International Women's Day - explore a few in our Peak District area

Its coming up to Pancake Day - but don't forget the Staffordshire Oatcake!

Unique to the areas of Staffordshire (and Derbyshire) - the Staffordshire Oatcake is one of our favourite 'fast foods' at Troutsdale Farm Holiday Cottages in the Staffordshire Peak District  - our regional dish and unique to this area.

A brief history

18th Century

• The Staffordshire Oakcake is THE original 'Potteries' fast food!
• Dating back to the 18th Century when it was a staple diet of the potteries folk.
• In the long hard winters farmers grew oats, rather than wheat and so this simply dish would be baked on bakestones for family and farm workers - and possibly eaten with lard, fat or cheese.

19th Century

• A cottage industry sprang up from the many men and women working in the potbanks making the famous Staffordshire Pottery.  
• The older women would take over the baking of the Oatcakes, often making more than was needed and taking them in baskets to sell in the markets and the streets.

20th century

The more successful bakers built brickrooms in their yards to bake the Oatcakes from and their front room became the shop front, selling the Oatcakes through the sash windows.

Current day

In years gone by the Staffordshire Oatcake was so popular as people lived locally, shopped locally and used the local public houses and the local Oatcake shop.

With supermarkets came the all the new and exotic foods to try and so to some the popularity of the Oatcake and people also had more money, public transport improved and the car was more available to people - which did have an adverse affect on the humble oatcake with many street shops closing and bakers retiring.

However the more recent interest in fresh produce and where their food comes from and an understanding how it is made locally with all its traditions .

You will often find that the good folk of Staffordshire that move away take piles of oatcakes with them back - as you can freeze them - and they make a such good handy 'ready meal' ... although you can now order locally made ones from the internet too!

Don't forget to try them out during your stay with us at Troutsdale Farm Holiday Cottages - or take some back home with you!

Enjoy!

Barbara

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