The ultimate in comfort food, this beef and mushroom casserole has the addition of dumplings, making it a perfect one-pot feast. I used Old Hall Farm’s own Jersey/Angus cross beef in this recipe, and not only did the meat melt in the mouth, the flavour was incredible. Serve with savoy cabbage and greens for a healthy and delicious autumnal dinner. INGREDIENTS 1kg Old Hall Farm braising beef 3 round shallots, sliced 1 celery stick, sliced 2 cloves of smoked garlic, finely sliced 2 bay leaves 2 sprigs rosemary 3 sprigs thyme 200ml red wine Around 20 white peppercorns 500ml beef…
the delicate diner
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Continue ReadingNurtured in Norfolk are lovely folk, producing amazing fruit, vegetables, salads, and edible flowers over in Dereham. And they also support MasterChef contestants, interviewing them all after the competition. They interviewed me after my appearance on this world-famous TV show last year, and I just realised that I never shared the piece. So, here it is – please enjoy!
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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 ReadingThere are very few people in the world who have that lightbulb moment as a child, realising at a tender age the exact path that they need to be on. But for Gill Thompson, one half of Sytch Farm Studios, that moment came when she was just five years old. Playing with clay in a school class, Gill could see her future – designing and making beautiful ceramic plates and pots to be eaten from and enjoyed, and her path was set. Move on a few years with her talented husband Jon by her side, with his breath-taking woodwork skills,…
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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…
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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…