Pub chain ties up food deals with Yorkshire firms (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pub chain ties up food deals with Yorkshire firms

9:50am Monday 13th February 2012 in Business By Chris Holland , Business Reporter

Brewer Timothy Taylor, has joined forces with other Yorkshire family businesses to serve up a traditional dish in its top dining pubs.

The Keighley-based brewer has introduced fruit cake and cheese to its premium dining pub menus, using cake especially baked in Shipley and cheese from North Yorkshire.

The cake, made with Taylor’s award-winning Landlord bitter, is being produced by bakers and patissiers, Just Desserts and Artisan cheese maker Shepherds Purse, of Thirsk, will supply the cheese.

Timothy Taylor’s food development manager Adrian Sykes said: “It’s a long-established British tradition to serve fruit cake with cheese, so we wanted to find likeminded businesses to work with us to create a delicious cheeseboard and cake combination.”

Chefs from the pubs were inspired to introduce the cake dish after touring the Shepherds Purse dairy. The brewer approached its supplier Just Desserts to bake a bespoke fruit cake using its famous pale ale.

Mr Sykes said: “As one of only a few independently-run traditional Yorkshire brewers, it is great to be able to deal with two successful Yorkshire businesses producing traditional, high quality, handcrafted products.” Just Desserts sales manager, Kate Foxon said: “We tried a number of recipes before we were happy with the quality, texture and taste combination of mixed fruit and classic, strong pale ale, but we think we’re onto a winner with the Landlord.

“It will work perfectly with the premium cheeses from Shepherds Purse.”

Katie Matten, managing director, Shepherds Purse Cheeses, added: “The Timothy Taylor premium dining pubs attract a high quality customer looking for a top quality food offer and our cheeses will be perfect for their discerning tastes.”