Tag Archives: shirlee and jane eat surrey

The Naked Grocer

Blog, Grocery shop, local food shop, Local products, Products, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

10 Bridge Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1AA

A sassy grocery store in the heart of Walton-on-Thames.

Go there for: A grand selection of fresh produce, a smattering of intriguing groceries and some foodie treats.

Avoid: The nearby multinationals  – support this award-winning local independent instead.

Is it worth the calories?: Absolutely! Send a lovely fruit box to a friend instead of chocolates – they’ll make one up for you and deliver it.

Tips: It’s on the one-way system but there’s some short-term parking round the corner. Closed on Thursday and Sunday.

The Naked Grocer was opened five years ago by energetic wholesale grocer Chris Bavin and his wife Millie. With some great ideas and chris and gregboundless enthusiasm they created a shop to serve local residents, businesses and offices. Co-hosting ‘Eat Well For Less’ with Greg Wallace last summer plus a full time job means you will only find Chris in the shop on Saturdays. During the week Millie and his sister Jacqui manage the business.

naked grocer honey 6x9Jane and I have learnt that ‘local’ for vegetables isn’t really always an option as the farmland here in Surrey isn’t the best for potatoes and other root veg. These are more likely to be grown in Kent or in Lincolnshire, where higher quality crops will prosper. It’s also a fact that local farms don’t like selling a bag a time to little independents but they do sell at wholesale markets. So Chris and Millie buy as much British fruit and veg as they can when it’s in season. Bananas and other exotics come from hotter countries.

They say the cost of fresh organic produce would be prohibitive, but they do sell top-quality fruit and veg. They stock some interesting supporting products, some of which are organic. On my last visit I picked up some organic cacao nibs and some Gran Luchito Mexican honey with chillies, which has just been featured in the Sunday papers as a must-have foodie gift. Also on offer was local untreated honey, a range of caramel sauces from local chocolate-maker Ildiko and jams made with a splash of Cretan olive oil from artisan producer The Olive Branch.

Walnuts, shop exterior, caramel sauce and Mexican honey

Their office fruit-box delivery scheme is a real hit. I can’t think of many people who wouldn’t prefer a lovely crunchy apple at work to replace the post-consumption guilt of calorie-rich biscuits or chocolates. Need to buy a gift for school or a business? Fruit is a much healthier and thoughtful gift. And if you live within three miles of the shop you can also take advantage of their veg-box delivery scheme.

nakedgrocer_6x9_veg

For many of us a corner grocery store is a thing of the past but the lucky residents of Walton-on-Thames can pop into The Naked Grocer. Their business mantra is to be ‘Fresh, Friendly and Fair’ and one to which they stay true. As winners for two years running of the Re:fresh Independent Retailer of the year award a lot of other people think so too.

The Naked Grocer websitenaked grocer outside 6x9

01932 254123

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee

Green bean salad with hot bacon and tomato dressing

Recipes, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

greenbeensaladI grow green beans every summer and love making this keeping salad that tastes just as good the next day as it does freshly made. Picking young tender beans is a luxury so its great to make a fuss of them. If you don’t have any pomegranate molasses you can use balsamic glaze instead but it doesn’t quite bring the same acidic caramel notes to the dish as the former.

Serves 2

Steam around 450g green beans for 8-10 minutes and rinse with cold water to prevent overcooking. Whilst the beans are cooking make the dressing. Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a pan and add 2-3 thinly sliced salad onions and 4 rashers of finely chopped smoked bacon. Stir-fry until the bacon is cooked, then add 2 finely chopped tomatoes and cook for a further 1-2 minutes and remove the pan from the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses and some freshly chopped garden herbs (I used chives and oregano) season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place some salad leaves in a serving dish and top with the beans. Pour over the hot dressing and finish with 50g crumbled Wensleydale cheese and serve immediately.

bean salad

Treacles Tea Shop

Blog, Coffee Shop, Reviews, Shops, Tea Shop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Green, Chiddingfold, GU8 4TUafternoon tea at treacles in Chiddingfold

An elegant tea-shop serving homemade classics with provenance

Go there for: Overfilled sandwiches, gorgeous cakes and afternoon tea.

