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Cornwall’s next generation of cooking talent have been in competition to win the title of Top Chef across Cornwall and the winner has a could be part of the in-house catering team at a Beach Retreats property!

Merryn McCluskie, age 12, from Mawgan Porth was announced the overall winner at the final cook-off at Treviglas School on June 28th. Coming through a series of heats, Merryn was crowned overall winner across all age groups after a ‘masterchef’ style cook off in front of a respected judges including two from Fifteen Cornwall. The prize includes a Fifteen Cornwall apron and day at the restaurant in Watergate Bay.

Merryn is the daughter of Pippa and James who run Blue Bay House in Mawgan Porth. They provide an in-house catering service for guests – everything from a grand banquet to picnic baskets, so it’s easy to see where Merryn picked up her cooking skills.

Merryn cooked her favourite food – asparagus – as part of the two courses in the final:

Tregassow Asparagus wrapped in pancetta served with wild leaves and flowers, parmesan shavings and drizzled with French dressing.

Fresh fillet of Cod with a herb crust, baked and served with a lemon butter sauce, seasonal vegetables and Cornish new potatoes.

Read more about Blue Bay House and their personalised in-house catering options for guests.

After all those questions about the differences between Brazil and Cornwall we’d worked up an appetite. Luckily Aline was on hand with a traditional Brazilian pie and we’d brought some traditional Cornish treats in the form of pasties and cream teas.

Brazilian chicken pie or torta de frango, in Portuguese, is very different to a British pie. Usually served cold, it can be eaten with hands, much like a pasty. Substituting gravy for a light cream cheese sauce, this is the only thing you should be eating on match days during the World Cup.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Pastry
600g plain flour
500g margarine
1 egg
Pinch of salt

(Can buy pre-made shortcrust pastry to save time)

Filling
1kg chicken breasts
2 onions
4 cloves of garlic
1 can of sweetcorn
2 chicken stock cubes
250g cream cheese
100ml tomato sauce/ passata/ chopped tinned tomatoes
2 dessert spoons of corn flour
Chopped parsley

Other ingredients such as mushrooms or olives can be added if you wish.

Method

Pastry
Place the flour and salt into a bowl and add cubes of butter.

Combine with your fingertips until you achieve a texture of coarse breadcrumbs with no butter remaining.

Break the egg into the mix and bind.

Wrap the dough in clingfilm for 10-15 minutes before using.

Filling
Meanwhile boil the chicken breasts in water with stock cubes until its tender.

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the stock and shred.

Chop the onions and garlic cloves and saute in olive oil until the onions are soft.

Add the shredded chicken and saute for a few more minutes.

Add sweetcorn to the mix plus the tomatoes and any other ingredients you want to use.

Add the two dessert spoons of corn flour and stir until the sauce thickens.

Finally add the cream cheese and parsley and stir once more.

Set aside to cool.

To construct
Set aside a quarter of your pastry and roll to about 0.5cm for the lid of the pie.

Roll the remaining pasty to, again 0.5cm thick and place a greased oven proof dish.

Once the filling is cold fill the pastry dish evenly. Place the pastry lid on top and seal the edges.

If you have any pastry left over you could decorate the pie.

Coat the lid with an egg wash and place in the oven for 40-45mins at 180 degrees or until the pastry has turned golden brown.

Let it cool down before you serve so the filling stays together. You can then enjoy this pie whilst watching the football!

And if you fancy whipping up some homemade pasties check out our recipe here.

The World Cup is all anyone is talking about at the moment…including us, we’re hooked. And with all the talk of Brazil we got to thinking, ‘how does Brazil differ to Cornwall’. To answer our questions we asked friend of Beach Retreats, Aline, and her family to join us for a Brazilian-Cornish lunch.

Names:  Gustavo Pinhata Silva, Aline Del Bianco Dalfre, Paulo Humberto Dalfre and Nelia Del Bianco Dalfre.

Home City:  Sao Paulo, located in South East region of Brazil.

