery Theatre which hosted renowned top chefs from across the New Forest & our own village, and which also included cookery demonstrations from local amateur village cooks, bakers, nutritionists, vegetarians, and chocolate, jam and chutney makers. A number of lucky diners jumped on ‘The Great Dining Bus’ to enjoy a separate course in four different village restaurants, and the two weekend headline shows, ‘An Evening with Tom Kerridge’ and ‘Comedy & Cake Night’ starring Jo Caulfield were both a storming success.

Milford on Sea Food Week is a fabulous demonstration of true community spirit in action, and all of the community group food events were fabulously attended, the village restaurants were all full, and all themed events and ticketed shows sold out. 

Many village shops have said that they benefited from the extra people visiting the village, and there were certainly people around who had booked a holiday to visit Food Week.  The thought of the tills ringing a bit more in our village centre shops is tremendous. 

The Sunday Food Market was also extremely busy, so we are thrilled that a lot of local businesses have been given a well deserved boost. Best of all, it was great to see the smiling faces on the kids, families & our older generation throughout the week.

In my mission to visit as many events as possible, my leg muscles now look like Steve Redgrave's on a bad day.  Fortunately, at most stops there was something tasty to eat, so the pain was soon eradicated for a minute or two!  It was quite pleasing to hear that most chefs and café owners in the village could hardly walk by Sunday!

The effort scores of volunteers put into making Milford on Sea Food Week such a spectacle is immense, none receive any fees or expenses, everything is done just to have a good time, promote our village businesses, and to provide enjoyment for the local community, with any profits going to local charities.  This year Wave Radio Cash for Kids and the Community Centre will be getting a £1000 cheque each.  Next year we would like to start a fund for something everyone would like to see in the village.  We don't know what yet, but we will be asking you early next year, so get your thinking caps on!

Throughout Food Week it is amazing how many people want to put themselves out to provide enjoyment for others, and it is great that every crumb of effort is repaid many times over when they all see the smiling faces and excitement about food!

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PS: The link below takes you to a video of the Total Voice Choir ‘Flash Mob’ singing at Milford on Sea Food Week Sunday Market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfVzmpaYOY&feature=youtu.be

The fourth Milford on Sea Food Week will happen all over again next year, from Bank Holiday Monday 1st April until Sunday 7th April 2013, so now seems a good time to get it in your diary. 

PS: Perhaps a note to diet a few weeks before might not be a bad idea as well!

PPS: Our first event for next year has already been planned.  There will be a 'Throw the Hot Cross Bun Competition' on the Seafront on the Monday 1st April.  There will be prizes for age groups Under 12, 12 to 16 yrs, 16 to 30 yrs, 30 to 40 yrs, 40 to 80 yrs, and Over 80 yrs.  Ah, got you guessing now, am I serious, or not?!

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

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Weekly MoS E-Newsletter: We would like more people to receive our weekly e-mail Newsletter which contains village news stories, silly local adventures and the ramblings of a big bloke in Milford!

Please e-mail all your friend and ask them to register.  All they have to do is send me an e-mail saying 'Please send me the newsletter' - send to: david@milfordonsea.org  Thanks!

Flash Mob Hit Food Week Market

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Around midday at the Sunday Food Market finale of Milford on Sea Food Week, the lucky thronging crowd were all taken completely by surprise.

As they happily shopped at the local producer stalls or enjoyed hot food from the stands or shops, music suddenly fired up with a familiar tune.  As they looked around to see what was happening, random people in the crowd started singing, with more and more joining in as the verses progressed.

With the song 'Food Glorious Food' ringing around the village green, the Total Voice Choir Flash Mob slowly appeared from the crowd and gathered in front of the Food Week Information Centre.  Still singing, the final choruses were enjoyed by everyone watching this surprise and fun entertainment.

The whole performance was a well kept secret in the village, so much so, that one member of the choir was standing with their family, and they all wondered whether she had lost it when she unexpectedly started singing in full voice!

If you would like to see our village choir's performance, you can see it below. (Turn up volume to hear the singing.)

click here to watch on YouTube

http://www.milfordonseafoodweek.org/

HSBC Cash Machine Stolen

It hasn't been really, but I like a dramatic headline.

You may have spotted that the hole in the wall ATM cash machine outside of what was HSBC Bank in Church Hill, Milford on Sea, has gone.  The hole which once held crisp new readies is now looking forlorn, lonely and boarded up.

