British Asparagus

 

We've been lucky to have British asparagus for sale in the farm shop for a few days now. It's grown locally, in the next village to us, and we go and collect it direct from the farm daily. Just picked, you won't find much fresher unless you grow it yourself and hardly any food miles. It is absolutely delicious.

And of course asparagus is also on the menu in our cafe, The Orchard Tea Room. We're currently serving asparagus soup and asparagus quiche, they are both heavenly.

So whether you want to cook your own or enjoy a dish containing British asparagus you know where to go

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

TV Chef Glynn Christian reviews Saggitta potatoes

"Saggitta are wonderful potatoes in every way, flavourful and just what I like for texture.Their added advantage is the smooth even shape, which makes them perfect for attractive baked potatoes but also a cook's best friend when you want to make good looking, even-shaped chips, sauteed potatoes or potato salad, to slice for a topping or to make Pommes de Terres Anna and other old favourites. I've still not mashed them but they must be as great mashed as they are roasted, which is VERY good. More please..."

Glynn Christian

Sausage & Prune Casserole ~ Jamie Oliver & Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall

Watched Hugh and Jamie prepare this Hearty Sausage & Prune Casserole straight after the Pear & Almond Pudding Cake and thought what a great weekend meal it would make especially in cold old February. The fresh ingredients could be picked up here at the Orchard Farm Shop including the sausages the others  are probably in your store cupboard.

Pear & Almond Pudding Cake from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall / River Cottage

Just stumbled upon this video of Hugh Fearnley - Whittingstall making a Pear & Almond Pudding Cake, have to say it looks seriously delicious and that my mouth is now watering... Maybe one for the tea room?
We grow (and sell) pears, sadly not almonds!

Snowdrops In The Green

Snowdrops are easier to establish if you plant them "in-the-green" rather than as a dry bulb and we have freshly lifted single snowdrops for sale in the farm shop at only £6.00 a bag. Time to get planting!

Sagitta Potatoes for Chip Week

So it's Chip Week!

What better time than Chip Week to tell you about the marvelous Sagitta potato that we sell in the farm shop. Sometimes marketed as the "Chippie's Chip Potato" the Sagitta is actually a great all-rounder  but it does make the most wonderful chips and roasties.

For us the Sagitta has overtaken our old all time favourite Maris Piper as we've found it mashes beautifully too.

Grown locally, about 6 miles from us, they are currently available in the farm shop by the sack or 1/2 sack.

So who is Jack Valentine? Happy Valentine's from the farm shop

We're on the edge of the Norfolk county boundary here at the Farm Shop and Jack Valentine is very much part of Norfolk folklore.

Also known as Father Valentine or Mother Valentine Jack Valentine knocks on the door on Valentine's Eve (or Valentine's Day), he leaves a present but vanishes when the door is opened. In Victorian times children eagerly awaited Jack Valentine as much as they did Father Christmas, somehow either Mum or Dad always missed his arrival!

Don't worry if Jack Valentine didn't visit we're giving away rolls of Love Heart sweets in the Tea Room & Farm Shop today ~ Happy Valentine's.