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Producer of the month

nourish - the taste of East Anglia

About The Delicate Diner

I love good food and I especially love local, seasonal produce. The Delicate Diner captures some of the amazing food and producers I have met through recipes, interviews, and reviews. I appeared on MasterChef in 2019 and enjoy doing cooking demos across the UK. Contact me to find out more – including my debut novel, Sandstorm! (See below)

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my debut novel - Sandstorm

Featured posts

The Norfolk Foodie

21st May 2020
Richard Bainbridge Interview: The Norfolk Foodie Series

14th August 2020

my other publication...

From the Archives

From the Archives

My Mothering Sunday menu for 2023. Starting with a

My Mothering Sunday menu for 2023. Starting with a @chetvineyard Skylark Blush.

Cheers to all, much love.

#motheringsunday #mothersday #tastingmenu #wineflight #thedelicatediner #masterchef #masterchefuk #masterchefalumni #roastduck #menu #sunday #sundayroast #fivespice #spicedduck #duck #prawncocktail #kenyancoffee #local #lovegoodfood #lovetocook #tuckin #tasty

I have been looking forward to this all week - bon

I have been looking forward to this all week - bone in aged belted Galloway sirloin from @swaledalebutchers

This beautiful joint is now resting while we finish pressing the sides - not the ones I had planned as I have been off colour this weekend. Instead, we are going for simple homemade chips in @yarevalleyoils cold-pressed rapeseed oil, mixed leaves and freshly shaved @parmigianoreggiano All washed down with @nanny_goat_winemaker Super Nanny! Perfection? I think so...

#sirloin #gifted

Last night, we enjoyed a Tuscan pop up @elmsbarnwe

Last night, we enjoyed a Tuscan pop up @elmsbarnweddings with Executive Chef @jasonwrightchef from their sister venue, @theloddonswan Wines came from @leaandsandeman with @@derek_win and it was a delicious evening all around! I will be sharing a write up soon, but wanted to show you this perfectly al dente handmade tagliatelle with wild boar ragù.

#tuscan #tuscany #tuscanfood #tuscanfoods #pasta #pastapasta #pastalover #ragù #ragu #wildboar #popup #loddonswan #elmsbarn #tasty #tastyfood #foodandwine #foodandwinepairing #italy #atasteofitaly #suffolk #tastingmenu #foodie #foodphotograhy #foodblogger

I know this may be a bit on the rare side for some

I know this may be a bit on the rare side for some, but I just had to share this beautiful beef wellington we had from @oldhallfarm last night as part of their 'cook at home' range, which they bring out for high days and holidays. Their own fillet beef was just amazing, and I didn't want to overcook this beautiful cut. It melted in the mouth, the pastry was crisp, and it was just so, so good.

I paired it with a @chateaucapionuk Rouge 2016, as discovered @bakersandlarnersholt wine tasting last year, and it was utter perfection!

#beef #beefsteak #beefwellington #fillet #filletsteak #filletofbeef #farmreared #oldhallfarm #chateaucapion #food #foodie #foodpics #foodporn #foodlover #foodblogger #foodphotography #foodgasm #valentinesday #cookathome #farm #norfolk #tasty #beefredwine #matchmadeinheaven #pastry #rarebeef #delicious

Posted @withregram • @geraldgiles.co.uk Do you l

Posted @withregram • @geraldgiles.co.uk Do you love #chocolate? Yes, come and explore some creative twists to some family favourites with #MasterChef contestant Samantha Mattocks (@thedelicatediner).

Saturday 18th March 2023 - 10:30 to 12:30
Blofield Heath, NR13 4SQ

Limited spaces! Book your tickets today... https://bit.ly/CookingWithChocolateEvent

#cookingevent #chefdemonstration #foodie #dessert #familyfavourites #treatyourself

A super scrummy brunch today - soda bread, lettuce

A super scrummy brunch today - soda bread, lettuce, avocado, smoked stilton (yes, you did read that right), and a perfectly jammy egg from our neighbours' hens, cooked in the air-fryer. A pinch of salt and pepper and a drizzle of balsamic, and this was the perfect meal to get me through the rest of the day's tasks!