My obvious fear was that the machine had actually been removed by the men in suits, however after a brief conversation with the builders on site, I discovered that it has simply been removed for three weeks while alterations take place inside the old bank building.

I also discovered that the bank is being converted into offices for a building company, by the new owners who's name is above the door. 

It is a bit of a shame that it isn't becoming a new shop, or something like a wine bar or bierkeller.   My personal choice of course would be a new restaurant.  By my reckoning we are still short of a Chinese, Steakhouse, Vegetarian, Classic Italian, Japanese, Tapas, Mexican, and Mongolian BBQ.  Perhaps by next Food Week some of these culinary gaps will be filled!

40 B4 40-The Jetty

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No. 11: After a pretty exhausting, but exhilarating, Food Week we decided a quiet night out was on the cards. We were joined by our good friends J&S, who were also recovering from an amazing week in their Milford on Sea restaurant.

We decided to go to The Jetty in Mudeford, Christchurch. Alex Aitken had been massively supportive during Food Week, so a visit to his award winning restaurant seemed a top idea.

On arriving we were given a very warm welcome. Alex himself was off for the evening, but he had left a very nice welcome note.

The Jetty is well known for serving fresh sustainable local fish, in particular, much of the fish comes directly from the fishermen on Mudeford Quay, which is part of the dramatic and ever changing view from the window.  I have fond memories of Mudeford Quay as a child and with my own children, so it is always nice to visit.

As we salivated over the various menus and price options, our drinks order was taken. We soon spotted that The Jetty has an unusual and creative ’While You Choose Menu’ in addition to their local produce set course menu with 2 courses for £17.95, or 3 courses £21.95, a full a la carte menu and a ‘blow you mind’ tasting menu.

We of course went for some of the dishes from the ’While You Choose Menu’ as we started on our first bottle of a very fine Californian Petite Sirah. The Tempura prawns, Tempura oysters with dipping sauce, Smoked salmon stuffed with soft herb cheese, and the ‘to die for’ marinated cockles got the evening off to a perfect start.

An evening out with J&S normally gets very messy quite early, and then ends with inappropriate loud singing, ‘S’ falling over at some stage and my wife with a hangover for several days. On this occasion our combination of aching muscles & tired brains, meant we simply had a refined and very enjoyable evening of conversation.

The main event was soon underway when one of my all time favourite starters arrived. Alex’s twice baked cheese soufflé is a true classic and every mouthful a delight. Others in our party had Poussin, foie gras & prune terrine with salad & truffle vinaigrette, Mudeford crab risotto topped with white crab meat & whole tempura tiger prawn, and Rustic salad with Parma ham & hens egg.

Every time I visit, I find it very difficult to resist the Christchurch bay fish and chips with tartare sauce, however, being a man of mystery and constant surprise, I shocked myself by going for Braised rabbit with pea risotto. J& S had Calves liver with leek and potato cake, sautéed onions, Hampshire watercress & a red wine sauce, Fillet of Dorset sea bream with chorizo, ratatouille and Hampshire watercress. My wife had Fillet of Dorset sea bream with crushed new potatoes, spinach and chorizo.

As the second bottle of Petite Sirah slipped down easily as we all enjoyed the sweets of Banana tart tatin with fudge ice cream & peanut brittle, Warm chocolate fondant with brownie and ice cream, and a Rhubarb mille feuille, my wife even succumbed to the local cheese and biscuits.

Our dining partners are so knowledgeable about food it is rare that they are impressed, however there was only compliments from us all tonight.

In summary, The Jetty is in an attractive modern eco-building, the location is fabulous and the view rivals any in the world, the dining room is impressive, warm and inviting, the team are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, the food and prices hit every taste and pocket, and each dish is beautifully cooked and presented. In fact, this place has every reason to be pretentious, but it is quite the opposite, it is relaxed and focused on looking after you.

Without doubt, The Jetty is one of my favourite restaurants in the country. The only problem I can see, is that The Jetty is not in Milford on Sea.

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http://www.thejetty.co.uk/

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

Play Park Underway

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The resurfacing work has now started on the childrens’ play park next to the Needles Eye Café on Milford on Sea seafront.

(Editor’s note: I am never sure were apostrophes are supposed to go, and ‘childrens’ is a particularly confusing one. Please don’t explain it to me, I didn’t listen at school when I bothered to turn up, and it is too late to learn now!)

For anyone that doesn’t know, this work is taking place thanks to a extremely generous £20,000+ donation from a local anonymous donor.

