Some days just don't go very well for restaurants and Fornham Fine Foods was having a bad day when we went for lunch. We were surprised that fishcakes, one of the few hot things on the menu, was already off the menu by 12.30. We guessed that there was probably a 'chef problem' as everyone seemed to be waiting and the staff looked frazzled. But we ordered a steak sandwich and a smoked fish platter. It still hadn't arrived forty minutes later. Then when the fish arrived there was no steak sandwich because it hadn't been cooked yet - even though the menu said 'served pink'. The waitress eventually brought the steak, decided enough was enough and said there would be no charge for the meal. The food was very good in spite of the wait so we wanted to pay something, at least for the drinks, but she wouldn't let us. She didn't know we were food bloggers but she does know that messing your customers about while you decide who is going to be your chef isn't a very good idea.
The people who win prizes for writing about food.
If you are a lucky farmer, someone brings you this in the back of the car every day at tea time, until harvest is finished.
A day of talks and food related events for a tenner with food stalls inside and Kerb outside? I had to go. I chose How to make a career out of food to see what I might have missed. Cake Boy and Plenish had stalls in the foyer and the hour long session with the panel of chefs and foodies was useful and encouraging. John Vincent - founder of Leon - gave the best advice to someone who wanted to know how to make the transition from being employed by someone else to running their own food business.
'Get out your phone', he said, so she did.
'Now call your boss and hand in your notice...'
This is what it's all about - small portions, home-made food, disco music - and plenty of it. I had a crab open sandwich draped with just one seductive marinated white anchovy and a blob of mustard mayo for £3 at Donastia Social Club's Basque food wagon at Kerb. Next door was (at last!) a stall selling a good selection (3) of interesting fresh fruit drinks - melon, raspberry lemonade and plum juice sodas at £2.50 from Square Root London.
PettaFiesta will be holding another weekend of music, film and fun for all ages on the weekend of 11th and 12th July. It's a ticket only event so visit the PettaFiesta website to book. Saturday night features a communal supper cooked on the campfire by us - the suffolkfoodie team - an outdoor screening of Carousel, a not-too-horror movie, a late night cheesy disco and karaoke - keeping you entertained well into the night. Bring a tent and wake up in the morning to the glorious dawn chorus and a Sunday spent strolling the pretty garden. The Little House of Cooking will be making brunch and afternoon tea for sale on Sunday.
Is there a better way to spend a lazy afternoon than sitting and enjoying a Luxury Afternoon Tea, overlooking Neptune Marina and from the comfort of the chic Salthouse Harbour Hotel? Myself and a carefully selected afternoon tea aficionado arrived to a warm welcome from Hollie. The champers arrived first - Dom Ruinart (from the oldest Champagne house in France) We chose English Breakfast from the selection of 10 loose-leaf teas and tucked straight into a good home made sausage roll; egg mayonnaise sandwiches that were well seasoned and freshly cut, cheese scones filled with cream cheese and tomatoes were the big boys on the block and an open smoked salmon sandwich was colourful and delicately topped with a frond of fresh dill. Up a layer on the vibrant bue and rather wobbly cake stand to the sweet section. Favourites here were the mini chocolate éclairs, light, bursting with fresh cream and drizzled with chocolate. Macarons were a delicate yellow and filled with a zingy lemon curd. A fruit tartlet not mentioned on the menu was colourful with sliced strawberries, raspberry and kiwi fruit on a crème patissiere. Oh the calories! Deep breath, a little rest, the teapot topped up.
The next round included the soft creamy cupcake - we were divided on opinion, I said a little boring, companion said light and deliciously vanilla flavoured. There was flapjack and a chocoholics delight of rich, dark chocolate mousse on a crunchy biscuit base. We still had the scones to go! Whilst having a breather we discussed whether the clotted cream or the jam should go on first. These were excellent freshly baked scones, served warm, soft crumb in the middle and crisp crust. We cut them in half and tried it the Cornish way - jam on top - and then the Devon way - cream on top. Either way the afternoon tea was excellent.
Food Revolution Day. Jamie Oliver the rapper ...take a look
Well tonight I managed to get a question in at the Radio 4 recording of the culinary panel show The Kitchen Cabinet, which took place at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds. The panel led by Jay Rayner included Sophie Wright (chef and author) Masterchef champion Tim Anderson, Food Historian Dr Annie Gray and Bury St Edmunds born Chef/Musician Andi Oliver. Listen to the programme on Saturday May 23rd at 10.30am. It's the last question and I use my real name!
Barbara Segall writes about gardens and herbs. Some great tips on her blog for growing and harvesting your own produce.