• Wine
Tuesday, 05 April 2011 09:40

The Lavender House lunch

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A lovely joint of Norfolk reared beef, carved at the chef's table in full view of the kitchen at this renowned Norfolk restaurant - the perfect place to take our Dad out for a birthday lunch - and back to the village where he grew up.

Thursday, 31 March 2011 15:48

Here comes the Bride

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royal place setting

So Granny has agreed to have the reception at her house, which has saved the problem of finding a suitable venue and no doubt saved Wills and Kate a bit of money too. As we're in·the year of austerity perhaps a delivery from Iceland could be arranged? A thirty-six piece chicken platter followed by·a thirty-six·piece dessert platter would only set them back £10. What's more you can design, print or email your invites from the website and use the party planning tool to work out quantities and menus, so there would be no·need for Lady Elizabeth Anston·to sort things out for them, and a few more quid could be saved.   Beef is likely be on the menu on April 29th·and·hundreds of bottles of vintage wine and port are being earmarked for the big day from the underground vaults of the Treasury at Whitehall.· The Queens Red Poll herd at Sandringham were·under 24 hour guard since the wedding announcement but by now·the beasts will have been dispatched and should be·hanging to mature nicely - ready to be turned into cottage pies,·Wills' favourite food.  Cakes too have changed over the years. I made my own, tradional three tier, royal-iced fruit cake. but Kate is apparently a chocoholic and may go for something more unusual. How about a cookie cake?·Or maybe your relationship started over a playstation?!

the playstation wedding cake

I catered for weddings for most of the 90’s. It's hard work, but usually a lot of fun. Not only did I organise the food and drink but it was not uncommon to carry out other unusual tasks, and of course not everything goes according to plan. Re-gravelling the drive is an old favourite at the country house wedding - impressive - until cars arriving at the reception become firmly embedded, requiring all hands on deck to push them out again. 

One request to have all food served by identical twins, each with a a pair of Dalmatians forming the welcome party, was probably the most bizarre. A modelling agency provided the twins, most of whom had never served food before and stood around looking anorexic and useless. Luckily most of the guests were on diets too so weren’t bothered that the canapés weren't flowing. And I wonder if the Middletons and Wales’s families will end up having a punch up in the car park? 

 I had the misfortune once of being invited to a 'dry' wedding.  There was going to be wine, but guests were expected to buy it from an overpriced bar. I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought a nice big  5 litre wine box and a roll of wedding paper. Wrap the wine box up in the paper, having located and released the tap first. As you arrive at the wedding, gift under your arm, hang on to it - insisting that you need to personally present it - you can now put the box on the table and pour to your hearts content. You'll make lots more friends and can join in the foodie party games too!

love is sharing a banana

it's all too much...

Thursday, 31 March 2011 15:38

My lunch - and the Masterchef tattoo

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If I presented sweet potato soup and fennel quiche and then ripped open my shirt to show off my Masterchef tattoo  would I stay in the competition?

my lunch

Tuesday, 29 March 2011 09:47

Going to a farmers market?

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Here are some of them - nice flyer too, Woodbridge!

the poster          and in Woodbridge

Thursday, 24 March 2011 20:14

Giant Chickens from Felsham

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Phil Truin's Super-Size free range chickens are winning prizes for taste but only if you are prepared to pay £30 a bird. I have three pretty hefty ones in my garden that are hand-fed so I might get a few more, but if you want to buy one they're here http://www.natoora.co.uk/blog/2011/03/in-the-press-phill-truin-free-range-chicken/
Sunday, 20 March 2011 22:06

Winners in Wortham

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This tea room won Suffolk magazine's Food and Drink Award last year for best tea or coffee shop, and I always wondered what that big teapot sign led to - we really liked the lemon cake.

tearoom sign       the tearoom 

Thursday, 17 March 2011 13:53

Where Suffolk meets Norfolk

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When you walk into the shop and cafe expect a cheerful hello and the aroma of delicious things.  Lord Iveagh - of the Guinness family - has a whole section dedicated to Guinness inspired products and a room full of sweets including farm - produced fudge, shelves are filled as you might expect to see in Harrods and there's a cafe|restaurant with rather loud upbeat music and well sourced food.  On this occasion only time for the cheese scone and a capppuccino - both very good - but please don't microwave my scone.

http://www.elveden.com/shops-and-restaurant/food-and-wine.asp

Elvedon       the food 

Wednesday, 16 March 2011 12:06

Good news - sherry is back!

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According to this weekend's OFM wine feature, so we need to go to Bar Pepito in London and see what they've got or do another Ryanair weekend sherry-tasting-for-teenagers in Jerez.

.Jerez

Saturday, 12 March 2011 21:54

Rickinghall Farmers Market

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rickinghall market

It looked empty from the car park although we had a nice apple tasting from Mr Greenwoods (Norfolk, but we like Norfolk too) on the way in. Inside it was busy, we bought honey, coffee, black pudding, cheese and a lot of curry!

apples    honey  coffee..            . curry   and cheese

Friday, 11 March 2011 21:38

Stopped at Beccles Market

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Stopped at Beccles market last week for suffolkfoodie 'research' and saw the blackboard with pea and mint soup so had to search it out.  Found a great little stall selling the soup complete with homemade croutons, great homemade preserves ( mostly foraged fruit and veg) and cakes.  Came home with a cup of soup, six chocolate and cherry biscuits and a bottle of plum sauce ( secret recipe!) All for a fiver!

beccles market stall  beccles stall with soup  the plum sauce
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