I for one am really looking forward to seeing how it looks on completion, it should be a real benefit for many families in, and visiting, the village.

(Editor’s note: I’m not sure about how to properly use comma’s either, but I reckon it is always better to have too many than too few. Arggh, should that have been ‘to’ or ‘too’! ..... I find my second fluent language of French so much easier mon ami.)

Shop Local

Writing about Dave Gates’ new website got me thinking. I know everyone bangs on about how we should support our Milford on Sea village shops, and I suspect we all have the best intentions to do so.  But, do we really do it?

Indeed there is something quite romantic in living in a village with ‘old fashioned’ shops, and I guess we all know the reason why we should support them, we all want to, but life is busy, local shopping takes time, and the big supermarkets are easy to use for us all.

I am as guilty as the next man, but given the time and chance, I try when I can, but never often enough.  We must be pretty unique in having two butchers, a greengrocers, an independent grocers store, a florist, a model shop, a launderette, (a hundred hairdressers!) etc, for just 5000 villagers. Like many today, these guys must be finding life pretty tough, so it would be a great gesture of support if we could all buy a little more from the village shops before we all mourn their passing and they become a fond but distant memory.

As I sit here enjoying another whisky, I have calculated that if every resident just spent another £10 in the village shops each week, they would share £50,000 weekly, and that is the sort of sum that can seriously help their survival.

Would lots of small actions really make a difference? I reckon so, as the old saying goes; ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ – Answer; ‘In bite-size pieces’.

The Butchers Shop Online

Our award winning local butcher has got himself a new website. I say new, but it is indeed his first foray online. David Gates, famous in the village for his sausages, bacon and hog roast, has now made an investment to have a presence on the web, which you can see using the link at the end of this article.

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It is interesting to discover that David supplies grass fed free range New Forest beef from local farms, free range outdoor reared pork, and local Dorset and Hampshire lamb. He also produce a unique range of nationally recognised prize-winning sausages and delicious home-cured bacon which is dry cured on the premises and offered in traditional style, or with their our own hickory smoked version (a genuine smoke not chemical). It is no surprise to know that David is the current Hampshire Bacon Champion.

Adding even more, The Butchers Shop also offer an attractive range of products to compliment their meat products, such as fresh cheeses, chutneys, pickles, mustards, honey, and local free range eggs from Kitts Merries Farm in Romsey.

David also does free home deliveries when you find leaving the house difficult. To complete his range of services, he also does a tasty Hog Roast for parties and events.

We of course are lucky enough to have two butchers in the village, with Dave Gregory also providing fresh meat from his butchers shop in the Keyhaven Road end of the High Street.

Enjoy eating local!

The Butchers Shop, 3 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH
Tel: 01590 642136
http://www.gatesbutchers.com/

Granary Kitchen Demonstrations

The Granary Kitchen, a new Cookery School in Newlands Manor Farm, is holding two Butcher Demonstration Evenings in association with Sway Butchers.  This new venture is run by local chef, Christian Rivron.

The first course features 10 Ways to Prepare a Chicken on Monday 11th June, and another course is planned for Monday 10th September when attendees can learn how to Butcher a Pig.

Both evenings will include a Cookery Demonstration with sampling of the dishes cooked.

To book your place, please call: 01590 673040

or email: christian@thegranarykitchen.com

The Granary Kitchen
Newlands Manor Farm, Milford on Sea, SO41 0JH

http://www.thegranarykitchen.com/

Play Bowls by the Sea

Another new website is now promoting one of Milford on Sea most popular clubs. Packed with information, the Milford Bowls Club website gives all the information a member, or potential member may need.

The club was founded in 1933 and is situated in Hurst Road on Milford on Sea seafront enjoying spectacular views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles.

The Clubs Green has 6 rinks that are amongst the finest in the area, and they have an extensive social calendar as well as plenty of opportunities to play competitive or fun bowls.

The summer season is from early April until late September with the Short mat bowls season taking place most days in the clubhouse during the winter.

Experienced bowlers moving to the area and any residents wishing to play this enjoyable sport are welcome to contact the club secretary for further details.

You can even try your hand at lawn green bowls to see if you like it. A Club Steward (a playing member of the club) is on hand during the open sessions to help and give advice if required. The public visitor sessions are just £5pp including hire of shoes and bowls, and the fun is free!

Contact: Milford Bowls Club
http://www.milfordbowls.co.uk/