The BEST episodes of River Cottage season 17
Every episode of River Cottage season 17, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of River Cottage season 17!
In 1999 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall decided to quit the bustle of London and take on the life of a smallholder at River Cottage, a former gamekeeper's cottage in Dorset. The aim: self-sufficiency; to grow his own vegetables and raise his own animals for food. Over the years several series have been produced covering his experiences and watching his rural empire grow.
#1 - Veg Heroes (1): Professional Chef David
Season 17 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/12/2012
Hugh goes to London to meet professional chef David and family and to become inspired by the array of flavours that vegetables offer, from a Thai salad to a nut, cumin and orange salad. And Hugh sets out to see if bacon-loving workmen can be tempted by a meat-free midday meal.
#2 - Veg Heroes (4)
Season 17 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/18/2012
Hugh cooks up a storm for a (mostly vegetarian) wild swimming team. From the ultimate power-packing pesto, pasta and potato salad to a big hearty stew, Hugh's found his new role - club cook.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Veg Heroes (5): Sachiko Saeki and Pak Keung Wan
Season 17 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/19/2012
Hugh discovers new cooking techniques from Sachiko Saeki and her husband Pak Keung Wan, which inspire him to turn his runner beans in to Japanese pickles and tempting tempura dishes.
#4 - Veg Heroes (6)
Season 17 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/20/2012
Hugh's summer of vegetarianism presents him with a challenge: should he serve meat at the annual River Cottage BBQ? He sticks to his guns and dishes up a spelt, potato and carrot salad.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Veg Heroes (7)
Season 17 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/23/2012
To make the most of his summer as a vegetarian, Hugh turns to his love of foraging to provide some interestingly different edible options, from searching the rock pools for dulse seaweed to shimmying up a monkey puzzle tree for a never-before-tried taste of their nuts - which ultimately end up being perfect in a risotto.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Veg Heroes (8)
Season 17 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/24/2012
Inspired by his summer of vegetarianism, Hugh has set himself the mission to spread the word that meat-free meals can be for everyone. But the carnivorous customers at the Fox and Hound pub are proud of their meat-filled main courses... What will the locals think when Hugh puts on a veg-only night? Will his spicy pakoras and mushroom stews be enough to win them over, or will he be left with egg on his face?
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - Veg Heroes (9)
Season 17 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/25/2012
With the River Cottage team already making the most of all types of cheese to flavour their veg dishes - from Hugh's Easy Peasy Cheesy pasta to cheese and broad bean brochettes and cheese fritattas - Canteen Head Chef Tim faces a cook-off competition to persuade the rest of his staff to get on the meat-free bandwagon.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - Veg Heroes (10)
Season 17 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/26/2012
It's the River Cottage team's turn to provide the tea for their annual cricket match against their local rivals. But Hugh has banished the pork pies, ham sandwiches and luncheon meat, requiring some creative, and high-scoring, efforts in the kitchen to win over the opposition. Hugh, Tim and Gill get together for some collaborative sandwich-making and experiment with post-match veggie cocktails.
Watch Now:Amazon#9 - Veg Heroes (11)
Season 17 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/27/2012
This could be Hugh's biggest challenge yet; convincing kids to eat their greens! Hugh's secret tips include wood-fired pizzas and garlic butter, and he even has something up his sleeve for getting people to eat the ultimate 'love it or hate it' veg; Christmas sprouts.
Watch Now:Amazon#10 - Veg Heroes (12)
Season 17 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/30/2012
Will the celebration go to plan when guests discover that instead of the traditional spit-roast, Hugh is serving a complete wedding breakfast with no meat?
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - Veg Heroes (13)
Season 17 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/1/2012
Hugh finds out if a veggie lunch can keep the garden team as full and satisfied as they usually are with their bacon sandwiches, and James makes the ultimate cheese and pumpkin pastie.
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - Veg Heroes (2): Jagdish Ghelani
Season 17 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/16/2012
Veg hero Jagdish Ghelani helps Hugh bring an extra dimension to his culinary curry efforts, introducing him to veg pakoras and dosas, and even the ultimate curry in a hurry.
#13 - Veg Heroes (3): Chris Massamba and Laura Coxeter
Season 17 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/17/2012
Hugh takes veggie living to the extreme, discovering the world of 'raw food' with chef's Chris Massamba and Laura Coxeter, including a raw chocolate cake made with avocado!
#14 - Veg Heroes (14)
Season 17 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/2/2012
At the end of his summer of vegetarianism, Hugh throws a River Cottage thank you dinner before setting out to catch his first bite of fishy flesh in four months.