This week, on Thursday, 8 November Thai food lovers will have the chance to enjoy a practical cooking demonstration when multi award winning Thai cook Tukata Bird will be at Doddington Farm Shop & Cafe. These is the second event in the shop and café’s tasting, demo and book-signing season, which continues through November and December.

 

The event is 11am - 4pm and there is no need to book. Customers are able to enjoy a Thai dish in the café at lunchtime, or purchase some meat from the farm shop and ask Tukata to marinade it for them to take home. There is no charge for the demonstrations but it is advisable to book for lunch. Tukata will also be delighted to answer any questions!

 

Tukata was born in Bangkok, the eleventh of twelve children. Her knowledge of Thai ingredients and cooking encompass three generations so what creates in the kitchen is truly authentic. Tukata’s mother & aunt trained in the Thai Royal household, and it was with her family that Tukata learnt the art of pounding, chopping and grinding Thai spices & herbs.

As a child, Tukata was known by her family as 'wild horse'. She says it is her fierce passion that inspired first this family nickname and today her love of producing original flavours in her range of Thai sauces, curry paste, and ready meals.

Tukata moved to UK in 1987 and today lives in Stamford. She opened a Thai noodle house and supermarket in Stamford cooking in an open kitchen. When a family came along, Tukata decided to concentrate on her sauces and pastes, so she began making them in her kitchen at home to sell. Tuk Tuk Foods was born, which has gone on to win many awards.

 

In 2007 Tuk Tuk Foods won 9 Gold Great Taste Awards. Regarded as the Industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Foods annual Great Taste Awards are the UK’s largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink. Each year 4,500 foods are blind tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made.

Tukata celebrated 9 Gold Awards with a much desired one star and two star for fine chilli sauce, fine green chilli sauce, fine yellow chilli sauce, Thai green curry paste, Thai red curry paste, pumpkin seed satay sauce, tomato sauce, rapeseed oil infused with lemongrass and pandan leaf and Thai sweet basil infused rapeseed oil.

Tukata’s 2007 Gold Award Winning Products are:

 

Fine Chilli Sauce: a traditional rich and spice fruity flavour which can simply be added to dishes to give that extra excitement in flavour.

 

Green Chilli Sauce: using highly seasonal raw grated fruits like English apple mixed with fragrant green chillies and garlic, which are also added to your side dishes for extra flavours.

 

Yellow Chilli Sauce: a combination of fresh yellow chilli mixed with English apples and spices, giving it a unique taste. A good balance ideal for marinating in vegetarian, seafood or meat dishes.

 

Tomato Sauce: the delicate recipe, an unforgettable flavour of fresh tomato and the aroma of mix spice. Made suitable for marinades, stir-fries, casseroles and dips.

 

Organic Pumpkin seed Satay Sauce: A nut free satay!! A mild spicy sauce with roasted pumpkin seed and a combination of tamarind, palm sugar, giving a classic flavour.

 

Green Curry Paste: Probably the most common paste to be used in Thai cuisines. Full of refreshing herb flavours and made with lots of fresh green chillies it has a sweet and creamy taste.

 

Red Curry Paste: The robust flavour of sun dried red chillies and various herbs, blended with fragrant spices is enough to send your taste buds wild.

Rapeseed Oil infused with lemongrass & pandan leaf: delicious light nutty flavours with an intriguing lemony perfume which is light and refreshing and a balanced level of sweetness.

Thai sweet basil infused with rapeseed oil:  Delicious light nutty flavour, hidden with aroma instinct of aniseed. Ideal for roasting, stir-fries, dressings and marinades.

 

Other events during November and December include:

 

3 NOVEMBER. Award-winning Bracken Hill's preserves, jams, curds etc.

8 NOVEMBER. Tastings, demos and a special Thai dish in the Café with Tukata Bird, a Thai lady from Stamford known for her Thai sauces. (Book lunch please.)

24 NOVEMBER. Jules and Sharpie's spicy jellies are extremely popular with those who love exciting tastes!

24 NOVEMBER. TV cook Rachel Green will be with us signing copies of her book, The Chatsworth Cookery Book! Come and meet Rachel.

1 DECEMBER. Why not consider Inverawe's smoked salmon as a great Christmas Day Lunch first course?)

1 DECEMBER. Each Adnams Beer has its own fresh, unique and vibrant character that will appeal to the most discerning drinkers. Wines, too!

8 DECEMBER.  Oldershaw Brewery¹s real ale is brewed with Maris Otter malt and whole hops.

8 DECEMBER. Melton Mowbray Sloe Gin is really popular. Come and enjoy a taste of this wonderful tipple - and perhaps give a bottle or two as gifts!

15 DECEMBER. Ponts Honey comes from bees that are kept on the Doddington Estate, and judging by how quickly it buzzes into our shop and out again you all love it very much!

15 DECEMBER. Milestone Brewery is a local brewer offering beers for all seasons and tastes.

 

ENDS