Q. What are the main differences between Cornwall & Brazil, apart from the weather?

When I first moved to Cornwall I was surprised at how narrow and windy the roads were. It took me a while to get used to them as in Brazil our roads are newer and follow the grid like pattern of the US. There is also a lot less traffic here so everywhere is far quieter.

Looking out at the coastline of Cornwall, it’s far more rugged. In Brazil we don’t have big cliff-scapes instead the coast gently slopes down towards the sea, which happens to be much warmer than the Atlantic!
(Watergate Bay, Cornwall)

 Q. What differences are there in the Food and Drink?

In Brazil we have a lot of national dishes, much like the Cornish have pasties and cream teas, in Sao Paulo feijoada and dobradinha (tripe). Throughout Brazil the different regions all flavour a different dish which is mostly influenced by the colonies that settled in Brazil many years ago.

In Sao Paulo our community is made up of a lot of Italians so those flavours are distinct in our food, however, you can find a lot of German, Portuguese and Spanish influences too.

(A Brazilian and Cornish table of food)

Brazil is known for Cachaça which is a distilled alcoholic spirit made from sugar cane, mixed with some sugar, lime and ice to make Brazil’s national cocktail Caipirinha.

(Samba Caipirinha cocktail)

Check out the 24 Traditional Brazilian foods you need to eat right now – BuzzFeed

Q. How are the beaches different?

Beaches in Brazil are far more crowded. When the weekends or holidays hit Brazil everyone leaves the city and heads to the beach.

(Rio)

Along every beach you’ll find kiosks selling food (fish, shellfish, chicken, fries etc), drinks – alcoholic, coconut water and ice cream. Drinking Caipirinha’s is very popular on the beach!

Depending where you are in Brazil,  beaches are better for different activities such as sunbathing & relaxing, windsurfing, surfing or snorkeling – there’s a coastline offering something for everyone (Brazil has 7,491km of coastline!)

 Q. What would be a typical beach holiday in Brazil – self catering, hotel?

Most families book self catering accommodation as holidays are seen as an opportunity to get family & friends together.  Self catering offers more of a home from home experience where the family gets together to eat and drink and enjoy time together.

Q. What’s a typical way you spend a day during a beach holiday in Brazil?

We’d usually spend the whole day from early morning until it gets dark relaxing, going for dips in the warm sea, playing volleyball or football and even going for rides on the banana boats.

Q. Are dogs allowed on the beaches?

If there are dogs on the beaches they’ll be street dogs as it’s illegal to take your dogs on the beach. Unlike the UK families don’t take their pets on holiday with them.

Q. What are the preparations like for the World Cup in Brazil?

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the World Cup. People are really interested in the players drafted for the teams and whether they would have made the same choices. We are excited to be the host for 2014 and can’t wait for the big parties to celebrate every win!

Q. What’s the atmosphere like on a Brazil match day?

Brazilian match days are seen as a social event and another great excuse to get family and friends together. Brazilians love any excuse to throw a BBQ with lots of beer.  You won’t see many burgers or sausages on the grill through, we go for big cuts of steak and chicken!  Others may go to a bar where the owners would have laid on more screens and chairs to accommodate the crowds – wherever they are there is always a good atmosphere!

 Q. Football is a popular sport in Brazil, which team do you support?

In Sao Paulo there are teams such as Palmeiras  and Corinthians (similar to Man Utd & Man City). Both Sao Paolo teams and big rivals so there’s a bit of a division here with the Silva’s supporting the Corinthians and the Dalfre’s supporting Palmerias.

 Q. What other sports are popular in Brazil?

1. Volley ball (beach & court)

 

1. Foot volley (volley a football over the volleyball net)

 

1. Indoor football

 

1. Ladies football

 

1. Handball

 

1. Swimming

In cities you’ll find courts with imported sand used for beach volleyball and beach football.

And finally, who is going to win the World Cup?

BRAZIL!

WORLD CUP FACTS:

– This is the second time Brazil have hosted the World Cup.

– 2014 is the most expensive World Cup ever.

– Brazil is the most expensive team in the World Cup.

– Argentina won the last two World Cup’s held in South America, winning in 1986 in Mexico and 1978 in their homeland.

