Charlie 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…
The Norfolk Foodie Series
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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 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 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…
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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 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…
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Continue ReadingThe first interview in my The Norfolk Foodie series is with Jane Steward of Eastgate Larder, producer of the fantastic Eastgate Larder medlar jelly, cheese and spicy chutney that so many of us know and love. Jane is passionate about all things Norfolk, so much so that her ‘gift’ to the county is having her medlar orchards awarded National Collection status by Plant Heritage. This will ensure that not only will Norfolk continue to be recognised for this iconic status, but that the medlar fruit will take its place in the forefront of peoples’ minds once more. “I owe my…