I couldn't wait to start talking about food this week as we have just announced the most exciting news for both the Eat Out and Eat In brands. We are merging! This means that anything and everything to do with food – whether eating in or out – will fall under the new, more delicious, Eat Out brand. I am super excited about this development, as I can now be more involved in all aspects of food, from cooking to eating.

And speaking of new things, I am particularly interested in magical Jerusalem artichokes at the moment. They are hard to find in supermarkets, but some of the more creative chefs are starting to hunt them down. During my last trip to Piggly Wiggly Farm Stall in the Midlands (winner of the Best Outlet in the eastern region at the 2012 Eat In DStv Food Network Producer Awards), I bought a couple of packets.

Then I decided it would be best to grow my own, so whilst on a shoot for the latest Eat In Magazine, the horticulturist who looks after the magnificent veggie gardens on the Cellars-Hohenhort property (home of The Greenhouse and The Conservatory), gave me some. He warned that they grow like wildfire and you can't get rid of them. I smiled as I eyed his massive crop. No worries here: not only can I never have enough artichokes, but they are packed with insulin, which helps me keep my sugar levels in check. Well, except when they are gloriously layered between sheets of foie gras like those prepared by our chef of the year, Luke Dale-Roberts.

The tubers are now contained in large pots in our garden and they are nearly ready for an ultra-fine pot of soup, and maybe a drizzle of truffle oil if I’m feeling a little flash. It really is the perfect match.

One more find from the weekend – and a very inspirational one, too – was a little bottle of pink rose syrup and crushed rose petals, made by a company called Zest. I imagined it would be quite sweet, but instead it’s lovely and lemony with a fragrant taste of rose and a hint of elderflower.

Cheers to new beginnings and beautiful new combinations! 
Abigail

Photograph: Mushroom, butternut and feta cheesecake. Recipe by Abigail Donnelly, shot by Donna Lewis, on location at Cellars-Hohenhort Hotel for Eat In Magazine 2012.