Full bellies and muddy wellies were the order of the day at the ESSE event at the Humble By Nature farm. Guests were treated to an amazing 11-dish menu, all prepared on the new ESSE 990 EL by chef Jane Baxter. Wye Valley was the setting for this Springtime affair for 36 invitees, including ESSE retailers, owners, and others wanting to find out more about the current ESSE stoves and range cookers.
With a choice of efficient wood burning, multi-fuel stoves (in six colour ways), integrated log stores and wall-mounted gas fires; finding the right ESSE stove is easy. So, as well as getting the opportunity to peruse the products up-close, experts were also on-hand for visitors to grill on choosing the right ESSE, how to get the most out of it, plus essential care tips and tricks of the trade.
Naturally, no ESSE event would be complete without a cookery demonstration (and some sampling, of course), so in the afternoon Jane Baxter of Wild Artichokes took centre stage with the new ESSE 990 EL electric range. Jane showcased a range of recipes cooked in and on the ESSE – such as a mouthwatering 36-hour lamb, roasted cauliflower, and saffron potatoes with fennel, thyme and garlic – plus delicious dishes prepared directly on the cast iron hotplates, including home-made focaccia bread, charred leeks and purple sprouting broccoli. Dessert followed with a trio of sweet treats made up of rhubarb and custard pavlova, blood orange and lemon tart, and plum and blueberry clafoutis.
The menu had been specially put together to take advantage of the ESSE 990 EL’s patented surround heating elements (also available on the EL13 Amp), 42 litre top oven, two 30 litre bottom ovens and cast iron hot plates, while its flueless design means that not only is it perfect for cookery displays, it can also be situated anywhere in the kitchen with no need for a chimney outlet. Moreover, as it can be run on as little as £1 a day, the range is ideal for overnight slow-cooking and making multiple meals at the same time, as demonstrated by the ambitious 11-course meal plan that was made to look effortless on the day (you can see the full overview of the cooking display for yourself here…)
One guest commented: “The food was amazing, as you would expect from a named chef and food writer. The slow-cooked lamb, hot main, hot puddings and meringues all cooked on the ESSE 990 EL for 30 plus guests were all brilliant.”
After the food, it was time to explore the farm, and visitors were shown around by the Humble By Nature team – paying a visit to some of Kate’s animals on the way – before partaking in a guided tour from Beca Beeby of the farm’s aquaponics set-up, which combines the recycling of waste produced by fish with hydroponic growing techniques to cultivate herbs and vegetables for local eateries. Read more about the groundbreaking project here…Visitors have recommended the event for ESSE owners and non-owners alike, with one commenting: “This is my first time at an ESSE event. It was a really good day and I liked the set up. I have a much better understanding of the ESSE electric cookers now.”
If you have an ESSE and would like to know more about it, are interested in finding out more about ESSE stoves and range cookers, or the sound of cookery demonstrations down at the farm has whetted your appetite, find out more about future events by contacting your local ESSE stockist, which you can find at https://esse.com/dealer-locator/
