Places
The wonders of west Norfolk
International attention is focused on west Norfolk this summer as the amazing Houghton Revisited exhibition brings thousands of art lovers to the area.
The exhibition, of priceless, peerless masterpieces by Rubens and Rembrandt, Velazquez and Van Dyck, is set to attract people from all over the world – but it is only part of the wonderful offering that the west of the county for visitors from far and near.
Getting the show on the road
Tradition, continuity and a welcoming smile are the watch-words Julian Taylor brings to the Royal Norfolk Show this year.
Home land
As a child, Greg Smith longed to be a farmer. In his teens he had holiday jobs on farms, looked after his own rescue hen and went on to a degree involving agriculture, but he never actually farmed.
Ten great reasons to visit Aylsham
Aylsham’s farmers’ market is one of the best known in the county and transforms the historic market place into a hive of activity. It is held the first Saturday of every month between 9am and 1pm. With stalls and local growers selling everything from lamb, pork, free-range chicken, duck and sausages to fruit and vegetables, cakes, honey and eggs, you can stock up for the week.
A touch of romance
It oozes charm, character and quality, but what really sets the Sisland Tithe Barn apart are those subtle touches that remain in the memory long after the visit: The scent of lavender in the home-made biscuits, the printed weather forecast to help you plan the day, eclectic artworks that reflect on the county or the wholesome breakfast.
Walks
Miles ahead
A new walking guide to Norfolk includes 28 circular walks, ranging from an hour-and-a-half wander around Horsey to a five-hour coastal yomp through a succession of nature reserves near Holme.
Recipes
Chocolate Marquise
Keeping with tradition, February is the month for a chocolate recipe. This one is quite involved, though Id imagine most of you will be preparing it for a Valentine’s celebration, so I’m afraid your going to have to make a little effort for the evening.
Baked chicken and ham pancake
Working in a building that has housed a restaurant since 1963, nostalgia is always going to play a big part in our business.
Taste tolerant
One of my favourite finds of 2012 was a wonderful cookery book by Norfolk food writer Pippa Kendrick, The Intolerant Gourmet. It’s a wonderful recipe book for people with food intolerances and allergies.
Banana, walnut and fig cake
Whenever we host a cookery class, the students arrive full of apprehension, nervously looking at the floor, clutching their pristine apron. But cooking is all about confidence. One of my favourite chefs, Fergus Henderson, says that “the ingredients will know if you’re nervous, they will misbehave, you need to show them who’s boss” which is a maxim I always repeat.
Veggie masterclass
Spring arrives, with many visitors to Norfolk; And, as the popularity of the county grows, so does the deserved reputation for great ingredients and the food we produce and serve. There are, of course, lots of people who have played an important part in this, but there has been one lady who has quietly got on with doing what she does amazingly well, cook and serve wonderful food , and in doing so unwittingly been an important part of this wonderful food movement, Alison Yetman.
Restaurant reviews
Inn time
It was written in stone: Me, the macho driver, putting my foot down on the accelerator (keeping under 70mph of course!) and She, the clever one, reads the map and we arrive on time with no fuss at all.
A knight out
The Erpingham Arms, a new name for the former Spread Eagle, now has a smart aura thanks to a lot of building work outside and probably remodelling inside.
Interiors
Norfolk by design
One of the biggest myths in interior design for me is the “must have a focal point” rule. At design
Gardens
Celebrity interviews
Jake’s baby Break
Sitting with his feet up on the desk and casually reclined in his chair, Jake Humphrey is tired.
Graham’s in the Norwich It Crowd
There was something rather poetic about comedy writer Graham Linehan’s arrival in Norwich.
Becky’s big news
With twin boys, a new baby and a burgeoning family business, it is little wonder that Becky Jago’s maternity leave from her job at ITV Anglia television is flying by.
Revealing the real Iron Lady
Politics has been at the heart of Gillian Shephard’s life for five decades.
