Bildeston Crown

Never been here myself although of course we all know about it. It scored highly with my niece and her boyfriend, although they were a bit miffed to be recommended the most expensive bottle of wine when they asked what would be nice with their meal. It’s oh so predictable.

Best UK newcomer – and it’s Pea Porridge

Well we knew this all along didn’t we? Went for a lovely meal here before Christmas, when I still had an appetite. We had slow-braised ox tongue, the sauté of snails, bacon and  bone marrow, partridge,  our favourite cotes de boeuf with fat chips and béarnaise and then delicious desserts. Still faultless and now a bit more relaxed. www.peaporridge.co.uk

Carluccio’s

Went to see The Social Network and tried to get a pizza afterwards but full of Office Christmas Party people. Haven’t been to Carluccio’s yet and it was ok, but they need to slow down – we practically had the card machine before we finished dessert.

PS. If you don’t work in an office but would like to go to an Office Christmas Party it’s not too late – we can organise one?

Suffolk Coq au Vin

What is real Suffolk food? Have just had a conversation with a tv company who are searching for it and mentioned something I had never heard of before. This was perfect on a cold foggy Suffolk evening.

… and supper at my mum’s house

Roast leg of lamb with onion sauce, loads of vegetables and a proper home-made cheesecake.

Breast of lamb – is it the new belly of pork…?

This is the bargain of the week – a rolled breast of lamb from Asda, already cheap, but reduced to £1. I have cooked this lots of times, and it’s been tasty, crispy but as tough as hell. This time I read the intructions in a recipe book instead of guessing and rushing, and it said SLOW cooking. So I put it on at 100, went to work for four hours and came back to the most delicious and tender piece of meat ever. Turned it up for twenty minutes to crisp up and WOW, what flavour! It’s not for everyone as it’s very fatty, but with rosemary, broad beans and the first new potatoes out of the garden it was as tasty as anything I have had lately. Next time I will unroll it, put some stuffing in and serve it to my best friends.

Halesworth – a Cut above the rest

Been to see two plays in one day as part of the Halesworth HighTide festival; this theatre being one of our favourite venues in Suffolk for comedy, particularly when it’s escaped unnoticed into a serious script. The food has always looked good here and I love the randomness of it, watching the cream being whipped for a raspberry cheesecake on the bar next to you while you wait for a glass of wine – everyone seems to volunteer here.  I had pork, cashew and apricot terrine that came with three salads for £6 – new potato salad, cous cous and red cabbage coleslaw, topped with a bunch of watercress.  It was delicious, fresh and tasty, and exactly what I wanted at 6.30pm between the plays. I could eat like this every day. By the time we got to the interval the cheesecake was ready and it was one of the best I have ever had out.  www.newcut.org

Noodle Bar – Bury

Last minute after parents evening and as a reward to myself for my skill at getting my son to choose the right A levels, we go to Bury for a takeaway and end up eating at the Noodle Bar again. Always busy in here, but this is really fast food – within minutes we had prawn toasts and deep fried squid – piping hot, freshly cooked and delicious with plenty of chili and garlic.

At last – an interesting new restaurant

Went to Pea Porridge last night, used to be The Chalice, by the Old Cannon on Pease Porridge Green – hence the name, and couldn’t fault it. Starter of squid with chorizo was great combination, squid clearly fresh, tender and complete with tentacles unlike the de-squeamified frozen versions. My main was lamb (with a crispy artichoke fritter balanced on at least four chunky slices of  perfectly pink tender meat) and a dessert of chocolate tart with stem ginger ice cream, with a glass of dessert wine we shared. Ruth had snails with bone marrow, hake with butter beans and prawns, followed by a plate of cheeses that were delicious – served with a tiny bowl of  chestnut honey – a strange sweet & metallic aftertaste I have never had before, but so good to be served something new in Bury. This is was good as it gets round here. www.peaporridge.co.uk

The Golden Boar – Freckenham

Sous chef from 5* Aldwych One in London apparently but hardly any publicity so basically just a busy village pub.  Took three hungry teenagers -  had nice home-made scotch eggs as a starter and crab on toast was good. Lovely main course of duck/chorizo/chick pea combination but seafood rissotto had inedible razor clams and no sign of some of the ingredients listed on the menu which at around £16.95 for a main course is a hefty bill for four. A bit of waitress-informing would be good too – wine? Red or White madam.