#brunch #brunchtime #brunchgoals #brunchideas #eggs #yolk #yolkporn #eggyolk #jammyyolk #sodabread #avocado #avocadotoast #stilton #stiltonlover #smokedstilton #thedelicatediner #foodphotography #naturallightphotography #foodporn #yum #sogood #mykitchen #fridayfeeling #tastygram #spring #february #salad #toast #bluecheese #cheese

Controversial question of the day - is it still a

Controversial question of the day - is it still a pie if it doesn't have a pastry top? And/or bottom? We had leftover chicken pie last night, with a mashed potato top. So, social media world, was it a pie - or not?

#pie #controversial #pastry #mash #lattice #isitstillapie #mashpie #pastrypie #crust #piecrust #thedelicatediner #questionoftheday #yesorno #thoughtsplease #piegate #foodie #question #foodquestion #opinion #lovepie #pieday

The last week or so, I have really got back into c

The last week or so, I have really got back into cooking and having been to the Middle East again recently, I wanted to cook those flavours at home. When we went to Jordan in October, we saw a traditional mansaf being uncovered - it was my most viewed reel of 2022. So when I came across @ghilliebasan The Lebanese Cookbook - with flavours from Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, I knew I had to get it.

The first dish I cooked was her version of Jordan's national dish, mansaf - a stuffed breast of lamb with apricots - which is so easy to do at home rather than being cooked in the ground. I got my lamb from @palfreyandhall in Bungay, and it made for an amazing one-pot dish. Alongside, and into the cooking tin, I added some baby graffiti aubergine, fennel, and romano peppers to make it more of a complete meal, all of which came from @giddensthompson, also in Bungay. The lamb was so tender, and the rice - rich with spices, herbs, and nuts - was delicious.

This is a lovely book, and I cannot wait to cook from it again. In fact, I am going to browse it again for inspiration for this weekend.

#jordan #jordanfood #mansaf #lamb #lambbreast #apricot #apricots #pinenuts #rice #spices #middleeast #middleeastern #middleeastfood #middleeasternfood #love #flavour #ghilliebasan #foodphotography #foodphoto #foodphotographer #thedelicatediner #local #localfood #middleeastinfluence #foodinspiration #mykindafood

This is a delicious banoffee pie - with a twist! I

This is a delicious banoffee pie - with a twist! Introducing my gin-banoffee pie with ginger, which takes this dessert to another level! The addition of @oldhallfarm raw Jersey double cream adds an extra layer of luxury to this already decadent dessert! Link in bio.

#ginger #gingerlove #stemginger #banoffee #banoffeepie #birthday #pud #pudding #dessert #dessertpic #birthdaycaloriesdontcount #thedelicatediner #recipe #recipes #familyfood #masterchef #foodie #foodphotography #celebrations #delicious #foodporn #tasty #ginbanoffee #y#yum

My birthday celebrations got off to a delicious st

My birthday celebrations got off to a delicious start last night as we met friends @brasteds

It was the perfect evening from the moment we walked through the door and from the food and wines were perfect. Brasted's legendary desserts were back in full force - and what an elegant, pretty plate of citrus delight this was.

I am definitely getting older - my days of going to bed at 2am are well behind me, as last night proved! Today will be a chill day, spending time with @mistermishkins and gearing up for the week ahead.

I love moussaka – that unadulterated pleasure of

I love moussaka – that unadulterated pleasure of tomato, béchamel, potato and aubergine mixed with lamb mince is a marriage made in heaven. And yes, I know that most moussakas contain either potato or aubergine, but I have used both; don’t judge me – I love the flavours of them together and couldn’t choose between them. As ever, I used ingredients from Old Hall Farm in Woodton – their wonderful lamb mince and raw Jersey milk. Keeping it local, I went for Ferndale Cheeses Norfolk Dapple cheese on top of the moussaka as, well, why not! We all that extra bit of comfort right now. This dish takes a little longer to prepare than many of my recipes, but it is well worth it. Link in bio.

