Food News Ripe for the picking! There’s nothing quite like gathering your own fruit and this autumn at Drove Orchards in Thornham, you can do just that. They are open for Pick Your Own apples and pears daily (weather permitting) in season. Around 160 different types of apples are grown at Drove including 120 heritage varieties in their East Anglian Heritage Orchards, such as Norfolk Royal Russets which originated in Burnham Overy Staithe and Robert Blatchfords from nearby Hunstanton. Not all are for picking or for sale and availability can change quickly. Drove’s apples and pears are also sold in their farm shop where you can try before you buy! • Drove Orchards, Thornham 01485 525652 www.droveorchards.com
Fresh menus and new chef at Wiveton Bell The Wiveton Bell recently welcomed Head Chef Dean Horgan to the team and is pleased to present a fresh series of menus. This includes their ever popular autumn/winter season Wine and Dine Menu (see the website below for full details). Sourcing locally has always been at the heart of the Bell’s philosophy and with the arrival of Dean this tradition continues with passion and flair. You will recognize many of the names on the suppliers list including Willie Weston crabs from Blakeney, mussels from Mark Randle in Morston, Paul Graves butcher from Briston, P and S game in Holt, Mrs Temples cheese’s from Binham, milk and cream from Pointens Dairy on the Stody Estate in Briston, Fish from Jaines, fresh from the Docks at Grimsby and last but not least smoked haddock and anything else that local fisherman Glen has caught in his own boat based on Cley Beach less than a mile from the pub. • www.wivetonbell.co.uk
‘The Talk of Wells’ The Globe Inn in Wells is holding a series of fundraising dinners this autumn and winter in support of the RNLI Wells Shannon Lifeboat Appeal. Every Monday they’ll be serving a special two course menu with a glass of wine for £20, with £5 donated to the fund for every person eating. And on ten of those Mondays until the end of March there will be a speaker, including David Hunter of Fakenham Racecourse (13th October), Dr Catherine Temple on building a cheese empire (3rd November), Stephen Tuck with tales of ‘The Bear Skin Cap’ A Military Adventure (17th November) and Sir John Scarlett, MI6 & Bletchley Park, The Secret Service and Code Breaking (1st December). Speakers in the New Year include Ed Parker, CEO of Walking with the Wounded. Dinner and talks from 7-7.30pm, please book. www.theglobeatwells.co.uk 01328 710206 Dungeness Shannon class ©RNLI
Drove Orchards , photo by Camrovision Landscape Photography
Smokin’! Launched at this year’s North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, the Creake Abbey Smokehouse is the latest venture for the Creake Abbey Café & Food Hall team. The Smokehouse overlooks the River Burn, one of Norfolk’s chalk rivers and ancient monastic water meadows. Their ‘Norfolk Black’ ham and bacon is steeped for eight weeks in a unique marinade with a lot of Port wine in it, before smoking over oak for a rich and slightly sweet flavour. Ham can be cooked or uncooked and unsmoked ham and dry-cured bacon are also available. Try and buy at the Café and Food Hall or purchase by mail order. • Creake Abbey Café & Food Hall, Creake Abbey 01328 730399 www.creakeabbeycafe.com
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A taste of Tuscany New to Burnham Market is The Tuscan Farm Shop, popping up in The Old Bank, bringing a taste of Tuscany to North Norfolk. Wanda Djebbar is selling wines and olive oils produced on her farm in Montalcino, Siena, along with goodies from her Tuscan friends and neighbours. The sheep’s milk cheeses served on her Tuscan platters are from a small farm neighbouring Wanda’s vineyard, the jars of preserves and pastas are made by her business partner’s cousin. She describes the pop-up as “an Italian wine bar” and along with her wines and Tuscan platters is serving Italian coffee, as well as Tuscan soups, salads, homemade cakes and biscotti. It’s also a homecoming for Wanda – her mother’s family were all born and raised in Norfolk and she used to live in Burnham Thorpe. • The Tuscan Farm Shop will be popping up until Christmas (open daily). Follow them on facebook at The Tuscan Farm Shop.
NORTH NORFOLK LIVING AUTUMN 2014
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