June 2009
Welcome to our June newsletter
It's been a busy month at Food Safari. On May 16th an intrepid group hopped onto a trailer pulled by one of Blythburgh Free Range Pork's tractors for a tour of their farm before having a lot of fun (and a healthy dose of competition!) learning to make our own sausages and enjoying a gourmet pork feast at The Anchor at Walberswick.
In early June we had privileged access to Henham Park, foraging with expert guidance for the kinds of tasty wild foods many of us have growing as 'weeds' in our gardens or allotments before moving on to a highlight of the day down on the beautiful banks for the River Blyth, near Southwold, where we found samphire and sea purslane. Once again The Anchor spoiled us with an amazing feast featuring many of the foods we'd found that morning including a wild mushroom risotto made with 'chicken of the woods' and samphire fritters.
There's lots more going on in June and July so read on for some great special offers on events!
Seafood in a Day - 20% off
We've got a few places left on Seafood in a Day on Saturday June 27th. We'll start the day on the River Ore pulling a few lobster pots in search of crabs and other seafood. We'll then go behind-the-scenes of one of the country's most well-known smokehouses, Pinney's of Orford, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. We'll visit their oyster beds and learn about their traditional smoking methods.
We'll wrap up the day with a delicous seafood lunch at the Pinney family's own restaurant, The Butley Orford Oysterage, in Orford's pretty market square.
Seafood in a Day will run on Saturday 27 June and 12 September at Pinney's of Orford, near Woodbridge, Suffolk. £120/person or £200/couple with the 20% newsletter discount. Click here for full details.
Catch & Cook, Saturday 25th July
Looking for a great father's day gift? We're really looking forward to July 25th when we'll climb aboard our privately chartered boat for a day fishing the offshore wrecks and banks for cod, bass and mackerel and the chance of finding the occasional brill or turbot. With a chef on board we'll enjoy the freshest seafood lunch imaginable and each of us will learn how to prepare and fillet the fish we have caught, ready to take home to cook.
We'll end the day with an optional gourmet evening feast at The Anchor with beers and wines carefully selected to match each dish. There'll be plenty of time to spin a few yarns with friends and family who would like to join us for dinner.
Catch & Cook, Saturday 25 July, Walberswick, nr Southwold, Suffolk. £195 per person for the fishing trip - strictly limited to six people.
Gourmet feast at The Anchor can be booked separately at £40 per person including a hand-picked selection of beer and wine.
Full details on our web site.
Looking for somewhere special to stay?
There's a wealth of fantastic places to stay close to the Suffolk coast, whether you are looking for seaside cottages or luxurious countryside B&B. For a luxurious bed & breakfast with the biggest rooms you're ever likely to find, try The Stables at Henham Park.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay for our event at Pinney's of Orford, why not try Melton Mead set in a beautiful walled garden within walking distance of Woodbridge town centre and the River Deben.
Brewers' Market, Sunday July 26th, Snape Maltings
Applying the idea of a Farmers' Market to beers, Suffolk's first Brewer's Market is a concept that will bring together 12 of East Anglia's best microbrewers including our friends at Grain and Green Jack. The day will be made all the more special by some tutored beer tastings led by beer guru, Mark Dorber.
Snape Brewer's Market runs from 12 - 6pm on Sunday, July 26th at Snape Maltings, near Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Entry to the market is free. Book in advance for beer tastings £5 per person. Call Snape Maltings 01728 688303
The 2009 Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival
Finally, an important date for your diaries: Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival runs for the fourth time this year from 26 September to the 4 October. Kicking off with a weekend of cookery demonstrations and talks from top chefs and food writers as well as more of Suffolk's food producers than you'll find under any other roof.
The Fringe Festival will run for ten days across East Suffolk at farm shops, delis, food producers' premises, farms, pubs and restaurants. More information will be available soon on www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk