Denise Barkley reveals that Worcestershire is both saucy and fruity!

THEY are plum crazy in Pershore! Located in the fertile Vale of Evesham, this pretty riverside town is renowned for its plums and celebrates the juicy harvest every August.

Visit this month and you will find the town in a purple haze of celebration, culminating in a fun-filled Plum Fayre on August bank holiday Monday (August 29).

When you have had your fruity fill, take a leisurely stroll around the town centre which is renowned for its array of quirky independent shops, such a welcome change to the usual array of chain stores. Enjoy the town’s elegant Georgian buildings and magnificent abbey, and don’t miss Pershore bridge – scene of civil war skirmishes and still bearing the battle scars.

In the summer, messing about on or beside the River Avon is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Maybe hire a boat and watch the water folk go by . . .

This area of Worcestershire has so much to offer the visitor, and the city of Worcester itself is steeped in history and heritage. It has one of England’s loveliest cathedrals with royal tombs, medieval cloisters and an ancient crypt. The timber-framed buildings such as The Greyfriars, The Commandery and Tudor House Museum are handsome reminders of the city’s past.

As well as celebrating its famous Worcestershire sauce, the county is also proud of its pottery heritage. You can find out more at the museum of Royal Worcester which holds the largest collection of the renowned porcelain in the world.

Horse racing fans can spend an enjoyable day at Worcester racecourse, which hosts 20 National Hunt meetings from May to October, and the city is also home to one of the UK’s most picturesque cricket grounds.

Venture out into the rolling Worcestershire countryside and there’s so much to do. Walking and cycling the Malvern Hills is a joy and a family day out might take in the Severn Valley railway, West Midlands Safari Park or the wonderful nature park called All Things Wild, at Evesham. I visited recently with my small grandsons and they had a whale of a time in the amazing dinosaur park, racing around on go-karts and clambering over old helicopters, diggers and tractors – the ideal place for them to let off steam and a bargain at just over £40 for a family of four.

Eckington Manor hotel is a little slice of heaven buried in deepest Worcestershire – it’s beautiful all by itself but has the added kudos of having the reigning Masterchef – the Professionals champion, Mark Stinchcombe, heading up the kitchen.

The mellow timbered buildings of the hotel, some of which date back 900 years, cluster around a courtyard and tone in with the new building, a wood-clad addition which houses the reception, bar with bijou patio seating and, upstairs, the restaurant and cookery school.

There is more outdoor seating on the lawn outside the Lower House, all dominated by a wondrous metal statue of Pan, the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks – this is a working farm as well as a hotel, so the sentiment is apt.

Our room was in another lovely farm building, this one is used for weddings and has views across the rolling Worcestershire countryside from the picture windows – what a beautiful place to tie the knot. Hanging from the lofty beams in the entrance hall are two massive fabric hares – I thought they were fabulous.

There are two rooms up in the eaves, and one was ours – accessed via a spiral wooden staircase it had a big, comfy bed draped in the finest linens, a freestanding bath tub and, thankfully, a wonderfully large monsoon shower in the separate bathroom.

We were at Eckington Manor to experience the gastronomy of Masterchef – The Professionals winner Mark Stinchcombe, who is joint head chef at Eckington with his wife Sue – and it was a truly sublime evening. It’s heartening to see that success hasn’t gone to his head and Mark remains loyal to Eckington. He’s been lapping up the attention and building on the publicity generated by the TV programme – understandably, diners have been clamouring to sample his food. He and Sue both passionately believe in Eckington’s ‘Farm to fork’ philosophy, sourcing the majority of their produce from Eckington’s farm.

So for four days in June, six months on from winning his revered crown, Mark and Sue put together a special six-course tasting menu of dishes he prepared during his Masterchef journey for the delectation of enthusiastic gourmets - including myself and husband Steve.

Warmly welcomed by Judy Gardner, owner of Eckington Manor, we enjoyed aperitifs on the terrace in the evening sunshine before being invited to take our seats in the upstairs restaurant. We were lucky enough to get a window table and enjoyed the view of the wonderful old buildings and grounds late into this balmy June evening. Every table was taken and Mark and Sue had our rapt attention as they introduced themselves and their menu, and then popped back between courses to tell us what culinary speciality was up next.

It was a wonderful voyage of discovery, innovative and delicious dishes which tickled the tastebuds and looked divine – I could see why the Masterchef judges were bowled over!

We began with appetisers – a zingy roast artichoke skin filled with artichoke flesh, pickled cherries and cocoa nibs. It was unusual, fresh and tasty. Then there was a lamb sweetbread, perfectly cooked, and enhanced by little dabs of goats curd, courgette and basil, and a pork fritter with a punchy Earl Grey prune puree – yum yum. We had opted for the wine pairing and the glass of Champagne that came with this was the perfect accompaniment.

The next course was tomato salad, which was Mark’s least successful dish on the TV competition, receiving mixed reviews from the judges – but he believed in it, and he had a whole restaurant of diners to give their verdicts and we were bowled over. In fact, I’m not a fan of fresh tomatoes, but this was a sensational dish – heritage tomatoes cut and prepared in different ways – the confit cherry tomatoes in particular burst with intense sweetness, and smoked aubergine and a salty black olive crumb brought out the true flavours. I loved this dish – so clean-tasting, fresh and summery. A slightly sweet French Vouvray was the ideal wine partner.

I don’t think I spoke a word during the next course – I was engrossed in savouring every delicate mouthful. The dish featured pan-fried scallops with fresh peas, peashoot tendrils, roasted lemon to give a citrus kick, and a buttermilk dressing. I can’t really add anything to the comment of two Michelin-starred Masterchef judge Marcus Wareing who proclaimed it “an amazing combination of flavours. I want to eat it again and again”. I would wholeheartedly endorse that. And the accompanying Chablis was quite something too.

Those who love their beef would have been chomping at the bit to get their teeth into the main course – Mark’s prize-winning fillet of beef with marrow bone-crusted short rib and charcoal emulsion. It was, as Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace exclaimed, “outstanding”. A thick slice of butter-soft and pinkly perfect fillet alongside a sticky glazed rib – which simply fell apart. The charcoal emulsion added a smoky note, and the dish was completed with carrots cooked in a variety of ways – it looked as good as it tasted. I’m not a big red wine fan, but I appreciated the accompanying Malbec, which was gutsy enough to hold its own.

And so to pudding – looking so pretty topped with a ball of candyfloss, the glass dish contained elderflower pannacotta with wincingly – in a good way - sharp gooseberries, and an iced strawberry parfait. Fantastic – I could have eaten another bowlful! The sweet Hungarian Tokaji worked beautifully with this.

We rounded off a sublime evening with coffee and sweet treats – chocolate truffles and macarons. Need I say more – Mark and Sue Stinchcombe can cook, and then some. Treat yourself as soon as possible!

PANEL

Denise Barkley was a guest of Eckington Manor, Hammock Road, Eckington, Worcestershire WR10 3BJ.

Call 01386 751600, www.eckingtonmanor.co.uk.

Rooms at Eckington Manor are priced from £129 (per room, per night, bed and breakfast). Eckington Manor, Hammock Road, Eckington, Worcestershire WR10 3BJ, call 01386 751600, www.eckingtonmanor.co.uk

To plan your visit to Worcestershire visit: www.visitworcestershire.org

For more information about Pershore’s plum festival visit: www.pershoreplumfestival.org.uk