#moussaka #lamb #lambmoussaka #recipe #thedelicatediner #bechamel #oldhallfarm #norfolkdapplecheese #local #flavour #sotasty #dinner #familyfood #foodphotography #forkyeah #foodpic #recipeoftheday #mykitchen #mincerecipe #tasty #delicous #tempting #goodfood #masterchefuk #greekfood #mediterranean #mediterraneanfood

Oh, hello! My last night at home for a few days as

Oh, hello! My last night at home for a few days as I'm off with @thearabianmagazine for work, and I really fancied some fish for dinner.

This throw together from store cupboard and fridge was so delicious - haddock wrapped in Parma ham leftover from Christmas, orzo pasta with a stray preserved lemon through it and dressed with @tuscanfarmshop amazing extra virgin olive oil, and veggies.

I would never think of fish as being one of my top comfort foods, but this plate really was! I am also happy to be back in my foodie inspiration place where I can see what needs eating and throw it altogether.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I do love our Sunday brunch. Today, it was homemad

I do love our Sunday brunch. Today, it was homemade bread, scrambled eggs, @palfreyandhall sausages, mushrooms, and tomatoes - with a generous spoonful of @montys_mustards Bandersnatch on the side.

I cooked the snorkers, mushrooms, and tomatoes in my @ninjakitchenuk dual, making for a very succulent sausage. A perfect start to a new week!

Made it to Friday! Lovely lunch and catch up with

Made it to Friday! Lovely lunch and catch up with friends @the_boars today. The food was fabulous, as always, and their cocktails are always rather special, too...

#theboars #lunch #family #friends #cocktails #cherry #friday #friyay #foodphotography #drinkphotography #mixology #thedelicatediner #cheers #relax

Anyone for a burger? I made these delicious burger

Anyone for a burger? I made these delicious burgers last night using @norfolkwagyubeef mince, topped with homemade piccalilli - made by someone else! - and leftover Christmas camembert. I cooked these in my @ninjakitchenuk dual - and I may have used the fat that came from the burgers to toss my chips in before air-frying them! Tonight is all about the slow cooker - guinea fowl with shallots and chestnuts - but this was a perfect Saturday night treat, plus freezer raid!

#burger #fakeaway #cheeseburger #wagyubeefburger #wagyu #camembert #cheese #ninja #ninjadual #homemadeburgers #wagyubeef #saturdaynight #burgers #burgertime #burgerporn #burgersandfries #foodphotographer #foodphoto #thedelicatediner #weekendvibes #weekendcooking #familyfood #mykitchen #foodie

We saw the New Year in with a lovely meal cooked b

We saw the New Year in with a lovely meal cooked by myself - including this utterly delicious chilled lemon rice pudding with fruity rum sauce. The original recipe is from @bbcgoodfood and has been a staple of mine for years, with a few twists. I used mixed dried fruits, and the utterly essential @oldhallfarm raw A2 Jersey milk and cream. I love this pud, and am looking forward to leftovers tonight - festive food, after all, is the gift that keeps on giving...

It has been a very quiet Christmas here as we have

It has been a very quiet Christmas here as we have all been poorly - that awful virus that is doing the rounds. Last night, I decided it was time for the cheeseboard; after all, it isn't Christmas, or Twixmas, without one!

I had treated us to the @rennetandrind mystery festive cheese box and wow! Six amazing cheeses, including old favourites, and they were all delicious. I had to throw some charcuterie in there too - @marshpigcharcuterie red wine and black pepper salami - and also some Mostarda di frutta, a unique Italian condiment from Cremona with whole, preserved crystallised fruits in a syrup flavoured with mustard seed oil. They came from @tuscanfarmshop and went so well with the cheeses.

I am now gearing up to cook a meal for New Year's Eve, which will be a tasty if low-key affair. Let me know what you're up to, and I wish you all a very happy - and tasty - start to 2023!

