You know you are about to enjoy some amazing food when the chef greets you with the phrase: “Shall I just hit you with food?”
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Continue ReadingI returned to The Swan Loddon to enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast in one of their new rooms. As ever, this historic venue did not disappoint!
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Continue ReadingSharing my favourite foodie releases for July, including a new English wine and MasterChef-inspired chocolate.
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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 ReadingFound just over the border into Suffolk, Black Dog Apiaries & Bakehouse is owned and run by Mark and Sapphire Mills. Here, Mark combines two of his life’s passions – beekeeping and bakery. His background as a pastry chef and baker means that he understands the many qualities that honey has to offer, and he frequently features this prize ingredient in his bakes. However, this artisan bakery in Brampton offers a wide range of delicious delights, and I went along to find out more. Driving towards Brampton, there are signs on the side of the road and then you come…
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Continue ReadingThis year has definitely been the year of cancellations, so it was with great relief that on that ridiculously wet Friday at the end of September, I found myself returning to one of my favourite places in Norfolk, Brasted’s. Known across Norfolk and beyond, Brasted’s has been the backbone of the local food and drink scene for so many years. Like many, Brasted’s and its events company, Complete & Utter Brasted’s, has been hit hard this year, with weddings postponed, the Suffolk Show and Royal Norfolk Shows cancelled, and much more besides. Arriving at the restaurant to meet my friend,…
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Continue ReadingYou may not have heard of Intwood Farm before, but with the hot weather forecast for this weekend and next week making it perfect barbeque weather, now is the time to check out this family-run business. Located in Cringleford, just outside of Norwich, Intwood Farm opened its butchery in April this year. Owned by Nigel Darling, the farm is set in 450 acres, including arable land, and they specialise in native breeds. “We acquired the farm in 2010, with 30 cows and calves as our foundation stock,” says Nigel. “We now have around 300 cows, a number of rare breed…
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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 ReadingI know that this particular blog – celebrating my Foodie Top Ten of 2017 – may seem a bit late. But with Dry January, Vegan January, Blue Monday, Have No Fun in January and all the other negative aspersions associated with this month, there didn’t seem much point in whetting your appetites for some of the most fantastic foodie offerings that there are in Norfolk. Yes, I do agree that we should all drink less and have more meat-free days but the total ‘new year, new me – in with the blender, out with the slow cooker’ – drives me…
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Continue ReadingIn spring, you cannot have failed to notice that Norfolk’s fields were gold. Driving through the beautiful countryside found in this wonderful part of the world, at every turn, you can see field after field of golden flowers, gently swaying on the breeze. It is these flowers that produce one of our native oils – rapeseed oil. As someone who is a big fan of using local produce wherever possible, what can be better than rapeseed oil? Grown here in Norfolk, harvested and pressed here, it is straight from field to shelf with none of the miles. Compared to olive…