Pop Up Dinner in Suffolk

Our new Suffolk Food Safari HQ has given us the opportunity to host some gourmet Pop-Up Dinners, with our partner chef, Peter Harrison.

The first of these was held on Friday 22 June when we transformed our stunning timber-framed barn into a stylish dining room for 34 guests.

Peter Harrison, is a renowned chef who has worked at Alastair Little in London, The Leaping Hare in Suffolk and led his own restaurant, Harrison’s for many years. Peter’s busy schedule now includes catering for private dinners and events, working at Lawson’s Delicatessen in Aldeburgh and teaching cookery and bread making courses for Food Safari. But he found time to develop a stunning seasonal menu for Friday night’s dinner showcasing the best Suffolk produce.

The evening started with Bellinis and beautiful canapés including Asparagus wrapped in Parma ham, wrapped in pastry with Parmesan; Cured Mackerel & Gooseberry Relish Crostini and Binham Blue & Almond on a Gem Leaf.

Most of our guests had booked a table with friends and there was a great and convivial atmosphere as everyone took their seats to hear Tim Wood talk about the wines he’d specially selected to go with the menu of  Warm Rosery Farm rare-breed Pork and Chorizo Salad and a mouth-watering main-course of Heritage Coast Sea Bass, Norfolk Samphire, new potatoes and lemon butter sauce.

The Bass had been caught that morning by one of the Suffolk coasts most respected fishermen, Noel Cattermole at Sizewell.  Several guests told me it was the best bass they’d ever eaten.

For pudding, Peter had created an unusual and absolutely delicious Rose Geranium Pannacotta, Pistachio Shortbread and Suffolk strawberries, which he said was inspired by a recent trip to a garden centre.

Our guests lingered over coffee and chat and as they left promised they’d be back with more friends for the next Pop Up Dinner on Friday 5 October or 7 December.