Roobarb, Rhubarb, Triangles and Trains

First ever drawing

ART
Grange Calveley is the writer and artist known for creating Roobarb and Custard for people who have never heard , or, seen the TV Show it was aimed at youngsters in the 70's80's and 90's. It was the first cartoon to run with “woobly” animation, (known as “boiling” in the trade), along with the seemingly manic theme tune and humour attracting the adults and children. Thirty episodes were made that lasted for five minutes.  Although I actually thought the theme tune (thanks Johnny Hawksworth for that) and the cartoon was annoying, I was more a Charlton and the Wellies fan. The cartoon had a brief “cooling off” period before Channels 5's Milkshake brought it back with new characters in 2005. Roobarb and Custard is still as popular as it was when it first appeared.

---

Grange and Roobarb

Grange is Cheshire born and after art college worked for a few advertising agencies in London. Roobarb and Custard are based on animals he knows. Roobarb is his Welsh Border Collie. Roobarb is always off having fun or rather mis-adventures and is coloured Green. Custard was the huge fat cat that lived next door and always tries to curtail and sabotage the fun. Custard appears in Pink.
Here's Grange's blog about Richard Briers (narrated the whole cartoon from inside a metal bin!) and Bob Godfrey (Director). 

---

Richard Briers

BEER
I tell you there's a lot of Rhubarb beers out there if you have a look around.
This is the one I tried last year and loved it. "Rhubarb Beer" wrote almost to the week 2015

But I'm off down to my beer walls in the two food halls near me to see if they have any of these in stock. 
​

---

Ikley Brewery - Siberia Rhubarb Saison 5.9%
They use Saaz, Willamette and Galaxy hops in their Rhubarb beer, and, it is there most successfully exported beer. To Find out more about Ikley Brewery here

Mad Hatter Brewing Co  - Rhubarb and Custard 7% 
This Liverpudlian Brewery uses good 'ole Yorkshire Rhubarb (because it's the best!). Some reviewers says there is not enough Rhubarb for their taste buds, others say not enough. I say it's always worth a try and expect subtle flavours as I think too much of a Rhubarb taste will pull your cheeks in that much you won't be able to part your lips. You can find these guys on Twitter. ​

Magic Brewing Company – Rhubarbarella Rhubarb Braggot 7.2%
*Chuckles to one's self*, try saying that one when you've had a few of these. 300KG of Rhubarb and 600kg of honey make up this Braggot.  Half beer and half mead, bit like a half blood prince. NO hops were used in the making of this beer.
This beer was a collaboration with Against the Grain brewery in America. Read their blog to find out more about the visit and how it all happened. 

Thornbridge Brewery -
Rhubarbe De Saison 5.%

Thornbridge some time ago had a competition amongst the home brewers to come up with a beer worthy of their reputeour. That winner was this beer and was created by Will Alston. Northern Brewer, Saaz and Kent Golding are the hops that went into this winning ale. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook

---

Wild Beer did a Amuse Rhubarb 5.4% which was part of their Amuse Bouche range, inspired by the traditional Lambic beers of Belgium. But I think we are all out of luck with this one as it doesn't seem to appear in their shop. You can find the Wild Beer website here full of beers with a difference and a wild side.

---

​Have you tried any of the ones I have found lurking on the shelves? What did you think? Do you have any other recommendations I should search out?

​SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Taylors of Harrogate – Sweet Rhubarb Tea
 
Whilst browsing the Tea and Coffee isle last week I found a real gem that would finish this themed blog off nicely.
Sweet Rhubarb Tea!!! Yes that's right Rhubarb and Tea. I snapped up a packet and preceded to sneak it into my already full of tea cupboard. It wasn't long before I was itching to try it. There was no escaping The Man as I walked back into the room with a cuppa tea in hand and what I thought was my poker face. “What have you got there”? “Just Tea” was the response. His eyes squinted and his nose twitched. “That's not your usual tea” “Nah” I responded and sat down to a more quizzical look and more of the twitching nose. “That smells fruity and a bit....” “Oh it's Rhubarb Tea” frustrated I'd been found out, cause I know at some point this month his inquisitiveness will kick in.

---

A very nice brew it is too. I put no sugar in as indeed it was sweet Rhubarb. And NO milk! Which is somewhat a rarity. It is refreshing and would probably make a nice tea for the summer months (when it finally arrives).
The tea reminds me of the juice you get at the bottom of the Rhubarb and apple crumble dish, but not as sweet.
This Sweet Rhubarb tea was a collaboration with Kew Gardens.
Find out more about Taylors of Harrogate and their Collaboration here 

---

​COVERED IN WEEDS
Did you know there was a Rhubarb Triangle in England?
It isn't like the Bermuda triangle where things disappear, in the Rhubarb Triangle Rhubarb appears as if by magic. Undercover of day and night there are a few farms in Yorkshire tending to their pink stalks of rhubarb. When it's ready they light their candles in the dead of night and pick the luscious pink forced stalks from January through to March! They must be sick of the sight of it by the time it hits the the shops!

Photograph Martin Parr Magnum Photos

But why is it that Rhubarb grows well in Yorkshire?
​You see Rhubarb originates from Siberia on the banks of the Volga (the longest river in Europe), so it needs cold, water and a main ingredient which is a soil rich in Nitrogen. What also makes a great crop is a good winter frost as the rhyzomes needs the frost to give it a good kick start. 

But Yorkshire has two other great things going for it. The coalfields, all that forcing Rhubarb business need coal to heat the sheds. And most important for an industry to be able to grow and reach the masses down in fancy London town a blooming good rail network. In the 1870's just before Christmas and till Easter The Great Northern Railway Company packed a train waiting at Ardsley Station full of the stalks (not people) and shipped to Covent Garden and Spitalfields Markets. The train was known as the Rhubarb Express 200 tons of rhubarb every day!

MUSINGS

9  Rhubarb Recipes
You shouldn't be too fed up with Rhubarb just yet, but, there will come a time especially if you have it growing in your garden or down at your allotment when you will be sick of Rhubarb Crumble. However should you love the vegetable (yes it is technically a vegetable) that much I've found some lovely recipes for you to try. Please remember DO NOT eat the LEAVES, and, ALWAYS COOK THE STALK, as the plant is poisonous (not so much in the stalk once it's cooked).
A certain someone turned water in to wine, well now you can turn Water rhubarb and a little bit of magic into wine if you follow Two Thirsty Gardeners Rhubarb Wine recipe.
I've gone almost all social media now and I am now on Pinterest, so if you like the look of some of the food and drink items click the photo and as if by magic you will be on the relevant Pin and blog. There's lots of Rhubarb related ideas if you have an over flow of it in your garden or allotment.

Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb and Lemon Cheescake

Ice Tea

Vanilla and Rhubarb Syrup

Rhubodka

Rhubarb Limeaid

Thanks for popping along.  See you soon. I say soon because I've been so busy at work and my art (had some commissions to do) I've neglected the blog. If it's your first time and you liked what you saw and don't want to miss the next one press the RSS feed at the top of the page. Hope you all have a great week ahead.

​Tunes of the week
JOHN CLEESE & THE 1948 SHOW CHOIR - 'Rhubarb Tart Song'
A Brisbane Rock Band former in 1996 and quit in 2006
Rhubarb - Exerciser