England Archives - Page 3 of 4 Kitchen Conundrum

Kitchen On the Road- Ludlow, UK and an amazing dinner at La Becasse

May 6, 2013 by Renee

Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s February issue declared a resurgence of falconry was occurring in the rolling hills of Shropshire, England. This revival is just one example of the back to nature quest many British urbanites are seeking. And while this sport seems steeped in all the poetry and magic of a hawk in flight- swooping down from the clouds its sights set on its prey, it was the sidebar notes of this article that caught my eye. Ludlow, a small, picturesque medieval market town of about 10,000 inhabitants lies in this remote corner of England by the Welsh border and is known for it’s epicurean roots- at one point, the only town in England with three Michelin-starred restaurants. The town hosts the prestigious annual Ludlow food festival and was the first UK member of Cittaslow or “slow food” movement. Ludlow supports traditional butchers, bakers, a regular farmers market as well as a range of specialty food shops. Ludlow also has its own award-winning brewery, The Ludlow Brewing Company, which has been producing real ale using local hops since 2006.

Currently, there is but one Michelin-starred establishment left in Ludlow, but it was the previously starred La Becasse, overseen by the incredibly talented chef, Will Holland that interested me and was at the top of my “Must Do” list for this trip.

So reservations were made and off we went. However, we were unaware that there would be a blizzard the very day we were to travel, so that made our cross England drive a bit of an exciting ride. We weren’t about to let snow get in the way though!

The roads wound through very hilly, forested farm land. There were many sheep along the roads and often they were nearly covered in snow. I felt badly for them. At times, the trees actually became bent over the road as they grew heavy with wet snow. While a beautiful sight, it was a bit treacherous and icy in parts.

We made it to our B&B, a quaint, comfortable room with a private entrance called 130 Corve Street as that’s where it is located, just across the street from La Becasse.

There is lots to see as Ludlow sits between the scenic River Teme and the River Corve at the foot of the Clee Hills with Ludlow Castle sitting atop a small hill. The medieval walled town has nearly 500 listed historical buildings and a fabulous market square.

Having enough time to unwind a bit before dinner, we headed out to the Feather’s Bar, which is housed in a beautiful a 17th century coaching inn for a few pints from the award-winning Ludlow Brewery.

Dinner reservations were for 7:30 and we arrived just in time. From the minute you arrive at La Becasse, you are in expert hands. After taking our coats, we were led upstairs to the lounge where you are given a few bar snacks and cocktails. We ordered Gin & Tonics, and I, as an afterthought, realized that I don’t actually like gin, and wondered what, exactly I had just done. Well, it turns out I love Gin & Tonics, especially when made with Hendrick’s Gin and Fever Tree tonic with fresh slices of cucumbers. It was so bright and refreshing. Now, I think that it is my drink of choice. Who knew!?!

We were handed menus while we relaxed with our drinks and asked to choose between the tasting menu or ala carte option. The decision was not so difficult, as we wanted to experience everything the chef had to offer! We choose the tasting menu with wines that were perfectly matched for each course.

After we were led downstairs to our table, the first round of wine was poured. And with each course, another glass was filled and so it continued until our table was filled with glasses.

From the amuse-bouche straight through dessert, each plate was a work of art and a delightful treat. Our courses for the evening included a terrine of Foie Gras with a toasted brioche and fresh greens, Devon crab served with a Fish Cake and a tangy papaya salsa, and then a beautifully done filet of Halibut with Vanilla Foam and Roasted Corn.

The main entree was sliced Venison served with Parsnips and a Blackberry Chocolate sauce drizzled over the entire plate. The sweetness perfectly balanced the flavorful and tender meat.

For a cheese lover, the selection on the trolley was superb. We shared a terrific selection of cheeses that were presented from the cart to match our personal tastes. One of my favorites was the Pont-l’Évêque, a soft cow’s-milk cheese much like Brie or Camembert.

The dessert was a decadent but light White Chocolate Cheesecake with Soaked Figs and Vanilla Crème.

Everything was designed to perfection and Chef Will Holland’s creativity was evident in each dish.

The staff was also amazing. The Sommelier really elevated our experience with his charming and unpretentious manner while the servers made sure we were never without water or bread. They were attentive without being overbearing and explained each dish as they arrived.

