What a Week!

In our first ever guest blog, Chris & Sandy, otherwise known as The Ladies of Ladywood Lodge, an amazing Breckland posh B & B give their impression of this year's Brecks Food Festival -

 'The Brecks Food Festival bounced into Swaffham during the third weekend in September with some fantastic events that were enjoyed by the whole community. The Ladies at Ladywood Lodge had a wonderful time here & are our exploits!

We helped Vanessa & Les Scott to prepare and host The Unthank Supper Club  at their wonderful home. All part of the celebration for the Brecks Food Fest! It’s amazing the work that’s required and Ness was the woman for the job! We bought plants, built tables, well darling Les did that, sourced cutlery, chairs, table cloths’, arranged flowers and cleaned! Les & Ness’ wonderful home was transformed for one night into a gorgeous pop up restaurant. The tables were beautifully set; candlelight and flowers from the garden brought an ethereal quality to the rooms, which were already fabulous with unique works of Art & Sculptures on show

Clarissa Bromelle

This was a superb setting for any restaurant let alone a “pop up!”Time ticked by and guests arrived, the atmosphere was electric the guests eclectic! In the kitchen Unthanksupper things were happening and had been for hours! Clarissa & Yusuf were buzzing! The kitchen was a hive of activity Maggie, Kat & Ness waited like greyhounds, to burst out of the starting gate and take the food to the guests! Ahhh the food!

The Unthank Supper Club & Brecks Food Fest menu

Cucumber water

Cheese & Tomato

Mackerel, celery & apple

Adobo chop & hock with September vegetables & aioli

Pear tart tatin with cinnamon ice cream and rhubarb hooch

Fresh mint tea

The food was seasonal and mainly locally sourced; carrying on Strattons Hotel's philosophy into the pop up. The Cheese and Tomato consisted of Tomato essence and a cheese crisp. The depth of flavour from the

Liz Truss MP with John Vincent of  Leons

 

essence was amazing; it certainly woke the taste buds! The Mackerel, celery & apple was delicious with a capital D. The mackerel had been prepared two ways and the Mackerel tartare just brought joy to your mouth! The show stopper had to be Scotts Field Pork, and Rob Simonds who breeds these rare and beautiful beasts! The Adobo chop was spiced well and danced on the tongue, but the shredded hock was “to die for!” The taste of the pig shone through it just danced in your mouth and made your heart sing! Rob should stand proud with his pigs they are divinely delicious! The Pear tart tartan was tasty but the cinnamon ice cream triumphed it was a melt in your mouth moment! Yusuf & Camilla did a great job, they were wonderful as was the food!

The evening was a truly joyous celebration of food and The Brecks Food festival. Les threw in a Brecks quiz which had the grey matter working over time! Distinguished supporters & guests included Elizabeth Truss MP, The Brecks Food Fest team, Camilla & Michael The Weekend Yoga Palace, Sister Francis and obviously Vanessa & Les Scott to name a few! Before we knew it the night was over we were left with a glorious & memorable evening!

The following day Saturday14th Sept the Ladies @Ladywood popped over to Oxborough Hall to see Rob. We met Elizabeth a lovely Scots Field Pig and her baby piglets! As I viewed Elizabeth I just kept tasting the beautiful pork from the night before. Thank God Elizabeth can’t read minds!  The ladies were so impressed we then went to Impsons, Swaffham & bought Scots Field sausages for our B & B guests, “they’ll love it”.

The Sacred Heart Crew

Sunday dawned and the ladies attended the long awaited Brecks Food Festival Farmers Market! We bought Apple Juice from Ashill, fresh fantastic bread and we ate a massive pork burger. We then met Francis another Scots Field Pig - RobThe Pigman was everywhere! We finished off with a lovely coffee at Les & Ness’ and two of their friends Crispin (no he’s not a spy) & “wicked” Laura! We were treated to beautiful chocolate tart and fruit tart crumble new for at CoCoes Delicious! The perfect end to our wonderful Food Festival experience! '