Bakewell Carnival

It happens every July and is a fun time for the town and visitors. Tonight, wednesday the 29th is the Duck Race, 1000 yellow plastic ducks launched into the river and the race is on, starts at 7pm. Tomorrow night is the raft race, a melee of mad cap rafts all trying to make it down the river, very funny, starts at 7pm. Friday is the wheelbarrow and welly race, starts at 7.45 with stops at the pubs on the route, brilliant. And on Saturday is the procession starting at 3pm, the floats are always fantastic with huge amounts of effort being put into them. This is without doubt one of the best carnival parades around. And it just happens that our closing down sale is on and we have some great savings on all stock.

Hello Boys! check this one out...

This book proves its never too late to learn to cook. Its everything you never wanted to know about cooking, but you might just be tempted to have a go at one of the "Eye on the Prize" dishes on offer. Got to dash before the shops shut!

BBC Radio Derby Interview 28th June

Another day another experience, strange, sitting alone in a studio talking to yourself, hopefully not a glimpse into the future!

The Monday, so glowingly referred to by the deputy mayor (I must watch out for him loitering menacingly on a street corner, stetson at a jaunty angle) was yesterday, steaming hot. We had quite a number in the shop all enjoying the air conditioning, but leaving the door wide open (grrrr). The big question is "did they buy anything?", the answer "very little".

This is what I find most frustrating, kidding yourself that a town heaving with (and I mean no disrespect here) older generation visitors is bringing spending power to Bakewell is unrealistic. The lack of carrier bags with anything other than food in them tell their own story. When I am 65 or more I actually don't expect to be having to buy a great deal of capital items either, so why not recognise the need to encourage more 25 to 55 year olds to come who are having to buy stuff whether they like it or not, and provide for them accordingly.

Goodbye Shop, Hello Internet

13 years have flown by and its decision time about staying or leaving. The decision is to leave and head for the internet. We will be out of the shop at the end of July and you will be able to shop with us at http://www.completecookshop.co.uk/ or email us with enquiries at completecookshop@btinternet.com or blog with us right here. It will be strange without the shop but times and technology change and to remain competitive we must embrace the future. I would like to thank all of you who have shopped with us in the past and hope that the trust we have created with the quality of our products will give you the confidence to continue shopping with us in the future. We are on Facebook where you can "like" us, please. Also on Twitter where we can "tweet" to each other. Also on the good old phone, same number. In the meantime we are having a closing down sale at the shop where you can get a good deal on all products. I hope to see you there. If you have any comments about the closure, please make them here, thanks. 

Full steam ahead

Steaming has come a long way since the folding steamer basket. But Lekue steaming products are the bees knees. I haven't seen a more versatile and easy to use product that does exactly what it should. Just place whatever it is that you want to steam, if its fish put the veg and herbs in with it and it will cook with the moisture in the food. Its a great piece of kit.

Looking after your knives

Use either a plastic or a wooden cutting board as these are both much kinder to the blade edge. Get into the good habit of using a knife sharpener each time you use your knife (you don't see a butcher with a blunt knife), and if you keep your knives in a drawer where they will knock together it will be the best chance you have of keeping an edge on them. Finally a magnetic strip is probably the best way to store your knives, but make sure you get a strong one.

What is your favourite comfort food?

Treat yourself to a trip down memory lane and share your favourite comfort food with us. Maybe it's a whole meal (that's what I call comfort!) or a bag of chips watching the boats come in at Filey (bit of a give away). Lets hear it for the seldom championed, Comfort Food.

Left overs, a creative opportunity

After all the fabulous recipes that are available around the globe, there has to be some equally creative food produced from the left overs. So, lets hear what you do with yours, soups, frittatas, curries, whatever it is you do we would like to hear about it.

Best before dates on food

Thank goodness there is a nod to common sense over the "best before" dates on food at last. They must have been responsible for some major waste lakes and mountains of food and provided gourmet meals for more rats than the Pied Piper ever imagined. It's about time we got back to trusting our noses and taste buds and stopped the waste, reduced the packaging and lessened the burden on landfill.

Shopping fact or ethical dilemma

Is it right to go into a store and do research for a product you intend to buy elsewhere for a better price, having used their display product and staff time to do your research?