I cannot seem to grasp how they have not been re-granted their much-deserved Michelin Star because this was an incredible fine dining experience in a formal, though completely unstuffy atmosphere.

The next day before we left Ludlow, we did a bit of exploring. We wandered around the outside grounds of one of the finest of medieval ruined castles, Ludlow Castle. Unfortunately, due to the falling ice, the castle itself was closed and we found navigating the perimeter even difficult.

Directly across from the castle is a very interesting building, Castle Lodge, home to Catherine of Aragon while she was married to Prince Arthur. She later went on to marry Henry VIII after his death.

Castle Lodge has been privately owned throughout its history and was a hotel up until the Second World War. The Lodge was re-opened to the public in 1999 by its current owner Bill Pearson who wanted to turn it into a hotel once again. Unfortunately, the cost of this plan prevented it from occurring, and the house is basically in near ruin save for the few pounds that come in from tourists wandering the unfinished rooms.

It’s quite a sad state for a home with such history and boasting one of the largest collections of oak paneling in England dating from the early 13th Century.

We had a good look around and without any interaction with the owner, who disappeared once he collected our 3 pounds. We soon left in search of something warm, which we found at Carvell’s The Art Of Tea shop; delicious scones, clotted cream and piping hot pots of Earl Grey.

Leaving Ludlow, we made our way South to the ancient city of Bath… (to be continued!)

Kitchen On the Road- North Norfolk Coast and Norwich, UK

May 4, 2013 by Renee

North Norfolk Coast

Officially starting our grand tour, we headed North to the Norfolk coast. Our destination was to Cley-next-the-Sea (pronounced ‘cly’ and missing the ‘to’ – as in next to the sea. Don’t ask!) We were staying at a windmill that had been converted into a cozy B&B. The Windmill itself dates from the early 18th century and is a striking landmark along the coast. With fine views over the salt marshes on this ever-changing coastline, the mill, originally used to grind wheat for flour, nestles by the old quay, alongside the flint-walled cottages of the village. Of interesting note, prior to its conversion to a B&B, the windmill was once owned by Charles and Jane Blount (parents the singer and songwriter James Blunt).

These days Cley is not quite next to the Sea and stands about a mile from open water, but back in the middle ages it was an important trading port. Today, the mill sits right along the path of this nature reserve walk and it does have a beach, which is mainly shingle and is accessed by walking across the marshes- so good waterproof/mud proof shoes are a must! The town itself is rather small but boasts a lovely deli and a smokehouse where many smoked fish, shellfish and cured meats can be found.

Staying at Cley Windmill is a great experience. The ground floor has a circular sitting room where inviting sofas surround a roaring open fire. You can request tea or coffee from the kitchen and stay here all day if you wanted to. Upstairs each room is unique and has stunning views over the marshes to the sea. Our circular room, formerly the Stone Room, had a dramatically high ceiling with magnificent oak beams, on which the original grinding stones once turned. For the adventurous guest, the Wheel Room on the floor above us, is accessed via a wooden ladder outside the Stone Room- straight up, with your suitcase in tow! And it has a four-poster bed up there! (Must have been built in the room!)

We had booked a candlelight dinner in the beamed dining room, part of the original warehouse built in 1713. It’s a warm and friendly atmosphere in which to dine and we were only one of two tables there that night so we had the room to ourselves for the majority of the meal. The slow braised lamb shank with creamy mashed potatoes and red wine reduction was delicious but so large I could not finish it but of course, I left room for dessert, a simple brownie with vanilla ice cream and raspberry coulis. By the end of the meal, we were exhausted from travelling and stuffed to the gills. I don’t think we noticed any wind that night and had no need for the earplugs that were provided in the room for just that very reason.

On the drive up, we had stopped for lunch at the White Horse Inn in the tiny village of Brancaster Staithe. The inn has panoramic views across the tidal marshes and sandy beaches; it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty ideal for walkers, sailors and birdwatchers. The White Horse’s food and locally brewed Oyster Catcher beer are excellent. Here, we had a mega portion of mussels each, literally a bucket full, and they were probably the very best mussels I have ever eaten. They were done simply with a white wine, cream and garlic sauce with hunks of bread on the side. Perhaps unnecessarily, but so tasty, we shared an appetizer of lamb & mint sausages with a cherry tomato ragu, Garlic infused goat’s cheese with roasted hazelnuts and beetroot and mixed pickled Elveden Estate vegetables. Everything was so good, we actually stopped back on the way home for some fish and chips and another round of appetizers and beer!

