The team for The Gog give the low-down on seasonal produce to seek out this month
Dare we say it, but spring has finally sprung and this glorious weather is bringing a delightful array of delicious local produce to the shelves at The Gog.
Nothing more befits an alfresco dinner on a warm evening than some tasty British asparagus. This versatile vegetable, lovingly grown in the fields of Norfolk, can take you right through from breakfast to lunch and supper! Labour-intensive to grow, not many people know that asparagus spears are actually the young shoots of a cultivated lily plant and considered to be one of the delicacies of the vegetable world!
Sadly the British asparagus season only lasts for around eight weeks, but the pairings are endless to make the most of them whilst they’re at their best. Our firm favourite is grilled asparagus with the finest free-range eggs brought to you from Rattlesden Farm in neighbouring Suffolk – these guys are so committed to delivering the freshest eggs, and have been since 1953 – that the owner did his usual rounds on the morning of his wedding!
Simply poach a couple and serve with the warm asparagus, a knob of butter and sprinkle of sea salt. Delish!
‘The pairings are endless to make the most of asparagus’
Why not add some smoked salmon to make it more of a meal? Pinney’s of Orford use hand-reared salmon from one of the oldest independent farms in Scotland to ensure the very highest quality, then back at Butley Creek the salmon undergoes the slow smoking process to achieve a unique subtlety of flavour. This family-run business has been bringing the finest fish to the tables of Suffolk since the second world war ended, and their unique smoking process, which uses whole oak logs, has changed very little since then.
If you’re feeling really decadent, pick up a sustainably sourced smoked haddock fillet or two from our freezers, gently poach it in some milk and hot water, pop on a poached egg and serve with grilled asparagus – all the ingredients for a simple and healthy supper, it brings a whole new meaning to fast food!
The ultimate lunch in our humble opinion, our cafe has been serving up tasty cream of asparagus soup with a chunk of warm bread and salted butter – needless to say it’s been selling out fast! Pop into The Gog to pick up all the ingredients you need, and more. This Farm Shop and Deli 2018 regional award-winner is open seven days a week with expert butchers, cheesemongers and grocers on hand every day to share their expertise and inspiration with you!
Next month: good old tasty English strawberries
