Congratulations to Fischer’s at Baslow Hall, who have once again retained their Michelin star this year. It’s great to see a Derbyshire restaurant on the list, but it would be even better if we could add a few more eateries to the roll of honour next year.

I am lucky enough to have eaten at Fischer’s a few times, and the experience has always been fantastic. In fact, AJ and I liked it so much that we got married there! Food and drink definitely took top priority in our choice of venue, and we were more than happy to sacrifice numbers for quality (Fischer’s can generally only seat 38 people). As always, everything was managed perfectly. I don’t even remember staff being there (but that could have been the champagne…).

I’m no stranger to the Buxton Fair, and generally pop down to the Saturday opening every month, rather than the Farmers’ Market, which is held on Thursdays.

The Food Fair takes place in the appropriately-named Octagon Hall, which can be found at the end of Buxton Pavilion complex and runs from 10am to 4pm. Stall-wise, it can be patchy and it’s much smaller than the Bakewell Farmer’s Market. Nevertheless it does has some excellent regulars such as the Derbyshire Smokery, selling smoked fish and meats, Lambrellis pasta sauces, and Hope Valley ice-cream, as well as a selection of stalls offering homemade pies, cheese and ales. My particular favourite is F Jackson & Son, from Melbourne nr Derby, which sells fantastic seasonal veg of the very best quality. If I can, I always try to buy most of my weekly vegetables here as I know that they will be fresh and tasty. Today, my bag included potatoes, carrots, leeks, a savoy cabbage, a punnet of jerusalem artichokes and purple kale (total £5.20).

The next Buxton Food Fair will be held 14 Feb 2009. Admission is free and parking can be found next door to the Octagon.

I first came across Artisan Biscuits when I was rummaging through my local Waitrose and chanced across a box of Miller’s Damsels Wafers (£1.75). Seduced initially by the great packaging, and then the delicious-sounding natural ingredients, I read further and was pleasantly surprised to discover that they were made locally in Ashbourne.

Being a big cheese and cracker fan, I have since steadily worked my way through several of the seven flavours – wheat, rye, spelt, sour dough, oat, three-seed and charcoal. Oat is my favourite so far, but if you’re a snackaholic like me, then any of these thin, crispy triangles of salty tastiness are bound to satisfy. They’re made with 100% stone-ground flour, milled in the traditional way with a stone called a damsel, and are hand-baked and hand-packed.

And this is only the start of the Artisan Biscuit story. They also produce another seven ranges at their factory, which include the Elegant & English range made specially for enjoying with a cup of tea and the Two by Two selection of flavoured organic biscuits for children (and adults). All come in gorgeous packaging and look amazing on a kitchen shelf. I particularly love the design of the Two by Two Owl and the Pussycat Organic Vanilla biscuit box (see left).

They can be bought at many fine food outlets in Derbyshire including Chatsworth Farm Shop and Buxton Waitrose. Alternatively they can be ordered online at The Fine Cheese Co.

The Chatsworth farm shop restaurant in Pilsley Village (see map here) is one of my favourite spots for lunch. Contrary to it’s name, it is perhaps more of a cafe than a restaurant, although it doesn’t fall neatly into either category. The interior is informal, similar to many National Trust cafes, with glass windows on one side offering fantastic views of the Estate. The food is sourced locally, firstly from the Chatsworth Estate, then from the Tenant Farms, thirdly from Derbyshire producers and last of all, quality UK suppliers – making the menu a perfect example of how seasonal and homegrown food can be showcased at it’s very best. Surprisingly, it’s also very affordable. The most expensive dish on the menu was a full roast at £8.95, but the average main comes in at about £6.50 – not bad considering that the ingredients have such good provenance.

The menu is split into three sections:

• 9-11.30 Breakfast - prices ranging from £1.50-£6.95 (Toast, Eggs Benedict)
• 12-2.30 Lunch - prices ranging from £4.00-£8.95 (Fresh Soup, Chatsworth oven roasted sausages with onion marmalade gravy served with potatoes and seasonal veg)
• 2.30-3.45 Afternoon – prices ranging from £4.00 – £8.95 (Hot Derbyshire Oatcake filled with Chatsworth Ham, and farmhouse Cheddar)

As we were snacking, we chose a Toasted panini with bacon and smoked Cheddar cheese (£5.50) and smoked salmon in a freshly baked roll (£4.50). These came with a portion of salad, dressing in a little pot, a homemade ketchup and a dill sauce respectively, plus a dish of stuffed olives. The bread was crusty on the outside, soft on the inside and both fillings were extremely fresh. The sauces were piquant, just enough to enhance the filling, yet not too overpowering.

To drink, I had a glass of the Chatsworth Cotes de Duras rose (£3.95), followed by a filter coffee (£1.80) and A had a creamy hot chocolate. The wine was a little thin for a rose and not to my taste, but the coffee hit the spot entirely. Chatsworth source their gold standard beans from Pollards of Sheffield, and the blend has a distinct, almost peppery flavour. A finished with a treacle tart and custard (£3.60) which was again, a winner. Not too sweet, and with a nice texture.

The service, as always, was great. Not too intrusive, efficient and welcoming. And then the Farm Shop beckoned afterwards, but that’s another story…

There’s no place quite like Derbyshire. After spending the last ten years living in London, it’s literally a breath of fresh air to be back in the countryside again surrounded by dry stone walls, hidden dales and biting winds.

This blog is about tracking down the best of Derbyshire food – from the best restaurants to pub grub to farmers markets.