Bonfire night. The night that could have dramatically changed the UK had the Gunpowder Plot gone ahead. Instead, people celebrate the macabre execution of Guy Fawkes et al by letting off fireworks into the sky. Over the centuries, the reason for the celebrations has been lost, but the ingrained need for earthy flavours that warm has remained. There is something about November. I find this is the month when all our deep-rooted instincts come to the fore. The darker days signal hibernation, and the need to feed our souls to keep us warm through these months. And the two seem…
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What a terrific launch for Adnams Pink Gin! We went to a great event held in Adnams Harleston, and this display was somewhat depleted by the time the store closed at 7pm. I saw many people leaving with bottles of the new gin as well as several bottles of Adnams flagship gin, First Rate. The new Pink Gin is seriously good. Dangerously good, in fact! The raspberry is gentle and takes away any of the tart gin tang, leaving a very refreshing taste. All the Adnams stores are open all Saturday, and I recommend you go and buy a bottle ahead…
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My favourite ice cream as a child was, without fail, mint choc chip. The lurid green ice flecked with chocolate pieces, it was the stuff of dreams and, no doubt, started what remains a life-long obsession with chocolate and mint flavours together. From the punch Bendick’s Bittermint to the easy going After Eight, combine those flavours together and I am a happy girl. However, being intolerant to lactose means that I can no longer grab a mint choc chip cornetto or, even crunchier, a slice or two of Vienetta for a creamy, frozen, choccie-mint treat. And that could only mean…
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I cannot wait for next Sunday! A celebration of all things foodie – and all things Norfolk – at the annual Norwich Food and Drink Festival. This brilliant day out for all the family will be held once more at The Forum in Norwich, as well as on the adjoining streets, and there is so much to look forward to. Cozens-Hardy LLP Solicitors are once more the headline sponsors for this fabulous event, which will see everything from cooking demos and a foodie street market to Battle of the Bangers and Splat the Dad. The event begins at 10am on Sunday…
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I love to travel and an incredibly fortunate to be able to do so with my day job. April saw me go to the United States for a trip that took me through Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Florida. I hope you enjoy my snapshot of some of my foodie highlights. 11 April – en route to Heathrow On my way to Heathrow with the essential travel equipment – my reusable cup from Earsham Street Deli in Bungay. I cannot start the day without at least two pints of peppermint tea, and with the early start for my flight, I…
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The beginning of 2018 welcomed the Artisan Pastry Chef to the heart of Norwich with open arms. From Portugal, Joaquim Teles and his wife, Ana, have become familiar faces across Norfolk and Suffolk the past year. With approaching 30 years of experience behind him, Joaquim and Ana moved to the UK in 2015 and chose Norfolk as the best place to combine his brilliant patissier skills with the amazing produce that this region is so well known for. The result – the Artisan Pastry Chef, who has been seen at markets and pop ups across Norfolk and Suffolk ever since.…
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What a year it has been here in Norfolk! I never tire of celebrating the great produce that comes from this much-loved part of the world, and we are so lucky to have so many dedicated producers and chefs within it, who all help put Norfolk on the map. Indeed, a highlight for me this year has to be when a friend from another part of the UK referred to Norfolk as the ‘food capital of the UK’. I can only agree. So, as we come to the end of 2017, it is time for reflection on the 12 months…
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Happy Christmas – belatedly! I hope that you all had a wonderful time with friends and family, and that the table was laden with beautiful produce from across Norfolk. I will be brief, today. Nobody has time or inclination to read a long missive, but I do have a big problem with Christmas, and it needs to be shared. In one word… Leftovers. From Christmas Day night, foodie social media sites and magazines were posting ‘how to use your Christmas leftovers’. I don’t know about anyone else, but most of us have a turkey that is much bigger than a…