I keep seeing posh nosh menus from Goodies on social media and they are tempting. With the Six Nations matches on over the weekend, I decided that it was time to review this takeaway/dine at home treat, leaving me time to enjoy the rugby. And what a treat it was! I have been visiting Goodies, found off the A140 just through Long Stratton and towards the Pulhams, since it was a strawberry stall. I actually hate to think just how long ago that was. Certainly decades rather than years. Goodies was founded by Stuart Gooderham, the son of a farmer.…
The Norfolk Foodie
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Continue ReadingCharlie Hodson is one of Norfolk’s biggest characters and over the past years, he has worn many hats within the region’s culinary and charitable channels with great aplomb. Now he is set to take on his greatest challenge as he realises a long-held dream – that of opening his own cheese room and deli. However, as Charlie was busy signing the contract just a matter of weeks ago, he discovered that he has bowel cancer. Characteristically unstoppable, and with a smile on his face, Charlie is determined that not only will nothing stop his dream from happening, but that he…
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Continue ReadingPassionate, honest, down to earth – and a Norfolk boy through and through – are all ways to describe one of the county’s most endearing chefs, Richard Bainbridge. Famed for his days behind the stove at Morston Hall, as well as winning our hearts on Great British Menu, Richard achieved his ultimate goal as he opened the doors to his own restaurant, Benedicts, five years ago. I spoke with Richard about his culinary life, the power of following your dreams, and how he and his wife, Katja, have pressed the reset button in the wake of the pandemic. “I kid…
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Continue ReadingLife is a funny thing sometimes. You find your path but, for whatever reason, you deviate from it and explore other avenues, only to come full circle and back to your chosen way in life. Nowhere is that more true than with John Hemmant from Chet Valley Vineyard in Bergh Apton. Norfolk’s original winemaker John and his wife, Bridget, are behind the iconic Skylark range that is enjoyed by so many, but few realise that John had a vineyard here back in the 1990s. I speak to this dedicated couple to find out more about Chet Valley, John’s deep-rooted passion…
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Continue ReadingThe Boars in Spooner Row has a rich history within Norfolk, especially since Chef Patron Simon Turner and his partner Jenny Hay took over 18 months ago. With the lockdown rules easing, Simon invited me along to check out their food and I took my parents as well so that we could enjoy the full Boars experience. And we were not disappointed. Simon Turner is perhaps best known in Norfolk for the Elm Hill Brasserie, a very popular eatery and where Simon honed his skills as a chef. Having spent time in France as a child, as well as living…
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Continue ReadingThe Norfolk Foodie Series: Norfolk Gin The height of June saw Norfolk’s original gin, and my own personal favourite, celebrate its fifth birthday. With the first bottle sold in 2015, Norfolk Gin has gone on to sell almost 1,000,000 tots of their herbaceous and aromatic spirit. Founded by Alison and Jonathan Redding, Norfolk Gin is a firm favourite on the food and drink scene – with their delicious spirit found in everything from chocolates and chutneys to candles! I speak with this vibrant couple about their passion for Norfolk, why they chose gin, and the milestones that have meant so…
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Continue ReadingFrom Wednesday 8 July, Old Hall Farm at Woodton will be re-opening their café following the closure of hospitality following the COVID-19 pandemic. Old Hall Farm already has an extensive outside seating area but they will be opening the café on a limited basis from tomorrow. Owners Rebecca and Stuart Mayhew have chosen to limit occupancy to 20 covers inside and 20 on the patio, both of which offer a select and delicious menu including specials. All seats inside will need to be pre-booked, although you can request a patio table if you wish. In addition, there is the picnic…
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Continue ReadingFlint Vineyard has created a huge stir in the world of wine since they launched in 2016. Run by Hannah and Ben Witchell, this husband and wife team have truly taken the wine scene by storm, winning international awards, becoming regulars in both wine and weekend press, and also stocked by the prestigious wine merchants, Berry Bros & Rudd in London. Flint Vineyard has literally risen from the ground to being a world-class vineyard, and they are a true celebration of the positivity that is the food and drink scene here in Norfolk. I talk with Hannah to get the…
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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…