Eat Me

No. 6 is a very pleasant restaurant in the heart of Dorchester run by Christian Lohez and his wife Sylwia. They do an excellent job of greeting guests on arrival, their staff are both pleasant and well trained and the food is quite excellent.

I can whole heartedly recommend the fillet steak, I like mine medium rare and it was done to perfection. I couldn’t let me wife eat all the Creme Brulee that she ordered as my first taste so excited my taste buds that I stole the remainder from her!

In the summer there’s outside dining but in the colder months it’s restricted to the cosy and friendly inside area. Call and book as it’s a popular place for a good reason!

Dorset Show

MORE than 57,500 people flocked to the South West’s biggest two-day agricultural showcase last weekend – that’s 1,500 more than last year.

Dancing sheep, falconry displays, a man who lived with wolves, 6,000 animals, 475 tempting trade stands, and the Bolddog Lings motorbike stunt team all wowed the crowds who flocked to Cokers Frome, just outside Dorchester.

Show Secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘We were lucky with the weather – I was so thankful that the rain held off.

‘We’re all just so delighted because it’s the range of different attractions that make the show so popular with families year after year – and parents love it that kids get in for free!

‘We have sensational headliners topping the bill like Titan The Robot and The Dancing Diggers and that gets people through the gates.

‘Then they have a wander round the livestock pens and watch the falconry or gundog demos and learn a bit about the countryside and simply have a superb family day out.

‘I have to say a big thank you to the Dorchester Agricultural Society and everyone on the Dorset County Show committee for pulling together and helping to make this happen. And of course none of it would be possible without our army of over 200 volunteers – working tirelessly from manning the main gate to stewarding the marquees and rings or delivering straw to the pig pens, this truly is a community event Dorset can be proud of!’

Visitors to the Dorchester Showground on 3 and 4 September enjoyed wandering around, sampling local food and drink, watching show-jumping, ferret racing, viewing gardening and crafts exhibits and browsing a whole A to Z of trade and charity stalls.

The prizes in the men-only baking competition were won by three men from Dorchester. First prize went to Huw Thomas, second was awarded to Roger Fooks and third prize was given to Robert Kennedy. The class had over 25 entries competing for the winning Anzac cookie title.

Find out who else won in this year’s classes and competitions, and who have been crowned the Show champions, on the Dorset County Show website at www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Next year’s Dorset County Show will be held at Coker’s Frome on 1-2 September, 2012.

Cycle to Weymouth

The DCC Travel Choice team has organised an event to celebrate the new traffic free cycle track between Weymouth and Dorchester.  It will take place from 11am on Sunday 18th September as part of “European Mobility Week”, which sees events taking place across Europe to promote healthy and sustainable transport.  The Mayors of Dorchester and Weymouth (Tess James and Graham Winter) will cycle up from their respective towns with fellow cyclists and meet at the Ridgeway for a celebratory ceremonial opening and press photocall.

We would like to get as many people as possible involved in the cycle ride to celebrate this route and enjoy the traffic free cycle ride.  Although there is a bit of a hill, the route itself is short, there is plenty of time to get to the top and refreshments will be available.

SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER

Mass celebration cycle ride between Dorchester and Weymouth on the new Weymouth Relief Road Cycle track. 11.15am for an 11.30am start from Dorchester and 11am for an 11:15 start from Weymouth Summary of Event:

Mass cycle ride to celebrate the opening of the new traffic free cycle route built as part of the Weymouth Relief Road.  Two separate groups of cyclists, one from Weymouth and one from Dorchester will cycle with their respective Mayors (Graham Winter and Tess James) and meet at the Ridgeway for a noon press photocall and ceremonial ribbon cutting.  Refreshments and small goodies (water bottle or back-up cycle lights) will be available to participants at the summit of the Ridgeway.

Details:

1.      Dorchester ride: Meet outside the main entrance to Dorchester Town Football Stadium at 11:15am for an 11.30am start and a very leisurely  2mile cycle ride up to the Ridgeway

2.  Weymouth Ride: Meet outside the bus waiting area at Mount Pleasant Park &  Ride  at 11am for an 11:15 start and a leisurely 3 mile cycle ride up to the Ridgeway”

Dorset County Show 2011

YOU MUST BE YOLKING: DORSET COUNTY SHOW ANNOUNCES POULTRY THEME FOR 2011

DOGS herding ducks and birds of prey top the pecking order in an ‘egg-citing’ range of activities on offer at the 2011 Dorset County Show.

Show organisers have got birds on the brain as they step forward to announce the theme of this year’s show is poultry, birds and country living.

Keeping chickens and producing eggs is popular as never before, which has inspired Show Secretary Sam Mackenzie-Green to link up with exhibitors, traders and visitors all keen on home-grown produce and keeping the animals.

She said: ‘Poultry are back at the Dorset County Show this year with a new tent in the popular Countryside Area.  Located alongside the lake, on the way to the Lake Ring, you will be able to find our new poultry display and learn more about chickens!

‘Once seen as a niche hobby for hippies and bored country wives, chicken keeping is now officially cool. And it’s not difficult to discover why: not only are hens easy and cheap to keep, they also provide a steady supply of fresh eggs and a readymade way to recycle food scraps. Eggs are at the heart of the chicken-keeping trend, and as any keen cook knows anything made with a really fresh egg tastes better.

‘Many families across Dorset are enjoying the benefits of chicken owning. Whether you want to breed some of the more unusual or exotic chickens or give a new home to an ex-battery hen, the Poultry Tent will be a place to provide you with the information and contacts you need. 

‘Our thanks go to Heathwood Timber Products, Warmwell and C & T Logistics, Blandford, who are offering Show goers a chance to win a complete home chicken kit including chicken house and run, drinker, feeder, a year’s supply of chickenfeed and beginners book to keeping chickens.  All you need do is add the chickens and away you go!’

She added: ‘Of course, animal welfare is paramount at the Dorset County Show – that is why we are delighted to launch our Happy Homes for Ex-bats campaign, which aims to show people that, contrary to popular belief, if an ex-battery chicken is happy, she will begin to lay again.’

There will be over 20 different breeds of chicken on display in the Poultry Tent and experienced poultry keepers on hand to answer your questions. Those who are already enjoying the benefits of keeping chickens are invited to enter the egg classes, held in the Farm Produce Tent. The four classes are as follows:

·        Four new-laid hen’s eggs (brown)
·        Four new-laid hen’s eggs (any other colour)
·        Four duck or goose eggs
·        Contents of one hen’s egg, to be exhibited on a white saucer (provided) and broken by the judge

The winner of the first prize receives £4, the second prize is £3 and the third prize is £2. Judging begins at 9am on Saturday, 3 September. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 10 August. People can pick up an entry form from the Show Office.

Special Show ambassadors dressed up as chickens will be handing out leaflets and selling tickets throughout August – keep your eyes peeled for them on Dorset beaches and towns!

Sam Mackenzie-Green said: ‘You can pick up more cuisine advice if you stop to enjoy free range chicken produce in our food halls.

‘Alongside the usual animals you would expect at an agricultural show, you will find some less usual ones to get up close with. You can learn more about. falcons and even owls!’

She went on to say: ‘We can’t wait to get cracking with our egg-cellent line-up of attractions at the Dorset County Show – come join us on a flight of fancy!’