• Artisan producers
Monday, 22 August 2016 09:20

Gilbert and George

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It's a well known secret that Gilbert and George go to the same kebab house in London at least five times a week to eat supper. They have been there two out of the three times I have been recently with arty friends who I want to surprise and impress. Apparently they don't have a kitchen at home so they couldn't cook even if they wanted to. The question is, is it an Installation or not? Whatever it is, the kebabs are cooked on the traditional Mangal open-fire barbecue, the pide bread is freshly made and free, quail is on the menu, the meat is full of flavour and it will only cost you about £10 per head. This, and Gilbert and George, are the reasons I can no longer go to the kebab van on Station Hill after a night out in Bury.

Tuesday, 09 August 2016 10:32

#TheGreatGustoGarmentGame

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Following the success of last year's The Great Gusto Plate Challenge all children who eat at The One Bull, The Cadogan or The Crown are invited to take part in this years #TheGreatGustoGarmentGame to design a new uniform for the Gusto team. There are two categories. 5’s & under. 6’s & over. The competition runs from 30th July – 4th September. One entry per visit and a prize of a £50 voucher for the winner of each category at each pub. Winning entries will be displayed at each pub. Favourite pictures will be tweeted using #TheGreatGustoGarmentGame throughout the competition. Here is one of the first entries from Amy aged 4.

Thursday, 04 August 2016 09:24

Fresh fish - and just fish - on the Norfolk Broads

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Restaurants that serve just fish with nothing at all to satisfy meat eaters are few and far between, but we LOVE them. Bure River Cottage at Horning is one of these. Inspector X has been here several times but for me it was a first and after just eating the starter - hot baked crab with chili, ginger and coconut, I wanted to be best friends with the person who cooked it. The chef Abbie and her partner Nigel at front of house after putting the children to bed upstairs, are assisted by charming young staff bringing the menu blackboards and the orders to the table. We had the hot crab, a cold dressed crab with herb mayo and a smoked mackerel pate to start. Then monkfish with salsa rosso, turbot with brown shrimps and samphire, and whole lemon sole with butter and parsley, all served with a shared selection of fresh veg and simple new potatoes. Heavenly food! The desserts were good too; white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate pot and coffee pannacotta, all with ice cream and a glass of South African straw wine to share. Dedication to the sourcing, preparing and cooking of an interesting selection of local fresh fish is a joy to behold - and there was a full restaurant on a Tuesday night beholding it here.

 

Saturday, 30 July 2016 17:14

Lovely local Lleyn lamb

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Lleyn are a Welsh breed of sheep raised by 18 year old Annie Marschalek in the Gipping Valley, Suffolk. Annie bought three sheep four years ago and now has ten ewes and one ram (called Gordon Ramsay)  Clever Gordon and his girls produced 17 lambs in April.  Annie keeps the sheep outside on grass and will be selling the meat towards the end of August.  Half and whole lambs are £8 a kg (half a lamb is about 10kg and you get 2 leg joints, 2 shoulder joints, chops and minced lamb.) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. And there is more ... Annie's brother Jim raises pigs and her father Rolf raises Red Poll cattle. So you can buy beef too!

 

Monday, 25 July 2016 21:53

Not nuts about these names...

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I can barely bring myself to shop in Holland and Barrett anymore. Who is paid to come up with the cringeworthy names like 'mingled mixed raisins' 'yum yum cous cous' 'polenta paradiso'?  Even more annoying, Waitrose have started doing it too.

waitrose

Thursday, 21 July 2016 15:00

Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2017

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I'm thrilled to be on the panel of expert judges for the East Anglian Daily Times Suffolk Food and Drink Awards. Every year the judging gets harder with the quality and range of food and drink produced in Suffolk being ever more impressive. Keep an eye on #SAFA website for the categories. In the meantime if you fancy being a category sponsor let us know.

Friday, 15 July 2016 12:16

Tim Tams - for our Australian readers

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Apparently famous in Australia my Australian friend Jess said I needed to try one. Sadly they are not the best biscuit in the world!

Friday, 15 July 2016 12:04

Brunch on your doorstep

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I opened my front door this morning to find this on the handle. In the seemingly never-ending competition between food start-ups I thought this was a great marketing tool - I actually read it before I put it in the bin. On offer and described by Time Out as 'Swanky Chef-made Meals' were Flat Iron steak, Artisan breads, Berlin Brunch which I had to look up, Truffle Mac'n'Cheese, Avocado sourdough, Club sandwich and Prosecco or Bloody Mary - all available at weekends from 11.30am to 10.00pm. But I won't be ordering because I will be making my own.

Friday, 08 July 2016 09:28

Dean Fryer - food hero and fisherman

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Took dad for a drive to see his favourite east coast fisherman - Dean Fryer - one of Rick Steins food heroes. All fishermen are heroes in our minds - up at 2am seven days a week in good weather, with no guarantee of any income. We bought sea bass, rock eel, a lobster and some small dover sole. Within twelve hours of being caught the sea bass were on the barbecue.

Wednesday, 06 July 2016 15:13

Rum ... one of our favourites

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We were introduced to this gorgeous Venezualan Diplomatico rum at Victualler in Wapping. Well worth a visit if you like organic, biodynamic, raw and natural wines. A lovely enthusiastic owner who is happy to share his knowledge too!

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