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Saturday 25 June 2022

From Knob Throwing To Nettle Eating : The Mind Boggles !

The summer months can see many different types of Festivals, Fayres and Concerts, and thankfully to the delight of so many there have been quite a few dotted around the UK.

However, one event that couldn't be held this year, because it got too popular to run, was the Dorset Knob Throwing Event. The event can attract 8000 visitors and it should have been held in May, but due to various reasons the Dorset Knob Throwing committee had to cancel it ... a shame. The one-day event which usually incorporates a food festival and live music started in 2008 and features a host of fun knob-themed events using the spherical biscuit including a knob and spoon race, guess the weight of the big knob and knob darts.


These knob biscuits have been made by the Moores family in Dorset for more than 150 years. Originally, they were made from leftover bread dough with added butter and sugar, hand-rolled and left to dry in the dying heat of the oven. It is thought their name comes from the hand-sewn Dorset knob buttons that were also made locally. They can be eaten with Blue Vinny cheese, dipped in tea or cider, or taken with honey and cream - known locally as thunder and lightning. No-one likes to cancel events and the committee are hopeful it can be held in 2023 ... we shall have to wait and see. This story from here


One charity event that is happening this weekend is, The World Nettle Eating Competition, which sees hopefuls try and chew their way through as many stinging nettles as they can in one hour. The winner is the contestant who has stripped and eaten the leaves from the greatest number of stalks. The tradition dating back to the 1980s has been taken over by Ryan Strong and has been kept in the town of Bridport at the Dorset Nectar Cider Farm. The nettles, picked the day before from his organic cider farm, have to be eaten raw and there is "no mayonnaise, no ketchup or deep-frying". "This is a competition of mind over matter, it is quintessential Dorset", Mr Strong said. Contestants must also have the stomach for the challenge as vomiting is not allowed. Cider-maker Mr Strong, who came second in 2019, said he had a "numb-blackened tongue" and his chin "stung for hours afterwards". The contest has previously attracted entrants from as far afield as Australia and Canada. This story from here

Do you have any local events that you enjoy going to?
Many towns and villages have scarecrow festivals which are always fun and colourful. I have enjoyed 'wellie throwing' at summer fetes but the thought of eating raw nettles is not something I would like to try. However, you can forage for wild nettles (carefully) and use them in your cooking. They are similar in taste to spinach, and nettles make a great addition to soups, pesto and pie fillings, they are also a tasty toast topping, a selection of recipes here not all are low carb!

Whatever your plans are this weekend, I wish you a good one.

Dear reader, you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues please take these into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health it is always advisable to consult your Doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

33 comments:

William Kendall said...

A lot of stiff is coming back in terms of annual events. There is one I missed at the beginning of this month after two years held off. Hopefully next year.

Tom said...

...these are strange to say the least.

Anonymous said...

Good that events are coming back after Covid.

Alicia

Christine said...

Love the summer fun!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Nettles!? Ouch! A unique event.

Weeded stinging nettle several years ago what I thought was spreading mint. Swollen itchy red hands was not a happy moment.
Events are returning in Vermont as well. It is good people are out and about. I stay home mostly.

J.P. Alexander said...

Parecen actividades divertidas. Te mando un beso.

Practical Parsimony said...

Poke salet festival-- a wild green eaten with eggs scrambled into the pot of greens.

Elephant's Child said...

Your country does eccentricity really, really well.

Margaret D said...

Interesting and once again people can enjoy these different happenings after a break.

Valerie-Jael said...

Sounds like fun, but I wouldn't want to eat those nettles! We have events like Carnival and town celebrations, but I can't say I'm a fan, I pefer the quiet life! Have a great weekend, Valerie

Barwitzki said...

...we are so happy - as everywhere - that the festivals are coming back. On Tuesday there was Fete de la Musique, a festival of musicians - groups play for free all over the city, all over the country... just incredible... with a picnic :-))) so nice.
Enjoy.
Warm greetings. Viola

eileeninmd said...

It is great to see these events happening again.
I would not be good at an eating contest.
Take care, have a happy weekend.

CJ Kennedy said...

I'll skip the nettles. In Boston's Italian North End neighborhood, there will be several festivals that include parading a large statue of a saint around the neighborhood to collect money for the church, lots and lots of food, music. The festivals are too crowded now so I'll watch someone's YouTube posting. Lots of fun and no calories. Today, my niece is getting married. Enjoy your weekend!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Jan,
That's a funny event. Special to read what someone could eat there so many nettles in one hour.
A lot of beer has to be added to extinguish..haha...!!

Greetings, Marco

Jeanie said...

The knob event sounds fun and those biscuits look tasty! I'm curious about the nettles, too. I had some nettle soup once, which was delicious.

At home we have several festivals -- mostly art fests and music fests -- in the summer. There used to be a wonderful multicultural folk festival but it fell by the wayside when the director of the organization that sponsored it changed. Up north we have the Alpenfest. I used to always go to these -- now I tend to avoid the crowds!

Divers and Sundry said...

I'm still not doing events, but we have quite a few -especially music and food-related- events here in Memphis. I'm just still skittish about crowds. I didn't even go to yesterday's SCOTUS protest :(

Bill said...

Another fun festival returns, sounds like fun.

Sondra said...

My Biscuits could easily double as rocks....lol I used to live on Coney Island, where the famous Nathan's Hot dog eating contest was held once a year but I don't think I could watch that so never attended...too gross!

Jeff said...

that nettle eating business seems a bit extreme. Nettles can be boiled, I thought, but to eat as many as you can raw, that's asking much. To the west of us, there is a ramp festival, which is a cross between an onion and garlic and a lot more potent when eaten raw (not only would you keep a vampire away, you'd keep every one else away). There is a town down in South Carolina that has a chitlin festival... which I suppose is for those who think haggis is wimpy to eat, I hope you're feeling better.

Ananka said...

Haha that is mad!

Mary Kirkland said...

Looks like fun.

DeniseinVA said...

Isn't that fascinating? I love that, thanks Jan :)

happyone said...

Some interesting events!!!

Martha said...

I love this time or year with all kinds of events popping up (even strange and unusual ones!). We enjoy day trips, festivals and meeting up with friends. Winters are long here, so we do as much as we can before it gets cold!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

I am truly fascinated by the stinging nettle competition. My CSA grew stinging nettle and I touched it once and never again. I had sores on my hand for days! Felt like burns! Can't imagine eating it.. Anyway. We have weekly music festivals in a our little town where the locals bring chairs and listen to local music in downtown Yardley. We get pizza, homemade local water ices, etc.

carol l mckenna said...

Biscuits sound and look delicious ~ fun events to attend too ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in you days,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

DMS said...

Sounds like an interesting event. There are lots of events in the fall around me, but not so many in the summer.
~Jess

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Festivals and Faires are fun.

Fun60 said...

Nettle eating does pose the question- why? A lot more fun towatch than to partake I would imagine.

sandy said...

wow interesting post.

Lowcarb team member said...

28 June 2022
Update on the nettle eating contest ...

"Spectators flocked to watch the World Nettle Eating Contest at Dorset Nectar Cider Farm near Bridport on Saturday.

Entrants were tasked with consuming as many 2ft (0.6m) stalks of the prickly plants as they could in 30 minutes.

Women's winner Lindie Rogers managed to eat 42ft (12.8m), while the men's winner, known only by his first name Niall, managed 54ft (16.4m)."

More to read here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-61943093

All the best Jan

Snowbird said...

Goodness, who knew!!!!xxx

Teresa said...

Muy interesante todo. Besos.