Katherine MacAlister discovers what's new in Oxfordshire's food land this week.

Rumour has it one of Oxford’s most idyllic pubs The Isis Farmhouse on The Towing Path, Iffley Lock, Oxford has been sold. Set right on the river, it has enormous potential and really comes into it’s own in the summer. Watch this space.

Exciting news - Sonya Kidney, former head chef at Killingworth Castle, is opening up a new Yurt Café’, at Nicholsons Nursery in North Aston.

Opening later this month with a soft opening, the official launch is next month. Expect an innovative, predominantly vegetarian and contemporary menu.

Candice Brown, Great British Bake Off Winner 2016, will be baking at Oxford Foodies Festival in 2017 With the new and exciting Healthy Living focus of the festival, Grow Your Own, Creative Summer Workshops and Cakes & Desserts Theatre, 2017 is set to be the best year yet! Oxford, South Parks: September 1-3 www.foodiesfestival.com

What’s the best thing about Pancake Day? Stuffing your face with pancakes, obviously!

So, why not take a trip to Cosmo this Pancake Day (February 28) where you can tuck into as many pancakes as your heart desires! Yes, that’s right… all you can eat pancakes!

Watch as your pancake mix descends into one of Cosmo’s high tech machines and wait for a perfectly formed pancake to come out the other end! If that’s not enough for you, you can help yourself to a selection of toppings: think an array of sweets, syrups and even melted chocolate from Cosmo’s very own chocolate fountain…the bigger the better!

So what are you waiting for? Join Cosmo for what could possibly be one of the best pancake days yet.

www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk

The WineBarn, an award winning German specialist wine merchant, who supply some of the UK’s top restaurants, hotels and retailers, including Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley and Harvey Nichols is holding tastings at Balliol, with two of our superstar wine makers flying over from Germany. Philipp Losem from Bassermann-Jordan and Stefan Lergenmueller from Schloss Reinhartshausen will be showing a selection of their wines, mainly Riesling, and share their vast knowledge and expertise of their wineries on March 1. thewinebarn.co.uk

Families will be treated to a free Katsu Curry when spending £10 or more on YO! Sushi’s range of authentic Japanese street food and sushi dishes this half term from the 14 – 24 February.

Flavours include Chicken Katsu and the award winning Tofu Katsu curry.

A list of the top five sustainable restaurants in Oxford on Valentine's Day has been collated by WWF-UK and The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

Across the country restaurants are offering diners unique candlelit meals to show their support for the campaign that sees millions of people in over 170 countries switch off their lights from 8.30-9.30pm on Saturday March 25

This means that whether you’re looking for sustainable seafood, an all-organic experience or a menu that’s local and seasonal, these amazing, restaurants can offer you the romantic experience you’re looking for:

The Fishes, North Hinksey Village

Quod, Old Bank Hotel, High Street

Gees Restaurant and Bar, Banbury Road

Brasserie Blanc, Walton Street

Las Iguanas, Park End Street

To find out more about how to make your Earth Hour count and how to take part this year, visit wwf.org.uk/2017earthhour