Just a few miles along the coast is the expansive Holkham Hall and the estate of the Earls of Leicester with its 3000-acre deer park, large ponds and many walking trails. While the estate is wonderful to visit, Holkham is best known for its stunning panoramic beach and the rich and varied wildlife found on the salt marshes. It’s a bird watchers paradise and it’s also where Gwyneth Paltrow walked across the sand at low tide during the closing scenes of the film ‘Shakespeare in Love’. Although it was freezing the day we went, and we literally spent just a few minutes walking to the sea and snapping a few photos (ok, many photos!) it was well worth the frostbite! It truly is the most beautiful beach!

On the way home, we also passed through Hunstanton, or ‘Hunston’ as it is known locally where you can stop and see unique striped cliffs and magnificent sunsets, made special by its position as the only west-facing town on the East coast.

Because it was too cold outside to walk far, we didn’t make it down to the cliffs this time, but we will certainly will in the future. And we still have taking a boat trip to see the seals in their natural environment at Blakeney Point at the top of a return list.

Some of the fun of this trip was the pronunciations of the various villages as seen in their ornamental village sign which announces the name to passersby. They are typically placed on the principal road entrance or a village green and often depict a particularly characteristic feature of the village or a scene from its history, heritage, or culture. Some can be quite amusing.

It’s Stewkey, but spelled Stiffkey.

We also saw many other unique things along the way….

For Dr. Who Fans

A Quick Trip to Norwich (norr-itch)

Taking a train from Ely, we returned to Norfolk to visit Norwich for a day, the county’s largest city. In the 11th century, Norwich was actually the largest city in England after London and it was of great importance due to its location.

The city has a very interesting history filled with Romans, Vikings, French Huguenots and the Belgian Walloon. Of note is in 1144 when the Jews of Norwich were accused of ritual murder after a boy (William of Norwich) was found dead with stab wounds. This was the first incidence of blood libel against Jews in England. The story was turned into a cult, William acquiring the status of martyr and subsequently being canonised. The cult of St William attracted large numbers of pilgrims, bringing wealth to the local church. On 6 February 1190, all the Jews of Norwich were massacred except for a few who found refuge in the castle.

Interestingly, the city also has the dubious distinction of being the only city ever to be excommunicated by the Pope, following a riot between citizens and monks in 1274. The Etheldreda gate entrance to the cathedral was constructed as penance by the city’s citizens.

The Norwich Cathedral was completed in 1145 with the Norman tower still seen today. The spire measures 315 ft, making it the second tallest in England behind Salisbury Cathedral . It also boasts the largest monastic Cloister in England. The two-story Cloister was originally designed to house a community of approximately 100 monks. Like the Cathedral interior, it features a selection of beautifully carved medieval roof bosses in the ceiling arches-each depicting life at the time. It really is a magnificent building!

During World War II, the city suffered extensive bomb damage, affecting large parts of the old city center and the Victorian terrace housing around the city center. The heaviest raids occurred on the nights of 27-30 April 1942; as part of the Baedeker raids, called this because of the Baedeker’s series of tourist guides of the British Isles that were used to select propaganda-rich targets of cultural and historic significance rather than strategic importance. Some damage remains visible in the city today.

Norwich has long been associated with the manufacture of mustard. The world famous Colman’s brand, with its yellow packaging, was founded here in 1814 and continues to operate from its factory in the city. The Colman’s Mustard Shop & Museum sells a variety of powder and prepared mustards and gifts and is a good place to learn about mustard production.

We strolled along Elm Hill, a historic cobbled lane with many buildings dating back to the 16th century. A famous Norwich landmark, Elm Hill features the Briton’s Arms coffee house, the Stranger’s Club where the Flemish and Walloon community of Protestant weavers came in 1567 and the Dormouse Bookshop. This small but scenic street is often used as a film location.

The Stranger’s Club

Still in the historic city center, nearby Tombland has nothing to do with graves or tombs. The name means ‘empty space’ and is where the original town grew from when Danish settlers arrived before the 11th century. Tombland has remained a distinctive part of the city, close to the city’s magnificent cathedral and, in Saxon times was a major marketplace.