– 25 referees will officiate the World Cup 2014.

– A European team has never won a World Cup hosted in South America but it is Germany who are best placed to do so.

– This will be the first World Cup with goal line technology.

– Brazil and Germany are tied for most World Cup games played, at 92 a piece.

– The all-time leading scorer in the World Cup is Brazil’s Ronaldo, with 15 goals.

– The highest scoring game in World Cup history was in 1954, when Austria defeated Switzerland 7-5.

Lusty Glaze Beach is developing a reputation as an amazing live music venue. The natural amphitheatre of this horseshoe shaped cove surrounded by high cliffs makes a truly remarkable concert venue.

Last year saw an amazing line up play the Sundowner Sessions on the beach and this year is no different. Check out the line up…

Fisherman’s Friends

Friday 4 July, 2014
If folk is your thing, this is for you. Fisherman’s Friends are a male singing group from Port Isaac, Cornwall, who sing sea shanties. Whilst essentially an acappella group, their studio recordings now often include traditional simple instrumentation. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

The Feeling

Thursday 24 July, 2014
BRIT award-nominated English rock band will be making their Lusty Glaze debut this year, bringing back their well known hits such as ‘Fill My Little World’ and ‘Sewn’. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Morcheeba

Thursday 31 July, 2014
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, adult contemporary, folk-rock and downtempo. They have produced eight albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Newton Faulkner

Friday 1 August, 2014
Known for his characteristic percussive style of guitar playing, Newton Faulkner topped the UK album chart with ‘Hand Built By Robots’, featuring songs such as ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Gone in The Morning’. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Simon & Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene

Sunday 17 August, 2014
Ocean Colour Scene, a well know Brit-pop band have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date. This year see Simon and Oscar perfom an acoustic set of songs you’ll know and love. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

Bellowhead

Monday 18 August, 2014
Simply, there is no one else quite like Bellowhead. Formed in 2004 this 11-piece big band fuses an exceptional amount of individual musical talent into something unique and truly uplifting. Tickets are available through the office on 01637 872444.

The live music doesn’t stop their either, throughout the summer Lusty Glaze are putting on a whole host of free Sundowner Sessions. Find the line up here.

New to Newquay town centre is the Surf Diner. Serving 100% Cornish burgers, steaks and seafood with authentic american flavours, this is the new place to hang out.

‘At our diner your food is sourced locally for the best in freshness and provenance. The meats we use are procured from Cornish farmers, hung for 28 days and all traceable. Our chefs hand-make your burgers, hand-cut your steaks and take pride in every dish we serve, even those that are meat free’.

As you walk up the stairs you know this is the real deal, massive pop culture artwork is hung on the walls, the juke box is hooked up with classic songs and genuine coca-cola memorabilia brings the whole restaurant together.

But, the pièce de résistance has got to be the view. The jewel in this diner’s crown is the commanding view it owns over the Atlantic. If you’re looking for alfresco dining we suggest you head to Surf Diner, you won’t be disappointed.

The second of our walk through series takes us along four beaches, across one harbour, to several tasty cafés and on top of one Huer’s hut.

Starting at Lusty Glaze. Lusty Glaze, a North side neighbour of Porth Beach, is a beach with a lot going on. As well as being a beautiful sandy cove to spend the day sunbathing and relaxing on, it also has a great beach-side restaurant, ice-cream hut and a fantastic adventure centre.

Up on the 150ft cliff you can zoom your way along the 750ft zip wire and get a birds-eye-view of the beach and Atlantic. But if flying isn’t your thing why not abseil down the cliff face or take on the tight-rope challenge.

By night the beach is equally as busy, especially throughout summer, with Sundowner Sessions. The natural amphitheatre of this horseshoe shaped cove makes a great concert venue. This summer the likes of The Feeling and Newton Faulkner will play at Lusty Glaze. Check out the full line up here.

If it’s low tide you can go to the bottom of Lusty Glaze and head North to the next beach along the coast Tolcarne. Tolcarne has great character thanks to its quintessential British seaside huts painted in ice-cream tones.

