Competition!

Win a £100 Dining Voucher to spend at the Dennington Queen

We are delighted to have teamed up with The Dennington Queen, a 16th Century country pub with dining, to offer you the chance to win a £100 voucher. Perhaps for a family lunch, a fabulous roast on Sunday or a candlelit dinner for two… with seasonal menus, freshly prepared using local produce, a children’s play area and gin & cocktail menu, the only problem will be choosing how best to spend it!

The Dennington Queen must be one of the loveliest pubs in Suffolk. With a sheltered terrace overlooking the duck-pond and a lovely garden which sits alongside the churchyard, a fabulous interior complete with two inglenook fireplaces, it is truly a pub for all seasons. Run by Jon Reeves, who has been at the helm for over 15yrs now, and Lorna, top notch, freshly prepared food and excellent service from their great team are a given.

www.thedenningtonqueen.co.uk

For your chance of winning this fabulous prize, please answer the following question correctly:

Q: How long has Jon run the pub for?

July.

Synonymous with delicious pastries, sausages rolls, fresh salads, artisan breads and good coffee, The Black Dog Delis are muchloved watering holes for many Suffolk locals. We catch up with owners Andy Storer and Michael Anfilogoff at their Halesworth café to find out what plans they are cooking up next.

Andy opened the first Black Dog Deli in Walberswick in 2014, and it wasn’t long before his honest home cooking and flavoursome food was attracting more than just the summer crowd. “I have always believed that simple food done well is the basis of our success. Our customers know that it is reasonably priced and always delivers on flavour, and we only use quality ingredients, sourced from within Suffolk if possible.” Michael, who is one of the founders of the award-winning bakery Filo & Twine, joined forces with Andy in 2017, and together they have grown the business into the success it is today. “Although lockdown was hard, it was the catalyst for our expansion. We used to run Street Food Fridays in Southwold, offering take-away dishes inspired by the traditional cuisines of India, Morocco and the Middle East. We built up a loyal following and this gave us the confidence to start looking at different locations for our delis.”

There are now three Black Dog Delis: Halesworth opened in 2021, followed by Wrentham earlier this year, and they have just announced that a fourth is set to open in

Yoxford this May. Like any good recipe, the company structure is multi-layered, and although operating under the brand name Black Dog Deli, both Halesworth and Wrentham are run as a franchise, each one having its own unique identity and with subtle twists on the menu mainstays that people know and love. “We didn’t want to set up a chain. To us it is more important that the shops fit into the communities where they are based and have the flexibility to adapt to their client base. Damien, who runs Halesworth, and Ross, who runs Wrentham, used be part of the team so we know their delis are in safe hands.” It is a clever business model as although they must stock at least 50% of the signature Black Dog savoury and sweet bakes and artisan breads, they are also guaranteed to be run with a passion and enthusiasm that can only be found in those with a stake in their own success.

Andy and Michael are still very hands-on, and most days will be found at HQ on Halesworth Business Park, rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in with the rest of the team, who are kept very busy with the wholesale side of the business. “We supply a wide range of clients across Norfolk and Suffolk, stocking cafés, pubs, restaurants and delis with our bread, pastries and pies. We work with The Wilderness Reserve, our sausage rolls are on the menu at Jarrolds, and we have recently collaborated with Adnams, creating and supplying Beef & Broadside pies for their pubs.” As if knocking out over 1000 loaves a week isn’t enough, in 2022 Michael and his partner Charlotte set up the Black Dog Pizza Co. Their hand- stretched artisanal sourdough pizzas are sold frozen and stocked at all the Black Dog Delis, as well as the Fen Farm shops and Earsham Street Delis, and, for a special treat, on Fridays and Saturdays you can also sample them freshly cooked at the Lord Nelson in Southwold.

It is obvious that Andy and Michael are both highly motivated individuals who are happy to work hard to achieve their dreams, but it is also clear that they haven’t lost sight of what is important. They have surrounded themselves with a dedicated support team, which includes family and partners, and rather than opening in busy towns and tourist hotspots, have chosen rural locations, allowing each deli to own its identity and deliver a personal touch that is essential for customer experience and loyalty. Their food is made with sustainably grown local produce and their shelves are stocked with innovative products that are carefully sourced to make them stand out from the crowd. “The coffee shop scene has seen a shift in the last ten years but for us it has always been about simplicity, consistency and taste. We want our delis to be at the heart of the community, a place for friends to gather and share food, swap stories and check-in with each other.” Add to this mix, a beautifully smooth cup of coffee and a cherry and almond pain au chocolat, or a caramelised red onion and mustard sausage roll straight out of the oven, and there is no argument that theirs has to be the perfect recipe for success. www.blackdogdelis.co.uk / www.filoandtwine.co.uk

It’s Festival Time

Free to attend, the Beccles Food and Drink Festival returns on Saturday, 27th May, with 60 stalls set to offer an incredible range of the finest artisan food and drink from the local area and beyond. Based around New Market, Sheepgate, and in and around St Michael’s Church, the festival runs from 10am till 4 pm and will also include world street food, music and children’s entertainment.

A new feature this year will be the Local Flavours mobile cookery theatre, offering budding chefs and bakers culinary inspiration from local chefs and students of East Coast College in Lowestoft. Two weeks of Fringe events leading up to the event are also planned, involving a wide range of food and drink themed activities, menu specials, tours and talks. www.becclesfoodfestival.co.uk

The Stowmarket Food and Drink Festival takes place on Sunday, 2nd July.

Attracting crowds of over 7000 people, it celebrates local and regional produce, making it a great day out for families and foodies alike.

Visitors to the event will find a wide range of food and drink to choose from including produce stalls, street food, pop-up bars and sweet treats. The town centre will be packed with local and regional traders offering goods from a variety of cuisines. Visitors can see chefs prepare mouthwatering dishes with seasonal ingredients at the Kitchen Theatre. There is also plenty of entertainment for all ages at venues across town, including Pocket Money Movies at The Regal. For more information visit www.stowmarkettowncouncil.gov.uk