Visit Norwich

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With the summer holidays in full swing, staycations being more popular than ever and friends and family able to get together, eating out this August is high on the agenda

says Melanie Cook of VisitNorwich.co.uk

By the time you read this I am hoping the government’s plan to take us out of COVID-19 safety measures has been successful.

Days out and breaks always seem to revolve around the excitement of food and drink. Whether you’ve packed up a picnic, thrown together some snacks or you’re heading to an eatery to be waited on. How many times have we set off on a journey and the kids want the sandwiches just as you are leaving the drive? Or you arrive somewhere and the fi rst thing you do is have a coffee or perhaps something stronger!

Without realising it, what we eat and drink out is a huge part of a day/evening experience or holiday. We make plans over food and drink; we share stories, and we languish over dishes we can’t cook at home. Tucking into the food we love; with the people we love.

In case you didn’t know (where have you been hiding?), Norwich is going mad for dinosaurs, thanks to Dippy On Tour at Norwich Cathedral - on the fi nal leg of his nationwide journey (tickets are free and do not have to be pre-booked). So, it makes complete sense to throw into the mix great places to eat and drink to complete a day or evening out.

Norwich Business Improvement District launched a new City Food Trail in February 2020 for Love Light Norwich festival. And now, due to its popularity, the latest iteration follows the same concept, but this time themed all things dinosaur. The food trail starts 12 July and runs until 22 August.

Go to www.visitnorwich.co.uk/cityfood-trail for full details.

So, watch out for neon dinosaurs in the windows of participating restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars. With over 25 venues in Norwich taking part, extend your trip by enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner, or all three as part of the celebrations around the iconic 26-metre-long diplodocus cast on view.

Not much time? Try a Deano Delight shake at Al Dente on St Giles Street. Or some TeaRex from Birchley's Loose Leaf Tea on Norwich Market, with a dinosaur themed cupcake from Debs,

In case you didn’t know (where have you been hiding?), Norwich is going mad for dinosaurs, thanks to Dippy On Tour at Norwich Cathedral - on the fi nal leg of his nationwide journey

Home of the Biggest Baps also located on the market. Or pop into Tofurei on St. Gregory’s Alley for a slice of Dino Nest Cake. And staying with sweet treats The Waffl e House on St Giles is offering what sounds like a spectacular dish. Order a Jurassic Pot with erupting chocolate mousse volcano, salted caramel lava, chocolate soil, dinosaur cookie and dino eggs.

Christophe’s Crepes in Davey Place and on Pottergate is the place to stop whether hungry or not. I’ve always found the smell of crepes so hard to resist. I absolutely love the idea of their themed dish called the Stegosaurus Back. This is a creation of mini-dutch pancakes with banana, using milk chocolate buttons as the stegosaurus' back, topped with nutella, chopped hazelnuts and strawberries.

For a sit-down lunch or dinner, the Louis Marchesi is serving up a Brontosaurus Burger with Jurassic Fries, soft drink and a dinosaur gift bag at £8.00 for kids. And for the parents? You needn’t miss out on the fun, order a Tyrannosaurus Tanqueray and tonic which is a large Tanqueray and Fever Tree tonic infused with lemon and rosemary or a Raptor Cockail which is vodka, coconut rum, Midori, blue curaco and soda served over crushed ice, both £6. I suggest that perhaps you have the Brontosaurus Burger to accompany your Jurassic cocktails!

Giggling Squid just across the road on Tombland has a great kid’s menu which includes two dino dishes. Choose between Pork ‘Dinosaur eggs’ or Pterodactyl Noodle Nest. Or have both if you’re having trouble deciding.

Norwich Lanes is getting in on the action too. At Salt and Figbar on St John Maddermarket start with a Salt signature sandwich - the Cubanosaurus fi lled with Cuban braised pork, smoked ham, grilled raclette, mustard and dill pickled cucumbers. Then skip next door to Figbar to order a dino shaped sable shortbread biscuit with a smooth strong coffee. Whilst there make sure you return home with a selection of their decadent, indulgent cakes - there are many to choose from. Everyone will love you for it. I promise.

Frank’s Bar has long been a favourite in Norwich and their dino offering isn’t disappointing. Tuck into some Pterodactyl wings of Norfolk chicken marinated in a lightly spiced sauce (gf) or for vegetarians Stegosauras Dips - blue corn tortilla chips with a trio of veggie dips (vn) (gf). Washed down with either The Velociraptor which is ginger ale, orange juice and grenadine or a Jurassic Julep made with bourbon, peach and mint.

For vegans, vegetarians and people who sometimes don’t miss eating meat and fi sh try Namaste Village, Pizzaterian and The Green Eatery. All have wonderful, themed dishes to eat in or take-away if you really need to get home!

Finally, the cathedral has a host of smaller events and things to do when visiting Dippy. As you reach the man himself, visitors will arrive through a wave of 3,000 fi sh, part of an exciting sculpture called Your Waves Go Over Me. You can even take home a memento as the fi sh are for sale online www.wavewithfi sh.com. Individual fi sh are £16 with a shoal of 12 fi sh for £170.

Around the Cloisters take a trip through time with a special installation to help you step back into the age of the dinosaurs. There’s also story telling for children, talks, tours, fi lm nights and more (please book tickets, some events are charged for), including a free event Relaxed Sessions with Dippy on 19 August, 11 September and 14 October. These three sessions are autism-friendly “relaxed” times especially for autistic people of any age and their families. These sessions are free to attend and will be closed to the general public, however tickets must be booked – see full details at www.dippy.cathedral.org.uk/dippyevents/relaxed-sessions-with-dippy.

For full details when planning your visit to the cathedral go to www.dippy.cathedral.org.uk For events, places to eat and drink, stories, where to shop and visit in Norwich and beyond go to visitnorwich.co.uk. Plus, don’t miss out on news, sign up to the City of Stories newsletter.