Further along the sandy path is Great Western Beach. Relatively empty, Great Western is used as a beach for guests of the former Hotel Victoria, where a lift was installed through the cliff to take people down to sand level!

Our fourth and final beach in our walk through is Towan made famous by the ‘House on the Island’, aquarium and harbour. Often busy, Towan beach has direct access to Newquay town centre and the harbour. You could sit here all day and watch people and boats come and go, but that’s hungry work.

Luckily Gusto’s is just round the corner.

This is unique take away, somewhat a Cornish gem, that the locals love! Cooking their own flatbreads and filling them with falafel, meats from the hot plate, delicious salads and sauces AND serving the best cake in town you’d be hard pushed not to fall in love at first bite.

We stopped for a wrap and ‘Tobler Tastic Brownie’ and took in the sights from the harbour wall.

Having filled up we set off in search of one of Newquay’s Huer’s Huts. Perched on top of the cliff above the harbour and distinguished by it’s small, white round shape and large chimney, the Huer’s Hut can be made out from miles down the coast. Thought to date back to the 14^th Century the hut was used by a Huer who’s job was to watch for the tell tale signs of pilchard (now more commonly known as sardines) shoals and then alert townsfolk of their arrival by crying out ‘Heva Heva’ (here they are!). The townsfolk would then rush to the harbour and prepare for the pilchards arrival.

Turning back towards Newquay the town was buzzing with happy holiday makers enjoying the cafes and shops like…

The Beached Lamb (now closed)

Martha’s Tea Room

WaterShed Shop

And the coolest Vintage shop in Newquay

It’s fair to say a holiday in Newquay will combine a perfect balance of chilling on the beach, eating great local produce and burning it all off surfing, walking and shopping.

Take a look at our holiday lets in Fistral and Newquay.

Lanhydrock is known the Victorian National Trust House and estate that once belonged to the Agar-Robartes family through the 18^th Century. Seeped in history and currounded by ancient woodlands, winding rivers and well-kept gardens, Lanhydrock is a great day out.

And it just got even better!

This spring Lanhydrock Cycle Hub was opened, Cornwall’s newest cycling attraction. The £3 million Cycle Hub at the National Trust Lanhydrock estate near Bodmin includes 10km of purpose-built trails winding through the estate’s woodland – including a skills area, a cycle hire shop, the new Park Café and children’s play area, all with plenty of parking.

The trails are cycle specific and designed to be ridden in one direction; however, mums and dads can enjoy running along the green track just as much, especially if your little cyclist isn’t that proficient yet. The green route is smoother and wider and winds through relatively level woodland, so it’s perfect for families and novice riders.

There are three blue trails designed for moderate riders. These are narrower and have sharper turns, dips and jumps.

And finally the red route which has a much steeper incline and created for the more experienced mountain biker.

Take a close look at the trails here.

Bikes are available to hire from Lanhyrdock for the following costs:

Adult bike                         £12 half day     £16 full day
Child bike                         £10 half day     £14 full day
Balance bike                    £5 half day       £7 full day
Tag-along                         £7 half day       £10 full day
Tag-along + adult bike   £17 half day     £24 full day
Trailer                                £7 half day       £10 full day
Trailer + adult bike          £17 half day     £24 full day
Child seat                         £5 half day       £7 full day

Lanhydrock have a full range of bikes for all heights and abilities, child seat mounts and they offer free helmets as standard.

If, like us, you have been left out of Roy Hodgson’s preliminary squad for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, we have a plan B. Spend some time in Cornwall.

It’s really not that different to Brazil, we have great food and drink, currently good weather and beautiful beaches. And it’s those beaches we want to test you on today.

We’ve got ten stunning beaches, but are they in Cornwall or Brazil?  Answers are the bottom of the page (no cheating).

Let us know how you scored by leaving a comment at the bottom.