@fenfarmdairy @hafodcheese

#cheese #cheeselover #cheeseboard #cheeseplatter #christmascheese #twixmas #christmas #foodphoto #foodphotography #foodphotographer #foodphotooftheday #lovecheese #thedelicatediner #mykitchen #christmasfood #christmasfoodporn #rennetandrind #cheesebox #masterchef #MasterChefUK #onmytable #salami #marshpig #mostarda #sharingfood #graze #grazeboard

It's the most wonderful time of the year - have a

It's the most wonderful time of the year - have a fantastic, and delicious Christmas, and let me know your festive foodie delights when you have a chance! Merry Christmas!

#christmas #christmasfood #foodie #festive #festivefood #turkey #pigsinblankets #cranberrysauce #brusselssprouts #hohoho #themostwonderfultimeoftheyear #tistheseason #thedelicatediner #merrychristmas #deliciouschristmas

My red pepper and Gruyère filo tartlets make perf

My red pepper and Gruyère filo tartlets make perfect canapés for the festive season - and are just as tasty for summer days too!

Make them ahead for your Christmas celebrations - link in bio.

#recipe #recipeideas #recipealert #canapés #filopastry #makeahead #winter #winter2022 #festive #drinksparty #nibbles #thedelicatediner #thedelicatedinerskitchen #masterchef #masterchefuk #mykitchen #mykitchentable #foodphotography #foodphotographer #vegetarianfood #vegetarianrecipes #linkinbio #tasty #tastyfood #tastytasty #tartlets #miniaturefood

Finally hung from last week's wreath-making worksh

Finally hung from last week's wreath-making workshop @retreateast with the brilliant Emma from @thesuffolkflorist

The winter bug that is doing the rounds is firmly here, so I'm not sure how many visitors will get to enjoy my first attempt at making a wreath. Nonetheless, it is there to bring some festive cheer in these midwinter days.

Yesterday was my mum's 75th birthday, so I did one

Yesterday was my mum's 75th birthday, so I did one of my tasting menus complete with wine flight.

The theme was Around the World and pictured are cheese croquettes, plaice with sautéed potatoes and lemon and parsley butter, and Om Ali - a Middle Eastern dessert.

It was all delicious, and the wines matched perfectly. Tonight's cook will definitely be a quieter one, and lunch will be leftovers!

The latest release from the fabulous @flintvineyar $The latest release from the fabulous @flintvineyard - I cannot wait to try this. A very special limited edition from this south Norfolk vineyard, underlining just how brilliant our English wines are. "Since our first year in 2016, Ben has been planning a special traditional method sparkling wine. Some customers might remember the 2016 Blanc de noirs, our only traditional method sparkling release to date. The same fruit used for this wine was also the starting point for a long-term reserve wine, for which Ben saved the very best fractions of juice over 3 years – 2016, 2017 and 2018." Their Blanc de Noirs was amazing, and I have a feeling that this will be very special indeed.$

When Persiana Everyday meets The Nutmeg Trail! Fo

When Persiana Everyday meets The Nutmeg Trail!

For last night's @fifaworldcup match, I decided to follow my favourite flavours and make an Arabic street food mezze - @eleanorfordfood sumac pitas using @farmisonuk heritage mince beef, with @sabrinaghayour sweet potato and halloumi rostis - veggies from @giddensthompson - and pomegranate glazed chicken wings, from @palfreyandhall

It was all delicious and was perfect to eat while watching @england go through to the Quarter Finals!

What a delicious vegetarian main from the new @sto

What a delicious vegetarian main from the new @stokemill festive menu! Beetroot pithivier with wild mushrooms, spinach, double podded broad beans and a split sauce. Adding to the luxury is a truffle mac'n'cheese on the side making this an indulgent and satisfying dish. Thanks to Stoke Mill and all the team for kicking off Christmas 2022 in style!

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The Delicate Diner was founded by Samantha Mattocks in March 2016. From then, she has gone on to appear on MasterChef UK, has conducted a number of food interviews, and now co-owns nourish magazine – the taste of East Anglia. Find out more about nourish by clicking on the image below.

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