20 June 2011

holiday next-the-sea, part two

While our holiday included two stately homes, we didn't actually enter either. We made a quick stop at Audley End on the way up, where we toured my favorite bit, the restored Service Wing to the side of the house,

then headed out for a very wet walk round the Organic Kitchen Gardens:

Sadly the glasshouses, where we'd spotted such amazing tomatoes and figs last year, were closed. But luckily the Blickling Orangerie was open when we stopped there the next morning:

The Blickling gardens were lovely--we particularly liked the hazy purple catmint borders--but we were really there for the food!

Last year, the National Trust failed to renew the lease of my favorite food shop, Samphire, taking over their beautifully done-up space at the estate entrance to run their own mediocre cafe. Bah. But after numerous protests and petitions, the Trust is allowing Samphire to run a summer weekend pop-up shop in the grounds. So we stocked up on my favorite quiches and pork pies:

And the big news is Samphire is now selling their pork pies and other goodies at farmers' markets too. So maybe if I keep my fingers crossed they'll open a stand at Maltby Street. Then I could do all my bread, meat, cheese, and ice cream shopping in one go!

8 comments:

  1. What is it about National Trust food? Sometimes very mediocre indeed.

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  2. National Trust food is downright bizarre. And generally very brown.

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  3. Well done to the citizens for a small victory! And thanks for the reminder to stop at the butcher shop on my way home from work today.

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  4. It is a bit sad that National Trust does not offer good food, but top-notch tucker is available most every other cafe and delicatessen in Norfolk, including great ice cream.

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  5. Those oranges are so cool! And the Samphire food looks delicious.

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  6. I LOVE orangeries - they seem so exotic. I'm envious.

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  7. Oooh, ooh, when you were at Audley End were the fab ladies in character in the kitchens? We spent ages with the children listening to them waffle on last time we were there. It made our afternoon!

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  8. Oh I hadn#t realised you'd been doing such lovely things on your break. We were at Wiveton too, just a day or ttwo after the PnM Market!

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