Wild garlic is the early herald of summer days ahead, that fragrant green leaf that can be freely foraged in woodlands. For me, wild garlic is always the precursor to asparagus, which is proving to be late this year due to the continuing cold weather! Below are two lovely recipes for wild garlic, a pesto and a butter, both of which can be frozen. The pesto is made extra special with the use of walnut-leaf wrapped aged pecorino from The Tuscan Farmshop; they deliver nationwide, so why not treat yourself to this vegetarian-friendly Italian delight! WILD GARLIC & WALNUT-LEAF PECORINO…
food writer
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Continue ReadingThis is my easy vegetarian filo pie recipe for those in a hurry. I love the luxury of a pie, but I don’t always want the heaviness that shortcrust or butter pastry can bring. This pie is perfect for an alternative – layers of crisp filo pastry with a delicious filling of the earthy flavours that I love so much, roasted butternut squash, sage, mushrooms, and chestnuts. If you don’t have the exact ingredients, don’t worry – use whatever you have in the fridge, and make the flavours your own. INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)1 packet of filo pastry1 butternut squash, peeled…
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Continue ReadingBarely a month ago, Dirty Fryer Boys opened its van doors for the first time for a sell-out evening at Tivetshall Village Hall. “From the word go, there has been so much support and love,” smiles Sally Campion-Jones, one half of Dirty Fryer Boys. Even though we haven’t been running the business for long, the name is really getting out there and that is hugely exciting!” I am not surprised that there is a buzz around Dirty Fryer Boys – not least with the comfort that a wickedly good burger loaded with extras offers. Owned by Sally and her partner,…
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Continue ReadingWho doesn’t love a chocolate cake? For me, it is the ultimate celebration cake, a real treat for high days and holidays. And to be fair, it is the ultimate comfort food as well, so let’s face it, chocolate cake is an all-rounder! Inspired by a recipe in Green & Black’s Chocolate Recipes, I made this luxurious chocolate cake flavoured with Moon Gazer Ale’s Bouchart Norfolk Mild beer. The result was a wonderfully moist, rich, chocolate cake that tastes wonderful on its own but would be just as enjoyable with some whipped cream. As with many cakes, my chocolate Bouchart…
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Continue ReadingOld Hall Farm in Woodton isn’t just about their rare breed pork and beef – their raw Jersey cream and milk can be used in many ways and I have made the perfect dish for the change in the weather right now – a rice pudding. I think we all have those memories of school rice pudding with a spoonful of jam in the middle and, having fallen out of love with it, I now rate a chilled rice pudding as one of my ultimate desserts. Part of the beauty of the milk from Old Hall Farm is that several…
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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 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…