Avoid: Not ordering afternoon tea in advance if you want the full monty.

Is it worth the calories?: Go for a walk first and earn a guilt-free treat.

Tips: Check out the cards and shabby chic home accessories.

It was a delight to learn that this reincarnation of the uninspiring Green Room has been choreographed by Tracey Honeysett. She trained at Westminster College and her impressive CV includes time as a pastry chef at a London’s Mayfair hotel and ownership of a Michelin starred restaurant in Surrey. More recently Tracey launched the menu at the Hothouse Café at the Medicine Garden, Cobham. This café now boasts a stylish interior, and you can pick up a tasteful selection of home-wares and greeting cards.

With a small on-site kitchen there is a manageable sandwich and panini menu using some local ingredients. Tracey bakes most of the cakes at home, supplementing these with cup cakes from Butter and Cream in Milford. Bread is delivered each day from  Bread of Heaven in Haselmere ; ham and other meats come from Black Barn butchers at Secretts. Coffee is from artisan roasters Coffee Real (ethically sourced and expertly cupped) and a great selection of teas and soft drinks complement the menu.

ham sandwichWe visited on a warm day so we sat outdoors overlooking the green. Indoors we noticed a group of ladies enjoying a full afternoon tea. Served on a dramatic cake stand were macaroons, crustless mini sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and madeleines. I chose a more modest ham sandwich on granary bread: overfilled, fresh and packed with salad, it was robust and hearty but I couldn’t resist asking for a spoon of homemade spicy tomato chutney on the side. A perfect addition, this lent a piquant nudge to the palate. I was also tempted by the hummus and char-grilled peppers (£5.75) and egg mayonnaise made with free-range eggs (£4.50) from Hallgate Farm in Sussex. My son’s hot sausage sandwich (£5.00) disappeared so fast I only managed to get a picture of half of it but he assured me it was on a par with the best. We shared a slice of carrot cake (£2.50); it was moist and spicy and I think Paul and Mary would have struggled to find fault. When Tracey is busy villagers supplement her cakes with their home-baked offerings: she says the coffee and walnut cake is a big hit.

treacles_trio

Service here is friendly and efficient and the achievable menu won’t disappoint. Tracey is keen to experiment and develop the menu but is taking it slowly: she wants to get into the groove before doing any serious marketing. Already discovered by cyclists, this café is a jolly good reason to stop off in Chiddingfold.

treacles_tea_shop_exterior_9x6

01428 684859

Facebook page

No website at present

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee

Plum and cardamom cake

Blog, Recipes, , , , , , , , ,

We wait all year for our home-grown fruit to ripen and when it does you have to act fast! Jane has some plum trees so we have been making sorbets, tarts, cakes, plum butter and roasted-plum crumble. Here cardamom complements the sweetness of the plums. This cake is perfect with a cup of fresh coffee or serve warm with fresh cream or custard for a dessert.

Ingredientsplum and cardomom cake_6x9

200g butter, at room temperature

200g vanilla sugar or 200g castor sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract

4 eggs, beaten

200g self-raising flour

750g fresh ripe plums, stoned and quartered

seeds from 8-10 cardamoms, ground

1 tbsp golden castor sugar

Line a 22x24cm baking tray and pre-heat oven to 180°C /160°fan/gas mark 4

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Fold the egg and flour into the mixture a little at a time. Stir in half the plums and the ground cardamom and spoon into the baking tray. Top the mixture evenly with the remaining plums and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until firm to touch and golden.

