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For lovers ofself catering holidays, Dorset is a wonderful destination. Fabulous scenery, reliable summer weather and deliciously intriguing local cuisine, this county has all the ingredients anyone could need for a self catering holiday to remember. One of the best parts of looking after yourself when it comes to wining and dining on your holiday ishaving the time to taste the delicious home grown products and to dine out on food you would never otherwise try. Dorset is deservedly on the UK national food map, mainly thanks to the attention bestowed on it after the successful River Cottage series aired on television, but also because it has been recognised by other famous chefs such as Marx Hix and Russell Brown. Here are some of the specialities you should look out for, and perhaps even try to recreate over a glass of wine or two while you are on holiday in this beautiful county. Dorset Apple Cake Every county or region worth its salt has a cake it can claim to be its own, and Dorset is no different. The Award Winning Dorset Apple Cake is a delicately sweet cake and, spiced with cinnamon, is always best eaten with the rather decadent clotted cream. I can highly recommend indulging in a couple of slices at one of the many local tearooms, most of which will have it top of their menu. If you prefer to buy some to take away and enjoy in the comfort of your rural cottage hideaway, head to Leakers Bakery in Bridport whereJo, the granddaughter of Master Baker G S Leaker who bought the premises in 1914, still makes her Dorset Apple Cake to the original recipe. Portland Lamb As a farming county it is little surprise that this region has a local rare breed. Portland sheep were once a common sight in fields here but today they are much more rare with only around 20 registered flocks in the region. Thankfully, breeders are teaming up with the Breeds Survival Trust and playing a huge role in increasing the population. This breed is particularlyunusual because the Portland ewe only gives birth to one lamb at a time, unlike most sheep breeds that produce twins. Portland lambs also take longer to mature for slaughter, which does not endear them to a farming business and which is why they are now more of a speciality than a staple. You may be wondering why people are making such an effort to protect this particular sheep. The fact is that the meat they produce is of exceptional quality. The flavour is strong and the texture delicate. Apparently King George III was a fan of this lean lamb meat and once you have tried it, you will be too. Take a trip to the delightful Steeptonbill Farm Shop in Milton Abbas and you can buy any cut you like. Royal Pudding King George III spent a lot of time on the Dorset coast and during his many stays in the county he frequented the Portland Arms and indulged in the pudding that was served there. He was so enamoured with the sweet that he demanded it be advertised in the Dorset County Chronicle and named the “Royal Pudding”. As a result, the pub was renamed the Royal Portland Arms. You may not be surprised to discover that the pudding was made with dried fruit and candied peel. These flavours and ingredients were pure decadence in Georgian England and thankfully have not gone out of fashion when it comes to pudding and cake today. Cooking is much less of a chore when you are on holiday and can be a real pleasure. If you choose aself catering holiday, Dorset opens its doors to offer you not only a whole host of incredible restaurants butplenty of wonderful ingredients too, most of which lend themselves perfectly to the local recipes, such as the ones above. Author Plate Michael Paul is the Managing Director of Michael Paul Holidays, a holiday property agency offering a handpicked range of accommodation in wonderful UK locations. When you are looking for the best range of destinations for a UK self catering holiday, Dorset Devon and Cornwall boast some of Michael Paul’s best accommodation options.
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