An eye-catching feature of the area is a distinctive 16th century crooked house leaning at a precarious angle opposite the cathedral.

We stopped into the Norwich Tap House, a cozy little craft beer pub that features 20 beers on draft and over 50 bottles for a flight tasting and a pint. It’s really a great little bar, a perfect spot to meet up with friends and the bartender is very friendly and knowledgeable. My friend tried three different ales of various bitterness, while, I, after tasting a few shots of pours, settled on a pint of the Freedom Pilsner. It’s made with a blend of liberty and spicy Saaz hops and soft sweet malts, producing a full bodied beer with mellow bitterness and a citrus hoppy aroma with a smooth aftertaste. It went down easy!

Then we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at St Benedict’s Restaurant a chic French bistro featuring a Prix Fixe menu that is truly a bargain for the quality of the dishes. Nigel, the head chef sources local ingredients to create some truly memorable dishes.

After lunch, coffee was had at the Wine Cellar, a real hidden gem, located through a courtyard and down the stairs of a brick building. If you were not looking for this spot, you’d probably pass it right by. But then, you’d miss out on a great little spot to relax, have a glass of wine, or a cup of coffee and just unwind after spending several hours wandering the city. It has a great menu for lunch or dinner that we didn’t get to try this time, but all the other patrons seemed to really be enjoying their meals.

On the way back to the train we stopped for one last beer at All Bar One, and it was heaving with young executives just released from their offices for the day. There was nary a place to stand near the bar, but we grabbed some seats by the window and enjoyed one last pint before the journey home.

It was a quick day, but Norwich is a fascinating place and has many things to see so I am sure to revisit the city on my next trip.

Next up, we are off to Ludlow near the Welsh border.

Kitchen on the Road- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK

April 28, 2013 by Renee

Cambridge (Came Bridge/ kaym-brij)

Cambridge is just a few miles from Ely and it’s where we spent most of our time when we weren’t travelling around the country. Cambridge is renowned worldwide for its university, which was founded in 1209 and is consistently ranked among the top five universities in the world. A collegiate institution, the university boasts 31 separate colleges and numerous departments and faculties spread across the city. As well as a centre of academic excellence, Cambridge has become a hub for hi-tech industry with many software and bioscience start-up companies growing as spin-offs from the university.

A fine example of late Gothic architecture, King’s College Chapel was started in 1446 by King Henry VI and took over a century to build. It has the largest fan vaulted ceiling in the world and some of the finest medieval stained glass. It is also the venue for the famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast live by the BBC on Christmas Eve. If you ever have a chance to hear the sublime Choir of King’s College, you will be enchanted!

There is something for everyone in Cambridge. A range of galleries showcase an impressive range of art, a buzzing theatre and performance scene presents drama, dance and family shows including the annual summer Shakespeare Festival and theatre lovers will delight in the range of performances on offer, from student theatre to touring groups and West End shows at the Arts Theatre.

The Cambridge Arts Picturehouse is one of a collective of cinemas around England that features blockbusters, world cinema, live satellite talks and film education. We saw an original 70mm screening of Pink Floyd’s The Wall here and at their cafe/bar with its laid back atmosphere, we went for massive burgers served on focaccia with sweet potato fries and crisp glasses of Hoegarden.

At the Cambridge Arts Theatre we were psyched to score last minute, second row(!) tickets to Ballet Boyz. The original BalletBoyz, former Royal Ballet dancers Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, spent ten years touring as an inventive male modern ballet duo and now they choreograph a fresh and funky male dance troupe combining classical and contemporary dance techniques. They were amazingly graceful and powerful and left us mesmerized.

After the show we tried Jamie’s Italian, a chain of restaurants from Jamie Oliver. I really liked Jamie’s show and his initiative to curb obesity in the U.S. But sadly, the restaurant was quite disappointing. The space and decor were great. The wait staff, attentive at best, but the food was less than on par. My risotto was delicious, but Michael’s salad was just a few slices of beets and fennel on a plate with absolutely no olive oil or anything. We ordered the fried ravioli and it was bland, but the dipping marinara saved them with its spicy, tomato tang. We also tried the bruschetta which was just fine. Next up was our mains. We had the Sausage Pappardelle and the Tagliatelle Bolognese. Both main dishes were good, under seasoned, but nothing a few dashes of salt did not fix.

