I'm a Celebrity: Grace Dent on her love of Cumbrian cuisine

The Carlisle-born restaurant critic is renowned in the food world for her brutally expert opinion displayed on shows such as Masterchef.

Despite her success, Grace - like many Cumbrians - has never forgotten her roots and even wrote about Cumbria's place in the food world last year.

In February 2022, Grace wrote a flattering review in the Guardian in which she spoke of her adoration for how the county has moved on from scampi in a basket to world-class Michelin-starred menus.

This week on Comfort Eating, @gracedent is joined by @KBJWhitstable, The Great Pottery Throw Down’s famously teary-eyed resident potter.

Keith reveals the foods he turns to after a long day throwing down at the pottery wheel.

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— The Guardian (@guardian) November 14, 2023

She said: "It makes me proud that everyone has started to turn up now and see Cumbria. Simon Rogan, whose restaurant L’Enclume has just won three Michelin stars, had the foresight to go to south Cumbria, and what he’s done is very metropolitan: a market garden and micro-nursery and bringing the ideas you usually find floating around Soho to the north.

"Cumbria has certainly become savvier at selling its amazing produce – for years we just accepted that we made incredible sausages, pies and cheese. When I go into Fortnum & Mason now, Cumbrian things are front and centre, and I love that. You see Cumberland sausages on the menu in the best restaurants, and Cumbria is full to the brim with people living on the side of a mountain making exemplary honey. It’s become rather cool."

"There are now some really good places up near Carlisle, like Pentonbridge Inn and the Hidden River Cafe at Longtown, and there are lots of amazing places off the beaten track to be discovered. The Yan in Grasmere is a beautiful farm in the middle of nowhere: it’s not fancy but it’s hearty and the chef makes a Cumberland sausage platter that I absolutely love," Grace continued.

"Cumbrians have been swept up into this world"

"I swear by Henrock in Bowness-on-Windermere: the scenery is incredible and they’ve spent millions on the art in the gardens.

"I had the “zero fashioned” cocktail, which was made with caramelised banana skins and caramelised banana syrup, grilled fillet of pollack with curried cauliflower and roast shrimp and lemongrass, and a chocolate, raspberry and peanut tart, which was amazing.

"Cumbrians have been swept up into this world. I’m not saying they don’t raise an eyebrow, but they’re up for it."