This cake will only keep for a couple of days because of the high water content of plums.

plums

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee

Luscious lemon and courgette cake

Blog, Recipes, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

(makes 12 generous portions)

This moist veg packed cake is adaptation of Flora’s famous courgette cake featured in Nigella Lawson’s ‘How to be a domestic goddess’. I added lemon zest to the cake mix to give it a citrus kick and tweaked some of the ingredients to fit our food ethos for the Pop up Café we ran in June. This is a great way to use a glut of courgettes when you have run out of savoury ideas and freezes beautifully (un-iced). We sourced our courgettes from Village Greens in Ockley who grow their own. I wanted a more substantial layered cake than the original recipe so increased the amounts given. You can bake this in three tins to give you an extra filling layer if you prefer. Courgettes release water when they are grated so make sure you squeeze them as dry as you can on kitchen towel otherwise it will make the cake mixture too wet. I used some dried cornflower petals to decorate this cake which Jane had bought me as a gift from a range on offer at Secretts farm shop in Milford. A healthy and natural alternative to sprinkles they look stunning.

Ingredients Courgette and lemon cake

185ml sunflower oil

3 free range eggs

225g castor sugar

350g self-raising flour

1 tsp of baking powder

The zest of 2 organic un-waxed lemons (juice for the icing)

90g  raisins, soaked overnight in water

375g courgettes, topped tailed and finely grated

For the icing

400g full fat cream cheese (beware low fat doesn’t work here as it breaks down and goes runny)

200g icing sugar

Juice of 1-2 lemons

Dried cornflower petals to decorate and freeze dried raspberry (optional)

Lemon Curd to fill about half a 350g jar

Method

Pre-heat the oven to Gas mark 4/ 180°c /fan 160°c. Line or grease 2 or 3 round 22cm baking tins.

  1.  Place the oil and eggs and sugar in the mixing bowl of an electric stand mixer or use an electric hand whisk and beat until pale and creamy.
  2. Combine the flour and baking powder and fold into the egg mixture.
  3. Now fold in the lemon zest, courgettes and raisins. Divide the mixture between the three lined tins and bake in pre-heated for 30 minutes.
  4. Leave for 5 minutes then remove from the tins and allow to cool on a rack.
  5. Meanwhile make the icing by combining the ingredients until smooth, chill until required.
  6. Place the first layer on a serving platter and spread with lemon curd. Repeat this with the second and third cake leaving the top un-iced.
  7. Using a palette knife spread the cream cheese icing on the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the top with petals or a decoration of your choice.

cornfower petals _duo

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee

At Home Catering

Blog, Deli, event caterer, functions, Products, Take Away, weddings, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

40 High Street, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3EB

Deli and outside caterer selling top-notch, freshly made food.at_home_jeremy_6x9

The upside: Doorstep sandwiches, ready-made family meals and delightful party food.

The downside:  Food that is hard to resist – you have been warned!

The flipside: This business will bend over backwards to meet your individual needs.

Tips: Take your own dish to fill with lovely home-cooked food; no-one need know you didn’t make it yourself.

This impressive business was started Marilyn Newman over thirty years ago. An experienced caterer, who spent time in the USA saw a gap in the UK market for expertly prepared take-home food; three decades later this business is thriving. Today Marilyn has stepped back from the business but has left a tight management team in place.

at_home_cheese_6x9The team have created a winning model, surviving several recessions. At Home’s base is in Cobham but it has a London office and a list of iconic catered events under its belt (the Brit Awards for starters) and lots of high-profile clients. Every event, from a dinner party for 10 to a marquee wedding for three hundred, is catered for with equal attention to detail.

Chef/director Jeremy took me into the kitchen where a gluten-free canapé buffet for 30 was being created. All the items on the menu were prepared in the kitchen and finished at the venue. Delicious savoury toppings were sealed in piping bags and chilled; baby meringues were being packed, tiny bread rolls were being filled.

at_home_collage

At Home offer modern-style catering alongside old-fashioned service and hospitality.  The three directors run all aspects of their business, updating their menus to keep on trend and stop their clients getting bored. They produce comprehensive catalogues of their food twice a year so you can easily build your perfect menu.