The biggest blunder was our ordering so many things to try without realizing they had a zero “doggie bag” policy. It’s not printed anywhere and only disclosed when I asked to take home the pasta I could not finish- more than half my main dish. This was the only place in all of England we encountered that refused to let us take home our uneaten portion. A back and forth email with their customer service stated-

“It is fantastic to hear that you enjoyed most of your experience. I do understand your comments regarding the doggy bag. I wanted to write to you just to clear the air about our policy. We do have to be very careful here because it is a Jamie Restaurant, we have to been seen to cover all bases when it comes to food safety. The last thing we would want is for some one to fall ill from re-heated food that has been taken away from our restaurant (which is easily done if not re-heated to correct temperature).”

-which to me comes off as insulting to their customer’s intelligence. I’d say that 90% of people reheat leftovers in the microwave. And, if on the stove, most people would turn the flame to medium or high, thereby heating the meal properly. In addition, the food was previously cooked, killing bacteria that may have been present. Their response had nothing to do with food freshness or loss of flavor, but everything to do with the fact that people have not learned how to re-heat and would end up poisoning themselves. Not a lot of confidence in their food or their customers. It is a bit insulting.

They finally offered us two main dishes to compensate for our disappointment, which we will take them up on in July when I go back to England. But I am not a fan and we had a far better Italian meal at Carluccios, another chain of Italian restaurants. (Where I can easily take home whatever I don’t finish.)

I’ll let you know how our next meal there goes. Anyways…

For soccer fans, Cambridge boasts their own team, Cambridge United. Their games are much tamer than some of the Premier League games but the crowds are still very supportive- and especially verbal when playing an arch rival team. I witnessed two games and am happy to say that I will be back. Its really fun to cheer them on. Even if they often loose.

There are all kinds of live music venues from internationally acclaimed orchestras and ensembles to touring bands, pub gigs, the world-famous, outdoor, Cambridge Folk Festival at Cherry Hinton Hall in July (which we went to last year and will go again this year!), the ever-popular Cambridge Beer Festival on Jesus Green in May and the family-friendly Big Weekend on Parker’s Piece in July.

We got to see one of my favorite musical artists, Beth Orton, perform at the Cambridge Junction. This three building space hosts many acts and a large portion of their proceeds goes to support artist development through the various programs offered there.

We also got to see the folk rock group Home Service, with their very impressive brass section. The group’s leader, John Tams, is best known for writing the music to the original theater production of War Horse and worked on the film alongside composer John Williams. Earlier the same week, we ventured into London to see the Michael Nyman Band. He is a composer of minimalist music, a pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion’s The Piano. A tribute to the talent of musicians that performed is that one of the brass players, Andy Findon, actually performed in both concerts!

Before the Home Service concert, we had a fabulous meal at Carluccios. Their zucchini risotto was creamy and flavorful and their Brasato di Manzo, a slow cooked beef stew with Chianti, served with grilled polenta was rich with tomatoes and olives and the meat just melted in your mouth. The bread pudding for dessert was heavenly as was the light and creamy raspberry parfait.

Then we explored several of Cambridge’s pubs, of which there are many! Like any college town, the pubs are generally inexpensive with good food, good beer and humble decor.

The Cambridge Blue – Off the tourist track in the popular Mill Road area of the city, the Blue is popular with beer lovers and students and is by common consent one of the best pubs in Cambridge. Good food and a massive selection of draft and bottled beers from around the UK, Belgium, the rest of Europe and indeed the rest of the world.

The Kingston Arms – Like the Blue, the Kingston is another neighbourhood pub in the Mill Road area. Ever popular, it boasts a vast array of real ales, quality wines and great food and runs its own mini beer festivals on a regular basis. With very simple furnishings, free newspapers and wi-fi access it all adds to the homey feel and is a great place to spend an afternoon.

The Eagle– One the oldest inns in Cambridge, dating back to the 14th century. A traditional experience with real ales and home cooked food, the Eagle is where Watson and Crick famously announced to the world that they had discovered “the secret of life” (DNA). The famous RAF ceiling boasts signatures of pilots from all over the world who returned from the Second World War and signed their names on the ceiling using only cigarette lighters, candle smoke and lipstick. They also serve up a mighty fine Fish & Chips with mushy peas!

