Today marks 100 days of lockdown here in the UK. I have just written my latest column for Norfolk Online and in that I lament the loss of one of life’s greatest pleasures – one that we definitely all took for granted – and that is a cup of coffee with a friend. Whether spontaneous or planned, a cup of coffee – or tea, or wine, or water – with a friend is truly the thing that puts the world to rights. It resets the mind, and it balances the soul. It helps us make sense of our lives –…
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Continue ReadingI do not think that it is an exaggeration to say that Richard Hughes is a true Norfolk institution. From his days at Number 24 in Wymondham to the famed Lavender House in Brundall Richard has, for the past 10 years, been the man behind the resurgence of The Assembly House. One of our county’s most-loved chefs, Richard gives a searingly honest interview, albeit it one that barely scratches the surface, as we talk about his obsession with cooking, his dedication to his craft, and living through the moment when being a chef became sexy. “I love what I do,”…
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Continue ReadingNo series on food and drink in Norfolk would be complete without an interview with Galton Blackiston. Through his own Michelin-starred restaurant, Morston Hall, and latterly No1 Cromer, Galton is deeply embedded in the local food and drink scene. With his passion for Norfolk and its produce regularly broadcast across the country through television screens, Galton has been a leading advocate for all things Norfolk for well over 20 years. With that in mind, I take the opportunity of lockdown to speak to one of, not just Norfolk’s, but the nation’s most endearing chefs. “Three months into the dream of…
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Continue ReadingI shall let you into my new little secret – an absolute delight and my new guilty pleasure. Roasted strawberries. And I am sharing them here with a beautiful weekend cocktail sent to me by my friends at Brasted’s – their signature Brasted’s Bramble. The roasted strawberries first… I mentioned them to a friend yesterday , and she was surprised, saying that she has never thought of roasting them. “Do,” I replied. “They are amazing.” Not only are they amazing, they are simple and delicious, and such a good way to use up strawberries that are, perhaps, a little bit…
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Continue ReadingThe Norfolk foodie scene is not just about chefs and producers – it is also about those people who work hard to showcase the best of what the county can do, and the people in my third interview for The Norfolk Foodie series personify this. Anna and Hugo Stevenson have been at the heart of the food and drink scene in the region for 15 years, and it was a pleasure to talk to them not just about their love for all things foodie in Norfolk, but also their clear passion for those who live here. “The Norfolk food and drink…
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Continue ReadingSign the petition here: https://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/food-standards-petition/ While all our attention has been on getting through the COVID-19 pandemic with friends and family unscathed, the British government is close to putting through a Bill that will have a huge impact on food standards – and we all need to act now to prevent this from happening. In essence, the government has voted against an amendment to the UK’s Agriculture Bill that would have guaranteed high standards for food imports entering the UK post-Brexit. This would mark the biggest reform in British farming since 1945. Needless to say, farming groups had already lobbied…
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Continue ReadingI am delighted to share my second interview in my The Norfolk Foodie series, which is with the Queen of Chutney herself, Candi Robertson of Candi’s Chutney. A hugely popular figure on the Norfolk food and drink scene, Candi is known across the county and beyond for her utterly delicious and innovative chutneys – all made with fresh produce grown here in Britain. With COVID-19 impacting the number of markets producers are able to attend, Candi spares a couple of hours out of her preparation for the first Creake Abbey Market of 2020 to talk to me about her award-winning…