They make some extra portions of their catered dishes to sell in the deli, so there’s always something different on offer. I sampled a rich,at_home_salads_6x9 satisfying spicy seafood stew and a wild rice salad with green beans. Both were tasty, hearty, healthy and worth going back for. Jane’s chicken breast in a creamy wild-mushroom sauce was rich and tender. Jane and I shared a ham and coleslaw sandwich. We agreed it was a classic: overfilled with an American portion of ham and homemade slaw with proper mayonnaise. At lunch times large queues form for these legendary sandwiches. The date and apple loaf was moist, fruit packed and perfect with afternoon tea. Other cakes include a classic Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle.

at_home_breadThey carefully source their products from local and London producers: you’ll find Norbury Blue cheese in the deli counter and artisan sour doughs from the Bread Factory in London. Pastries come from La Patisserie in Stoke D’Aberbon, who stone-grind their flour every day. To complement the fresh food they have a selection of artisan and gourmet oils, vinegars, mustards and other relishes. They also stock handmade chocolates and some select crockery.

Next time you cater for a big crowd pop into At Home and see what they could do for you. You won’t be disappointed.

www.athomecatering.com
01932 862 026

Green Rooms of Godstone

Blog, Cafes, Restaurants, Tea Shop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 Plum Cake Corner, Needles Bank, Godstone Green, Godstone, RH9 8DZsylvia_jeremy_godstone

 A super friendly café serving satisfying home cooking with a quirky edge

Upside: Sylvia’s eyelash-curling lemon drizzle cake and other baked delights.

Downside: Its a trek for me from Guildford but one I am prepared to take!

Flipside: This years (2015) award winner for best cafe in Surrey from Surrey Life Magazine!

Tips: On a sunny day you can eat al fresco, with a lovely view over the green.

green_rooms9x6

Sylvia met Jeremy when he worked at her family’s bakery. One thing led to another and they are now legally united with three lovely kids. The Park Bakery where their romance started was a legend in Wandsworth, serving locals and celebrity chefs for 32 years. Foodies who fell in love with miniature meal canapés from finger-food queen Lorna Wing (mini burger buns, bagels and other tiny delights) will be impressed to learn that they were made for her in this bakery. When Sylvia’s dad retired they wanted a fresh start out of London. They happened upon the Green Rooms; luckily they have the right mix of great home cooking and personality to make it a success.

godstone_soupSylvia is in charge of the kitchen and Jeremy does front of house. Charming and relaxed, he makes everyone feel at home. My son opted for the all-day breakfast (£6.95). Everything was freshly cooked to order – and local. Sausages and bacon come from Flower Farm Shop down the road and eggs are local too. The panini with goat’s cheese and caramelised onion (£5.95) was tempting, as was the Cumberland sausage and baby-spinach leaf sandwich (£4.95) but I was in the mood for soup. Sylvia had freshly made mushroom soup (£5.95); instead of bread I had a spinach salad with a tasty homemade balsamic dressing on the side. It was creamy, earthy, flavour-packed and delicious. The food ethos here is ‘humble, rustic and honest’: Sylvia’s words but I can vouch for their veracity. Refreshingly, these restaurateurs are happy to accommodate patrons’ preferences.

Whilst enjoying your meal, peruse the cookbooks on the shelves, which provide inspiration for the menu, or take a look at some of the unusual vinyl toys Sylvia collects. The décor here is a quirky mix of country-style and hip city café, bringing a bit of London edginess to Surrey.

godstone_green_rooms_interioR_SHOT_9X6

Last time I popped in for a coffee they had just launched their summer menu, which included salmon fish cakes with salad and pasta pesto with chicken (both £8.95). They also do a homemade tomato and vegetable sauce for paste penne (£4.95, which kids love) from a secret family recipe.

