Escape To River Cottage DVD > Reviews > Escape to your dreams ( and a lot of hardwork!)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding

Advantages:	A healthy life and a relaxing pace to go with it
Disadvantages:	We can't all live the dream

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

River Cottage, a concept and a dream for many of us.

This is the first series of what would prove to be a life changing move for Hugh and for many other people. For some it would prove to be the start of a new and much healthier way of life and for many others it would prove to be a dream that they can only hope to fulfil.

The idea behind this series is that Hugh moved to a small cottage with some land in Dorset with the idea of a small holding and a self sufficient life style. The experiment was supposed to initially last for a year, but it hasn't ended yet.

If you don't know anything about Hugh (i didn't until this series started), he is a food writer for magazines and he has written books and columns in newspapers. He at first appears to be an upper class twit and i remember thinking about whether to watch the series when it first appeared on T.V, because i love the country and i would love this kind of lifestyle, but the thought of somebody like Hugh- aaaah!!!.

I expected him to die when he picked up the first garden tool, but it didn't take long to win me over and several years later, when the DVD's appeared, i started to collect them (sad i know).

Don't write these DVD's off without giving them a go, i know a lot of people that love River Cottage, when you wouldn't think that they personally would be interested. Part of the reason for the success of these series and the ongoing and ever expanding project is obviously the urge to escape from the rat race and the ever increasing demands on our time, the other part is down to Hugh who turns out to be quite an amiable chappy. His adventures and misadventures along with the friends that he makes and the beautiful countryside all are ingredients for this recipe for a dream.

Some people will undoubtably scream at the idea of dirt and animals along with the horrifying prospect of not getting a daily fix of lung crushing polution, but if you are even slightly intrigued by the freedom and the healthy lifestyle, then please read on.

The DVD starts with Hugh sitting on a large tree with a lamb in his hands welcoming us to the DVD and saying how it has been five years since he arrived at river cottage for the first time. He then proceeds to tell us how it is the best thing he ever did with his life and why don't we give it a go.

After this the first episode starts with some beautiful footage of the coast and the countryside of Dorset before moving on to a tidy little flower garden which Hugh demolishes after telling us how he likes flowers as much as the next man, but it is going to be his Vegetable patch.

After preparing the ground for vegetables, he goes off to find some porkers for raising and fattening up ready for turning into food later in the series. He goes to a prize winning pig breeder where he proceeds to discuss the merits of raising pigs at home and then he buys a couple. He has also made his first new friend.

He returns home to show his new pigs their new home.

Next up, it's time for lunch and a trip to the seaside where he goes fishing with another new friend and a speargun. I guess it's more fun than sitting on the beach with a rod! The next thing, he's in the water off Portland bill.

Luckily for Hugh, his friend Gary knows how to use his Gun and they settle down to a barbeque on the beach, some more friends and a party.

Next up, a poly tunnel grower for some more advise and the start of another long term friendship (Hugh seems to make friends with everybody he meets).

After this, he goes to see his nearest neighbours who happen to live in a mansion, where he goes to help them cull some pigeons and to get some meat for the pot.

Each episode has a couple of recipes to make our mouths water and to remind us that Hugh is a food writer and cook.

The second episode starts with Hugh lamenting the fact that something has been munching his vegetables. He then goes off to do a spot of pike fishing and we learn how to cook them.

With each of his excursions, he always goes with somebody that really knows what they are doing, so it is quite informative.

The countryside is stunning and Hugh always seems to have problems catching fish.

After this, it is back to River Cottage and the pigs. Time for Hugh to feed them and chase the one that gets away.
River cottage isn't going to provide much fruit in it's first year, so he goes off to pick some fruit at a fruit farm, but in the true spirit of not paying for anything with money if he can help it, he exchanges a days work for some fruit for his jam making endeavours and spends some time cooking with some east European workers for an exchange of culinary treats.

Next, he turns his attention to chickens and building a safe area for them to protect them from foxes. I am just surprised he isn't trying to eat the foxes as well!!

Then it is time to buy some chickens and chase them around the pen to try to catch them before he can take them home. We also learn how to clip their wings to stop them from flying away.

The next morning, he has his first egg and is soon cooking up a souffle.

Episode three starts with some slug hunting which provides some protein for the chickens. Then a tour of the gardens and then Hugh sets off on an errand to learn more about showing vegetables, cakes and chutney.

Part of his philosophy is to really get the most out of life in the country and to be a part of the community.

Next up is a spot of diving to get some spider crabs for dinner. More cooking and another little party, then it is back to River cottage for some serious stuff- getting ready for the Beominster show. First up is a sponge cake and then to prepare the vegetables. Exciting stuff you may be thinking, but it is a lot more interesting than it all sounds.

At least Hugh picks up some prizes, the best results come from his culinary skills.

On the second disc are a further three episodes and the Christmas special.

The first episode is from September and Hugh has a mice problem which he deals with by calling in some strange help, but it actually seems to have worked.

After this, it is out for a fruitless dear stalk, so he has to cook a liver from one that was shot the day before.

After this it is out in a small boat to pick up some prawn pots and to do a bit of foraging in rock pools for seaweed. Followed by some more cooking with childhood friends.

Back to the cottage and some home grown hazelnuts from the garden.

In episode five, Autumn is upon us and Hugh heads down to the river that gives the cottage it's name. He intends to catch some eels, so he goes to see a local basket maker with the intention of having an old fashioned eel trap made.

Back in his car, he comes across some road kill and we soon learn the delights of this excellent source of food. The one that he finds turns out to be a little on the splattered side, so it ends up in the eel trap.

It is in this episode where we are introduced to the chiddock cider circle and we learn of Hughs love of cider. He helps them to pick some windfall apples in exchange for a taste of their home brew and to help them to make some cider.

Back at the cottage, Hugh has managed to catch eels for another free meal.

The whether is now becoming more melanchology and wet, but that doesn't deter Hugh from exchanging his services as a beater on a pheasant shoot in exchange for some birds.

The sixth episode is the end of the series and the end of the line for the pigs. they are taken to the abatoir and turned into a variety of pork products. Even the blood is used. Hams, Brawn, bacon, sausages and other delights are created in this episode.

Next up is a forage on the seashore for razor clams. A party is the conclusion of the series with all of Hughs new friends that have helped him throughout the year.

After the party, Hugh has to decide whether to stay in Dorset, or return to town. It is a no brainer for Hugh and he is still in Dorset to this day.

The DVD also has the Christmas episode in which he joins a hedge witch to find a yule log and makes traditional mince pies with real meat. He buys a goose and uses it all with some interesting recipes.

To pay for it, he sells mince pies and marrons glace along with apple brandy butter at the local farmers market.

There is a lot more cooking in this feature length episode and it is nice to see a christmas episode that doesn't have trees covered in leaves and the summer sun streaming through the windows.

Carol singing and the cider makers along with a game of table skittles make up this episode, which i think is the high-light of the series.

If you want to know more about river cottage and what it stands for, head off to www.rivercottage.net

This will appeal to some and not to others, so it is hard to rate, but for me personally, it is very interesting and i would urge you to give river cottage a go if you like the countryside and cooking, or gardening even.