Wow. I have just made sweet chilli prawns with a recipe sent by the Suffolk Chilli Company, using their Extra Hot sweet chilli sauce. The sauce really is extra hot, it reminds me of the fiery Durban curry called Mother in Laws Tongue. Needs a little respect! Look out for the recipe on our new Dish of the Day.
Yes, there was only one.
Here's a challenge. A writing competition for foodies. You might be better at it than us.
We have been asked to give this a mention, so here it is. This is the first food and drink festival of its kind to be held at Henham Park Nr Southwold, in the lovely setting of the historic walled garden. Over the two days of the Festival, the aim is to celebrate and publicise the amazing variety of food and drink available in East Anglia. Local, regional and national firms will exhibit and there will be a special children’s activity area. Cookery demonstrations and talks will be held throughout both days and those purchasing food will be able to store their shopping in a chilled store. Day entry is £6 for adults and £3 for children aged 12 – 16, under 12’s are free. For more details and to buy tickets please visit www.flavoursof2012.co.uk.
This three hour tour takes you through the foodie paradise of Bethnal Green in East London - from the famous and beautiful Columbia Rd flower market for fresh morning coffee and pastries from Italy, to Brick Lane, the home of curry, with foodie stops all the way. Jamie Oliver comes here to buy his Vietnamese street food and even the kebab vans are good. So we can try fresh oysters; beigels stuffed with salt beef or smoked salmon, traditional Cockney pie, mash and eels and home made baklava - from the traditional shops that have been here for years, and from the fabulous new street food vendors that cook here at the weekend.
The tour is £10 per person, runs most Saturdays and Sundays and meets at Hoxton station. You buy your own food throughout but don't worry, it's mostly under a fiver and you'll easily walk it off! It starts at 11.00am going for coffee, and ends at 2.00pm with whatever you liked best...and there is even a Cockney cashpoint to get your money out in rhyming slang!
Send me a message for details of the next tour dates and how to book.
The sun is out so that must mean it's barbecue time! Denise and Adrian from The Chilli Company sent suffolkfoodie some jars of their chilli sauces and chutney to sample, so first up is the Extra Hot smoky chipotle sauce - half of the 280g jar easily covered nine fat pork ribs as a marinade. I barbecued them and then the family moved in and wolfed them down before I had a chance to take a snap, so the picture is of the ribs marinading.
Well, the sauce was lip-tingling hot. The cooked ribs had a good kick of chilli, but were by no means overpowering. The sweet and smoky flavours were not lost through the heat of the chilli. However with a little more on the side for dipping the full force was apparent. A delicous sauce, not for the faint hearted, but for those that like it hot - deliciious as a marinade or as a sauce.
Paul Foster is making his name with restaurant critics and is due to appear on The Great British Menu on TV next month. He's Head Chef at Tuddenham Mill. Lunch today was very good indeed with the menu featuring some interesting herbs, some of which I believe are foraged locally. Pictured is my main course of potato terrine, artichoke, mushrooms and watercress. I am pretty sure the plate has chickweed on. What does everyone think?
A set lunch is £20 for two courses and £25 for three courses, with both an amuse bouche and very generous plate of home baked breads. A bit of a treat for a Monday!
Proper leaf tea and fresh homemade cakes all served at 5.15pm when Southwold usually closes up for the night. Winter afternoon teas are served at Tillys until 6pm. Thank you Tillys!