Both sous chefs, Craig and Andrew cooked up a storm using local ingredients selected from the market and impressed the judges (includeding local fundraising hero, Chris Geering, and Diana Scott from Creake Abbey).  Mary Kemp hosts the competition and any chefs wishing to take  part should contact her via the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival website http://www.northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk/ (and click on the Local Food Challenge page)

Producers usually in attendance at the Farmers’ Market include:

In the Main Barn – Ethnic Fusion Indian Cooking, Norfolk Deli Co., Macarons & More, Narborough Trout, Olives & Stuff, The Old Fashioned Pudding Company, Bonnallack Home Cooked, Martin’s Farm, Foxley Wood Aberdeen Angus, Crush Foods, Trish Le Gal, Bray’s Cottage, Scrubby Oak Fine Foods, Ian Wright, Hands-on-Preserves, Metfield Bread and local apple juice

In the East Barn – Norfolk Quail, Jimmy Denny’s Alburgh Lamb, The Chocolate Deli, Drove Orchards, Norfolk Cordial, Whissonsett Fudge, Pye Bakery, Strety’s Pies, Ben Handley’s favourites, Kenyons Country Cakes, Good Taste, Bartram’s Brewery, Sweet Things Continental Style Tarts, Rita Holland Sheepskins and accessories, Donna’s Scones

Outside – Pointens Dairy, THF Countryside (wood in winter only), Glu_10_3 cakes, Royal Roots, Jelly Cottage Plants, Orchard Farm Plants, Fen Farm Venison, Peter Dickie Preserves, Mr Kew’s Pies, CR Lake Butcher, Thistlefield Soups, Manor Farm vegetables and flowers, West Norfolk Beekeepers Association with honey and wax, Baan Thai Food, Fielding Cottage Goat’s Cheese, Mrs B’s Cakes, Ocean Fresh Fish, The Velvet Bakehouse, Ninhams Cake Mixes, Pepperbellies Chillies

See you there!

Local Food Challenge

The Local Food Challenge has been designed to give chefs, below head chef status, the opportunity to show off their skills and knowledge of local produce and ingredients, the seasons, the producers and the tastes and recipes inspired by their surroundings. It also allows local restaurants and their chefs to promote themselves widely.

This popular first heat will see two local chefs, demonstrate their passion and skill with locally produced food and drink. They will be tasked with producing two dishes to be cooked in the fully equipped mobile cookery theatre on site using ingredients which they have chosen from the 45+ producers on the day. Each chef will be given £40 to spend with a shopping basket when they arrive that morning. Store cupboard ingredients will be provided; four pre-prepared items may be used in each heat. All of this will be in full view of the public and “foodie lovers” at the Farmers’ Market.

Now in its second year, the Local Food Challenge is one of the highlights of the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival (www.northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk)  to be held on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September in the historic courtyard at Holkham Hall. This flagship event forms a major part of the county-wide Norfolk Food and Drink Festival taking place throughout September. Over 8,500 visitors attended the event last year and 65 stall stallholders are expected to gather at Holkham Hall in 2012 to celebrate the very best of Norfolk’s locally produced food and drink.

Mary Kemp, local food supremo, will host the competition which will be judged by distinguished local and national food enthusiasts.  “The Local Food Challenge offers chefs a prestigious platform to showcase their talent and imaginations with locally sourced produce and they will be judged for their skills in the kitchen, presentation and the taste of their dishes” said Mary.

The two chefs cooking on Saturday 5th May at Creake Abbey will be Andrew Chapman from award-winning Strattons Hotel at Swaffham, and Craig Wadsworth, sous chef from the renowned Hunny Bell at Hunworth. One chef will follow another with market goers able to watch the proceedings. Cooking will begin at 10am and each chef will have an hour to prepare, cook and present two dishes. Ingredients will be chosen from the market on the morning of the competition which brings chefs and local producers together a central aim of the challenge.

The chefs are on stage from 10am.  Please come and watch!

During the launch Teddy Maufe, Chair of the North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival (and local grower of malting barley and owner of the Real Ale Shop) told visitors and the press about the 2012 Local Food Challenge.  From the May market through to and including the August market, young chefs will cook on stage in the mobile cookery theatre.  They will select their ingredients from the market that morning and then cook two dishes for judges to mark.  They will be promoting themselves AND the establishments they work for.  The final will take place at the festival on 1st and 2nd September at Holkham Hall.  For more information or to apply to be involved please visit http://www.northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk/ and visit the Local Food Challenge pages.

Thank you to all our producers and visitors!

Sunday 3rd June -  in the village

11am         Family church service with hand bell ringing by children from the village

12noon     Ceremonial tree planting of an oak and an apple tree on the village green.  The children of the village will be asked to plant the apple tree which has been kindly donated by the late Dr Kevin Browne and was grafted from an apple tree originally planted for the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Victoria.

12.45pm   Retire to the village hall for drinks and canapes very kindly provided by the Village Hall Committee

1.45pm     Festivities will end around 5pm allowing people time to get hometo watch the Jubilee barge procession along the River Thames which will commence around 2pm (high water) from Battersea Bridge.

Monday 4th June – at Creake Abbey barns

3pm         An afternoon of children’s fun and games with lots of afternoon tea and cakes for all!

4pm         A performance by the talented thespians and singers of the village which is sure to have us in awe and fits of laughter

4.30pm   The celebration hog roast will begin with bountiful quantities of food for all.  Children under 16 yrs eat for free.  Adults pay a nominal charge of £2.50.

5-8pm    Music by the fabulous “Sweatbeats”!  We are really lucky to have secured this wonderful band with a musical repertoire to suit all ages.  Come and celebrate, dance and have fun!