1. Wide expanses of sand make for a great playground, but is this Cornwall or Brazil?

2. Stunning Coastal walks will inspire and reinvigorate, but is this Cornwall or Brazil?

3. Gentle lapping waves, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

4. Dawn and dusk make for perfect photo opportunities, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

5. You have to share the beaches with the wildlife, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

6. An inspiring mix of sand, sea and scenery, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

7. Space to breathe, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

8. Coves and caves to explore, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

9. Time to get in the water, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

10. The end to a perfect day, but is it Cornwall or Brazil?

 

Answers: how well did you do?

1. Watergate Bay in Cornwall
2. A coastal footpath in Southern Brazil
3. Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall
4. Copacabana Beach, Brazil
5. A seagull on a Brazilian Beach
6. Carbis Bay, Cornwall
7. Sennen Cove, Cornwall
8. Nanjizal Beach, near, Land’s End, Cornwall
9. A surfer on a Brazilian Beach.
10. Perranporth in Cornwall

Whether you’re on holiday or live locally there are so many things going on in Cornwall this half term.

Love your Zoo at Newquay Zoo – 24 May – 1 June
Celebrate ‘Love Your Zoo’ week at Newquay Zoo with special trails, talks and facepainting, plus a very special guest on the 29th May!

The Pendennis Cup – 26 May
View a fleet of super yachts race along the coast near to Falmouth. The best vantage point to watch the races will be Pendennis Point. The yachts will be moored at Port Pendennis Marina throughout the week for you to get an up close look at.

Pirates on the Prom – 26 May
Head to Penzance for a day of pirate related music, dance, parade displays and mayhem, including an attempt to regain the pirate world record of fancy dress. There will be a designated area for children with games, displays, rides and cannons and muskets!

Once Upon a Time – National Maritime Museum, Falmouth – 28 & 30 May
This is storytelling with a twist! Get creative and make props to bring the enchanting tales to life.
Times: 11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm

Zip Wire at Eden Project: Throughout the year
Take an adrenaline-fuelled ride over the Biomes on the SkyWire. At 660m, SkyWire is still the longest zip wire in England and now it’s definitely the fastest. And you can now fly headfirst in our ‘superman’ harness.
Booking is advised.

Lanhydrock Cycle Trails – Throughout the year
Head to Lanhydrock Estate and try out the new cycle trails that take you deep into little explored woodland on the estate. With trails suitable for families and beginners, trailers, tagalongs and disability bikes.
Bike and helmet hire available.

Inspired by the beautiful women of Brazil’s famous carnivals, the Samba Caipirinha cocktail is colourful, embellished and full of flavour.

Made with Sagatiba Pura Cachaca rum, the Samba Caipirinha is infused with the spirit of Brazil. This is the perfect cocktail to make whilst watching the imminent World Cup.

Serves one

Ingredients

50ml Sagatiba Pura Cachaca rum
10ml Aqua Riva Agave syrup
1 whole lime de-pithed
1/4 fresh mango
1/2 passion fruit
2 medium sized brown sugar cubes

To garnish

LBV port reduction sugar work
Caramelized passion fruit
Amalfi lemon leaf
Mango slice
Disco Beads

 

Method

Blend Sagatiba pura cachaça together with quarter of melon until pulp texture.

Whilst blender is doing what it does best (blend) cut lime in half and remove pith from both sides, slice each half into 3 creating 6 pac-man shaped wedges.

Add lime and sugar cubes into your chosen glassware and muddle using the sugar to release oils from lime zest and juice from lime to dissolve the sugar.

Add the ½ of passion fruit, Sagatiba and mango pulp and Aqua riva organic agave syrup and stir.

Add a small scoop of crushed ice and stir, taste, WOW! Nice isn’t it! Check the balance of the drink; now is your chance to add a little more citrus or sugar to create epic balance bearing in mind these fruits have natural sweetness.

Time to get creative. Use your imagination to garnish to make it look as good as it tastes!

Sagatiba rum is a very clean spirit with the delicate flavour and aroma of fresh cut sugarcane. It’s an extremely versatile spirit and adds plenty of Brazilian flavour to any drink.

Thank you to Josh Linfitt, Head Bartender at Fifteen Cornwall for providing us with this recipe. For help on sugar work feel free to contact us over at Fifteen Cornwall or tweet to @joshlinfitt.