Wined, sealed and delivered

from the Journal Live

by Jane Hall, The Journal

TWO North East restaurants are showing that a commitment to Fairtrade and support for local producers can be a recipe for success.

Owners of modern Northumbrian restaurant Grainger Rooms and popular Fairtrade eatery The Open Kitchen, Chris Slaughter and Chris Jewitt, have joined forces to show that dining out does not need to be an ethical minefield.

The two Newcastle-based businesses, which already stock a high amount of goods sourced from producers in the third world as well as from within this region, will be among the first restaurants in the North East to stock new to the market Fairtrade Merlot Reserve and Sauvignon Blanc by Chilean company Lautaro.

Owner and head chef of Grainger Rooms, Chris Slaughter, said: “Supporting Fairtrade producers like Lautaro makes sense, not just in terms of the high quality of the product, but also in terms of what this business can mean for the farmers responsible for producing it.”

Restaurants stocking out-of-season produce has recently come under scrutiny following comments made by TV chef Gordon Ramsay.

Last month the celebrity chef said restaurants should be fined for using the likes of asparagus in December and Kenyan strawberries in March – both are in-season in the UK now. This claim has serious implications for Fairtrade, but the two Chrises argue this does not, and should not, be an either or situation.

Co-owner of The Open Kitchen and chair of Newcastle’s Fairtrade Partnership, Chris Jewitt, said: “It’s important people start to realise eating with a conscience can be done in a varied and responsible way that doesn’t mean choosing just one to support.

“Finding a happy medium between helping to make poverty history by supporting Fairtrade and cutting food miles and improving the local economy through support for local producers – as championed by The Journal’s buy local, use local, eat local Taste Campaign – is becoming essential in today’s market.”

Chris opened Fairtrade eatery The Open Kitchen in Gosforth with business partner Andreas Korovessis in 2003. He recently moved to sister restaurant Grainger Rooms, which champions on its menu producers located within a 20 mile radius of the restaurant opposite Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery.

Chris Slaughter, said: “Here at Grainger Rooms we feel very strongly about supporting local producers in Northumberland and serving up a menu which reflects seasonality.

“Sistering The Open Kitchen makes sense ethically as we are each taking on one another’s characteristics in sourcing our produce, with Grainger Rooms using more Fairtrade and The Open Kitchen sourcing many ingredients locally.” Currently Grainger Rooms relies upon Fairtrade producers for things like sugar, coffee, spices, herbs, and beer and will also be selling Lautaro wine later this year.

“At Grainger Rooms we welcome the diversity of produce offered by Fairtrade producers, particularly for things that are not available in this country.” Lautaro is a co-operative of 16 small-scale vine farmers around the town of Sagrada Familia, in the Curico Valley area of Chile at the foot of the Andes, 200km south of the capital Santiago.

Link to full article. May expire in future.