Live webchat with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - Thursday 15th September 1.30 - 2.30 pm

[RachelMumsnet]

To celebrate the publication of his new book Cottage Veg Every Day and accompanying Channel 4 Series which starts on Thursday 20 October 20. Hugh is joining us this Thursday (15 September) between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for a live webchat. As well as being an award-winning cookery writer and broadcaster and founder of River Cottage, Hugh is also involved in a number of campaigns including Hugh's Fish Fight, Chicken Out and Landshare.

Join us on Thursday to quiz him about his campaigning, cooking veggies and tap into his knowledge of rearing livestock, growing produce and, of course, cooking and baking. If you're unable join us on Thursday, send your advance questions to this thread.

All mumsnetters who send in questions to Hugh will be entered into a draw to win one of five copies of River Cottage Veg Every Day. We'll announce the winners post webchat.

Another sycophant, I'm afraid! Your recipe books are amongst my favourites, they suit my ethos towards food and cooking. Most recently made aubergine and green bean curry which worked a treat and was delicious. What I appreciate the most though is your thoughtful and sustainable approach to food and that many of your recipes do not rely on lengthly lists of ingredients but the results are always delicious.
Anyhow, a nosy question I have always intrigued to ask people who cook and write about food as their profession - please could you tell me what is your favourite everyday meal is and favourite 'special' meal?

Brill, non meat book. Will give it a look.

My question: My son has just started school and needs a packed tea to take to the child minders. The veggie school meal includes cheese virtually every day so does Hugh have any ideas for things I can put in his tea box which are non meat and non cheese? Fish is fine as we non meat eaters but not veggie.
Thanks!

Hi Hugh,

My daughter and I love fish (mostly mackerel, shellfish and herring) and, coming from a fishing family, I am passionate about eating fish line caught and not netted and not eating fish living on the brink through over fishing. I have 2 questions if thats ok. Are coley and pollock closely related to cod? I am allergic to cod and wonder if these 2 fish would be ok to have or if they're endangered or if you have any other recommendations for an everyday white fish? I used to have a lot of haddock, but I am worried that is becoming over fished. Also, we love herring milts and have them on toast with a butter, parsley and marsala sauce. Do you have any good recommendations for other ways to cook them?

Many thanks

Dear Hugh,

Can you please tell me you haven't accepted my friend request on Facebook? You have accepted my friend but not me and I'm huge friend of yours ! On a better note, I love your work !

just realised I asked 2 questions as I did not read the rules.....The first question answered would be great...sorry!

I would like to know if you will be promoting your book in the new restuarant opening in plymouth, by offering some of the meals on the menu. If so, could give me a table so we can give you our verdict ?

::has a slight swoon fest::

Ahem, all better now and a minor rant, one of the reasons I watch your show is that you don't ever bury a chicken in the back yard and soak it in nitrogen to cook it, that kind of cooking makes me shout just put the bloody thing in the oven at the tv.

My question is what is the one dish you'd have loved to have created?

GoesOffFanningHerselfWithWomen'sWeeklyTiggaxx

Hi Hugh.

I'd love to keep a few chickens in our back garden but my other half says no, and insists that they'll encourage vermin. How can I convince him?

Thanks!

I love the philosophy behind your new book, Everyday Veg. As an HFW fan, mumsnetter and WWF supporter I wondered if this is pretty much the same as WWF's Livewell campaign which has a "healthy people, healthy planet" philosophy ( see www.wwf.org.uk/livewell2020).

How do you think we (you, WWF and all of us) can go about making the move to healthy people/healthy planet?

Hugh - How do you feel about the 'smug/elitist' label some people attach to you and the lifestyle you promote?

fwif I disagree! I first watched Escape to River Cottage when I was living in a 2 up 2 down terraced house. It inspired me to plant herbs and edible flowers in the back garden. Now I have 2 allotments, chickens in the yard and am involved in a community farm who are taking delivery of their pigs this weekend.