Sylvia’s started baking with her dad when she was eight, so it’s not surprising that she’s a dab hand. I sampled lemon drizzle, which is eyelash curling in a good way (£2.95 per slice), and whoopie pies (£2.45) – who can resist two delicious sponge discs held together with fresh cream? Other homemade treats include white chocolate cake, rocky road and cream teas with clotted cream and freshly baked scones. Following in her father’s footsteps Sylvia will also create a teatime feast of miniatures for your party (book in advance). Try a full spread of mini filled bagels, sandwiches, cakes and other gorgeous finger foods for a really special treat (£19.50 per person).

jgodstone_trio

The menu here is evolving and Sylvia and Jeremy are keen to listen to their customers and try new things.  They hold barbeques, supper evenings and other events: like their facebook page to see what’s coming up next.

www.greenroomsofgodstone.co.uk

Facebook page

Tel: 01883 740 407

Tomato spiced cod with polenta and corn cake

Blog, Fishmongers, Recipes, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We recently reviewed Sussex Gold, who produce cold-pressed rapeseed oil. They also sell a range of dressings and cooking sauces made especially for them. I tried a spicy tomato sauce, which I used in dressings and to finish a pasta sauce as suggested on the label. After buying some fresh cod from the Chelsea fishmonger I had a creative kitchen moment with a delicious and satisfying outcome. Here it is!

Serves 2cod_sussex_gold_tomato_sauce

For the polenta cakes

4 x 15ml spoons of cooked sweet corn

60g polenta

1 large egg

2 finely chopped salad onions or a handful of fresh chopped chives

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

20ml of rapeseed or sunflower oil

Fish

300g fresh cod loin, cut into 2 cm cubes

2-3 tablespoons of Sussex Gold spicy tomato sauce

To serve: some salad leaves and a spoon of half-fat crème fraîche or Greek-style yogurt

First make the polenta cakes – you can do this in advance and chill until required. Place all the ingredients except the oil in a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Divide the mixture into 4 round cakes and chill for 20 minutes to set.

Meanwhile prepare the fish and the salad. Heat the grill. Place a sheet of foil on to the grill pan with the sides folded up to create an edge to trap the sauce. Add a little of the tomato sauce to the foil and place the fish on top. Brush or spoon over the remaining sauce and grill for 7 – 8 minutes until just cooked.

While the fish is cooking, heat the oil and pan fry the polenta cakes for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden. Place the cakes on a plate with the salad leaves and top with the cooked fish and sauce.  Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche.

You can buy Sussex Gold in farm shops and direct from the producers at farmers markets

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee

Sussex Gold oils

Jacobs Well Country Market

Blog, Country Market, local food shop, Local producer, Local products, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jacobs Well Village Hall, Nr Guildford, GU4 7PDJacobs_well_checkout_

Go there for: Freshly baked cakes, bread, savouries, pies, free-range local eggs, meat and cheese.

Avoid: Arriving late! Only open Friday from 10 -11.30 am, regulars snap up best buys fast.

Is it worth the calories?: A social enterprise that helps the smallest producers sell their wares – of course it is!

Tips: You can order goods in advance, including meat – remember it’s cash only.

This little community market is one of 350 in the UK and Channel Islands, including eleven in Surrey. Established in 1919 as a co-operative social enterprise, Country Markets provide a unique opportunity for individuals and small producers to sell their products locally.

Only open on Fridays between 10 and 11.30, Jacob’s Well Market is a complete treat. We found tables of home-baked cakes, breads and biscuits; savouries, including quiche, beetroot and goat’s cheese tarts and lentil tray-bakes; preserves, honey and chutneys; and culinary delights like bacon and cheese bread (heavenly toasted with butter). One lady runs a stall for award-winning local butcher Conisbee, another sells free-range eggs and cheese. In summer stall-holders sell the glut from their vegetable plots as well as plants and flowers. The stock here rightly changes with the seasons.

products on sale

On arrival you are furnished with a shopping sheet and a basket. Each time you select an item your form is updated and you pay at the cash desk. The market records all the sales and pays the vendors after removing their ten percent. A small stall in North Street market in Guildford will cost you £60 a day. This community marketplace charges a nominal membership fee of just 5p a year. To bag a stall you have to join the waiting list and bring something that other traders aren’t already selling.

