For the last two years, The Assembly House in Norwich has been home to a fund-raising afternoon tea, and this year is no exception. Wednesday 1 May will see people come together once more, this time to raise much-needed funds for the Priscilla Bacon Hospice. As well as enjoying the amazing afternoon tea from Head Pastry Chef Mark Mitson, there will much to enjoy during the afternoon, which is kindly sponsored by Norwich Cosmetic Clinic. The Priscilla Bacon Lodge on Unthank Road in Norwich is looking to raise a total of £12.5 million to better serve the people of Norwich.…
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Continue ReadingThank you all for so many amazing messages following my all-too brief appearance on MasterChef tonight.. Dreams are funny things. They keep us going and inspire us, motivating us to do better. But as I have learned from this experience, you really do have to have absolute confidence in what you do and what you are aiming for The photo with this post shows the plate I planned to cook: cannon of lamb with tomato and gigantes and pesto. I had perfected it. Spent weeks working on it. And I panicked. I panicked that the celery wouldn’t be cooked enough.…
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Continue ReadingI have long been a fan of The Swan in Loddon. Their mushroom consommé was my dish of 2017, and so when they invited me along to their vegetarian tasting night, I jumped at the chance. Arriving early, we enjoyed drinks by the open fire before heading upstairs to their newly-owned private dining area. This new addition to The Swan will certainly be a great asset – it is calm, tranquil and beautiful, and offers the perfect place for people to get together and celebrate a private party or a special occasion. The Swan is well known for holding its…
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Continue ReadingWhat a foodie year I have had! There has been so much to enjoy, to celebrate, and to have fun with. From visiting favourite local restaurants to going on cooking demos and brilliant foodie courses, there has been much to enjoy. The Delicate Diner has grown a lot over this past year and I have to thank you all for your likes, your love, your messages, and your support. Food has long been a passion of mine and I have enjoyed spending more time following this dream this year, and working out how I want to work with food in…
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Continue ReadingWednesday. November. Before all the chaos begins. Next week sees me head off to Paris with The Arabian Magazine for the Paris World Championships, the pinnacle of the halter showing year. The latest magazine come back this Friday. So now is the time to breathe and pause, and spend treasured time with family before incredibly busy times return. So with this in mind, I needed to follow a desire that has been nagging me for a few weeks now. Lunch at Benedicts Restaurant. And it didn’t disappoint. The moment you walk past the curtain, it is as though you are…
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Continue ReadingBonfire 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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Continue ReadingWhat 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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Continue ReadingMy 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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Continue ReadingI 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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Continue ReadingI 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…