Thanks for all your inspiration over the years

Hi Hugh, admire all your campaigns, thanks for all the hard work you put in.
My question is about chard - so far this year it's the only veg we've had any success with on our mini allotment. What on earth can we do with it all??
It does look pretty but apart from using it in veg curry we're stuck. Looks quite good in a vase though..... Ps are you doing refunds on your Meat book now your a veg hero? Ta

Hi Hugh

I can't think of any questions that haven't already been asked but I will be buying your book in the near future. As a vegetarian i'm loving your latest recipes in The Guardian weekend mag.

Hi Hugh

I loved the stuff you did on bread baking with the bunch of ladies, that really inspired me to bake more bread.

Can you suggest a vegetarian main course we could all have a go at making in our new MN Recipe Club?

Thank you

Hi Hugh, I like your books, thanks especially for the meat book. And I agree with you about chicken.

Which chefs / food writers / cooks inspire/d you?

Thank you for coming on here for a webchat.

Hat off to you for your work on fish and chicken ethics. So my question is: what animal's next on your list?

Sneaky second question - in River Cottage Everyday, you stress the importance of breakfast. Do you really really manage to have interesting and different cooked breakfasts every morning in your family? We have instituted a tradition of interesting Saturday morning breakfasts, but the rest of the week it's toast or instant porridge / Weetabix / posh museli all the day.

Obligatory sycophantic bit (said with sincerity though!) - DH and I love watching River Cottage and not only find it very relaxing and reassuring TV but often think "I fancy cooking and eating that", which is surely the best you could hope from your viewers .

(PS do we win the prize for Most-H-F-W recipes consumed in one week, without knowing in advance you were going to be coming on here? Excluding of course you, for whom every day is a H F-W recipe day . So far: lentil and caraway soup, leek tart, fish with fennel, and cannellini bean dip from the recent Saturday Guardian.)

*all the way (not day)!

Hi Hugh

Another fan here. Just had a baby and got bought multiple copies of your baby toddler cook book! Bought my Hubby a place on your fish day and Had to accompany him to make sure it was up to scratch. Loved it.

I have 100+ jars of different preserves and plumbeena in my cellar thanks to Pam the jam.

Ok, I'd like to echo the question re wine recipes and my question is re 'beena':

I've had very good response to my plumbeena and this year have done pear as well. Which other fruit have you found make a popular beena? (elderberry?)

(note to other mumsnetters - is there a good place for swapping preserves?

No questions, but just wanted to say I bought the veg book a couple of weeks ago, and absolutely love it. We aren't veggie, but do keep saying we should eat less meat, and this book has so far been brilliant - everything we've tried has been super tasty, even meals with only a couple of ingredients. Last night we had the courgette/onion/quinoa thingy, and it was delicious.

Actually, maybe I do have a question. Why on earth is it that more books like this aren't available?

Thank you

soandso - have you seen The Jam Guild ? Pam's a patron I believe. I have a cupboard full of preserves too, though have gone in for pickles more this year.

This isn't a question - most seem to have been asked - but I did want to say that I think your most enduring legacy must be that you are able to stop my grandchildren watching Glee, have them close their laptops and switch off their iphones as soon as they know your programme is coming up. They express their strong opinions about factory farming, problems faced by our fishermen and how they wish they could go and live with you!

This is an amazing achievement - well done to you!

My question is about eating less meat. I understand you are saying we should all eat less meat on ethical and sustainability grounds. But the most likely people to do this are the ones who are now buying ethically and sustainably reared meat.

So if we stop buying free range chicken / pork etc and eat carrots instead the market will shrink and intensive livestock production will continue because I can't see £1.50 Tesco chicken buyers turning into lentil botherers.

How do you square these competing priorities?

Hi have just liked and it looks great but more for swapping crops for produce. I'm after swapping produce for produce

Actually fishie I would have agrred with you a year ago but even the £1.50 chicken has risen amrkedly in price and with other cuts to incomes etc it may be that people are forced to choose a no meat liferstyle; even if that meat is still a battery chicken once a week rather than every day, the ultimate goal of sustainability will get a shot forwards.

may I ask a quick 2nd question? I heard you on the radio this morning Hugh, talking potatoes with Chris Evans, and you mentioned a waxy potato which was excellent by had a strange name - someone tooted their horn as you said the name of the potato, what was it?! (And where can I get interesting seed potatoes?)

Hi profyaffle jam guild looks great but more for swapping crops for produce. I'm after swapping produce for produce