SIX TOP West Country chefs have collaborated to help promote local food in Dorset.

Dorset-based independent food store Dike & Son asked the chefs to contribute recipes that incorporated local produce, for a set of 12 recipe cards that showcase some of the region’s outstanding food and drink.

The wipe-clean cards are free for the shop’s customers to collect and feature meal ideas from Michelin-starred chef Russell Brown, Brett Sutton of The White Post, as well as cookery school owners and chefs Christine McFadden, Lesley Waters, Luke Stuart and Lisa Osman.

They are all supporters of the North Dorset supermarket’s strong commitment to locally sourced food and drink.

Family-run in the same village since 1851, the Stalbridge store, deli and café is now in the hands of the fifth generation of the Dike family. In 2013 it was named South West Champion for Local Food in the Countryside Alliance Awards, the rural “Oscars” – and last year it became the UK’s first independent supermarket to offer its customers a complete online grocery shopping service with local delivery.

Managing director Andy Dike said: “The idea was to bring together many of the 130 local growers, makers and bakers that grace our shelves here at the store with some of the region’s top chefs. We are hoping to expand the series of cards over time to produce a unique collection of mouth-watering local recipes.”

Chef Russell Brown, who held a Michelin star for five consecutive years at his Dorchester restaurant Sienna, now runs Creative about Cuisine, a food consultancy business that incorporates his food writing, photography and demonstrations.

Russell said: “We have an incredible array of food and food and food producers in our area and companies like Dike & Son play a crucial role in making this produce available to people. A set of recipe cards from some great chefs in the area highlighting the produce is an excellent idea. I am looking forward to trying out some of the other recipes in the set.”

Slow-cooked Venison, Lamb Wellington and Lemon Roulade are among the offerings from the chefs, along with some of Dike’s own recipes including Dorsetshire Shepherd’s Pie and William’s Tipple twice-cooked fish and chips.

The recipes feature local producers such as Blackacre Farm Eggs (recent stars of Channel 4’s The Food Chain), Fussels Rapeseed Oil and Vale of Camelot Cheese, as well as suggesting a drink to serve with the dish, such as Sherborne Castle Wine or local ales from Piddle Brewery, Cerne Abbas or Hall & Woodhouse. Dike & Son and many of the chefs and producers are also members of Dorset Food & Drink.

Katharine Wright of Dorset Food & Drink said: “Here in Dorset we are so lucky as we are spoilt for choice. We have everything from specialist cheeses, award winning wine, cider and beer, outstanding meat, charcuterie, vegetables and fish, along with award winning jams, chutneys, brownies, gin, vodka, balsamic vinegar and an amazing variety of artisan bakers. We believe that recipe cards like this will encourage people to explore some of the fantastic food available right on their doorstep.”

Andy added: “Strictly speaking, not every aspect of the recipes are local – for example, Brett’s recipe is for Persian Lamb Patties. However the spices come from a local supplier and all of the ingredients for these recipes are available in our shop. We hope these cards will inspire our customers to take a little culinary adventure!”

The recipe cards are available free at Dike & Son Superstore and Café, Ring Street, Stalbridge DT10 2NB, or can be downloaded from the store’s website, www.dikes-direct.co.uk/news