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Masterchef presenter John Torode at Jimmy's Farm, Wherstead with Jimmy Doherty who plans to supply John's London restaurant with bacon Celebs give Suffolk food a boost

Source: Evening Star - UK
23 July 2008 | 07:13

CELEBRITY chef John Torode paid a visit to Suffolk, helping to promote the great food the county has to offer.

The presenter of MasterChef and Celebrity MasterChef was visiting Jimmy's Farm, run by Jimmy Doherty at Wherstead, near Ipswich, and made famous by its own television show.

Mr Torode, who was given a tour taking in the site including sows and boar, is placing an order with Mr Doherty for rare breed pig meat for his London restaurant, Smiths of Smithfield taking bacon, pork, as well as some beef.

He will also soon be president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England and takes up his position in October with the aim of improving the relationship between farmers and restaurants.

Mr Torode said: “People do not understand where food comes from. A chef should understand that a pork loin chop does not just appear, it takes years of hard work.”

Mr Doherty said: “Suffolk and East Anglia are very important within the whole of the UK for food production and this area is often overlooked.

“It is a beautiful county, an agricultural county and so close to London, but is often overlooked as flat and full of wheat.”