Not a pub, but another good place for great burgers and beer is GBK– Gourmet Burger Kitchen. Their burgers are huge and come in many different variations. My favorite became The Wellington, with grilled mushrooms, horseradish sauce, rocket & mayo followed by The Don with a brioche bun, bacon, aioli, blue cheese, American cheese, onion jam, rocket & mustard mayo. Their chicken sandwiches are also very good- reminiscent of Thanksgiving another favorite was the Panko crusted chicken with Camembert, cranberry sauce, salad, mayo & relish.

We stopped in to The Cambridge Wine Merchants on Mill Road one evening to see what kinds of wine they sold and we met Lyndsey, the Director of Retail Sales (@LyndseyCWM). She invited us to a tasting they were having that night in their downstairs tasting room. We showed up around nine and had a blast. We tried three different wines and really enjoyed the witty commentary given by her and the store’s manager, Matt. We had such a good time, met other patrons that were there and engaged in lively conversations about Spain and the characteristics of the wines we were drinking. We missed their next tasting, but this summer, it is at the top of our list to revisit them.

One of the most luscious meals we had was at Sala Thong, Cambridge’s longest-established Thai restaurant. This very modest restaurant has the very best Gang Massaman Nua, a Massamen beef curry with potatoes, peanuts and coconut milk. It has a variety of textures and flavors; spicy, creamy, meaty and crunchy. It was a taste explosion in every bite! I loved it so much that we actually went back later in my trip so I could have it again. Their Tom Kha Gai soup with large pieces of chicken, lemongrass and Thai herbs was quite fragrant and bright. Such simple dishes, yet so complex in flavor. This is sure to be one place we order in from a lot!

Another favorite spot was Cocum, which features Kerala (Southern Indian) cuisine. It served us the mother of all biryanis! Inspired from traditional recipes from the Malabar coast of Kerala, our chicken briyani, a massive mound of rice in a sauce of onion, ginger, tomato, coriander, mint leaves, cashew nuts and various spices including cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and bay leaves was served with a side of pickle and raitha. This single dish could have served four patrons easily! The cooking vessel they used was deceiving in size and when unmolded, it revealed a mammoth amount of food!

Here, I was introduced to dosas, a crepe like pancake made from rice and black gram lentils and lightly fried to form a crispy shell that was stuffed with a masala of potato, onion and ginger.

Of course, we also ordered several of our favorite side dishes to enjoy too, from vegetable samosas, saag paneer and chana masala to aloo gobi and peswari naan. As usual, we had enough left over to have another feast at home the next day.

My last night in Cambridge, we went to one of my friends favorite restaurants, Loch Fyne. The Cambridge branch of this chain named for the Scottish loch where it sources its oysters and mussels is in a former pub opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum on historic Trumpington Street. Oysters, risotto, halibut, gilt-head bream are just a few of the items on offer here. They have a large selection of fresh fish to choose from that you can have cooked your way- pan fried, steamed or grilled and served with one of three toppings. I chose a grilled Halibut filet with the slow roasted tomato and chilli pesto. It came with two sides, one of which was pan-fried samphire in garlic butter. I have never had nor heard of samphire before. It’s a sea vegetable that grows abundantly on shorelines, in marshy shallows and on salty mudflats. It resembles a thin long string of asparagus, a vibrant green, slightly crunchy stalk that tastes a bit salty. This vegetable, dashed with a squeeze of lemon juice was probably my favorite part of the meal.

There were many other places we popped into while out and about. Marks and Spencer department store was great for an afternoon of shopping as was the Cambridge Cheese Company where you can pick up a variety of cheeses and locally sourced products including Cambridge Chilli Farm chilli sauce, chutneys, jams and relishes, local ales and ciders and seasonally foraged mushrooms.

Be sure to take a break from all that shopping and head into Patisserie Valerie for a coffee and one of their divine pastries and cakes. The chocolate mousse cake will satisfy anyone’s chocolate craving!

There really is so much to do in Cambridge. I was only able to scratch the surface this time. But I am heading back this June for several weeks and I am really looking forward to experiencing several of the museums and some more outdoor activities…like going punting on the River Cam, enjoying a picnic in the park, taking a walking tour of the city and exploring further afield from the seat of a bicycle following the excellent network of cycle paths in and around the city.

Next up is our visit to Norwich and the North Norfolk Coast and the most divine mussels I have ever had!