Jacobs_well_products

There’s a craft market too: we found beautifully sewn babies’ bonnets, toys and greeting cards. Everything is homemade and unique – an experience that cannot be replicated on the high street.

crafts for sale

Country Markets offer a low-key but essential outlet for people who want to make a few items to sell once a week. They provide camaraderie, a modest income and a way of making a contribution to the community.

If you need an antidote to chain-store shopping, check out your local market – knowing the money you spend goes straight in the producer’s pocket.

www.jwcountrymkt.free-online.co.uk

National Country Markets 01246 261508

www.country-markets.co.uk

The Speckledy Hen

Blog, Cafes, Deli, Take Away, Tea Shop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Speckledy Hen, Café & Deli, Shamley Green, Nr Guildford, GU5 0UBcathychristina_6x9

 A pretty, shabby chic parlour combining a café, gift shop and deli counter.

Go there for: Homemade specials, gourmet sandwiches, handmade cakes and bakes.

Avoid:  Not booking ahead for a large group.

Is it worth the calories?: Homemade soup and specials are well balanced but go easy on the cakes!

Tips: Parking can be a little restricted; the pub across the road has additional spaces.

speck_hen_exterior_9x6

When Cathy Garthwaite and Christina Collins met on the school run a few years ago they immediately became friends. Managing careers and children was stressful so they explored business ideas closer to home. With successful backgrounds in textiles and hotel and catering the idea of a stylish café for locals to enjoy evolved. When the Old Forge in Shamley Green came up for rent its interior of red brick and beams hit the right note and Cathy and Christina signed the lease. They bought all their equipment and furniture second-hand and, after painting and decorating, created a lovely space.

The Speckledy Hen (a name borrowed from a children’s book) opened in 2012 and quickly gained a loyal following. Pastel-painted furniture, carefully sourced gifts, traditional children’s toys and local-food products creates a feel-good atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to lift the spirits, leaving the politics of life firmly outside. You get the sense that this venture has brought more than just a new venue to this community. Many of the staff live just around the corner and, as they pointed out, it’s a lovely place to work.

red pepper tom soup _9x6

The kitchen is tiny so there is a limited but well-constructed menu. For breakfast choose from granola with yogurt and honey (£3.95), satisfying bacon butties (£3.95) or scrambled eggs served on artisan sourdough bread on its own (£5.95) or with bacon (£6.95) or smoked salmon (£9.95). Lunch options include an open and toasted sandwich menu (£7.50 plus) and Hen platters such as grilled haloumi, hummus, roasted peppers and grilled artichokes (£9.95). Daily specials might be Thai green curry (£9.95). There’s a good balance of vegetarian options and gluten-free diets are catered for. Fresh coffee is supplied by local roaster Coffee Real, tea is from Tea Pigs and cakes are made by Madeleine and Rachel, who live locally.

speck_hen_trio

For lunch we sampled Thai green curry with a wholegrain mixed rice (very healthy). The portion wasn’t huge but substantial enough. I thought the curry could have been feistier, but my daughter loved it. I had a bowl of tomato and red pepper soup with bread (£5.95): this over-generous portion was served on a hen-shaped board (it’s a bit of a thing here). Piping hot and extremely tasty, it had me quietly admitting that I couldn’t have made it better myself.

We managed to squeeze in a slice of rocky road (only 70% cocoa solids chocolate allowed here) and a granola-style fruity flapjack (£2.50): both were sweet, indulgent and satisfying.speck_hen_flapjack

The shop and deli sell a range of local and specialty foods including Ouse Valley preserves and Norbury Blue cheese. Bread is from the Hungry Guest in Petworth, and you can also pick up Kokoh chocolate hand produced by Joanna in Ewhurst . Take away and outside catering are also on offer. Although the menu states that food is locally sourced, that doesn’t extend to sausages and meat: a shame as there are so many great butchers in Surrey. But this evolving food business is a great addition to Surrey’s food destinations.

thespeckledyhen.com

01483 894567

Text and images Shirlee
Text and images Shirlee