Here I am again, Monday morning sitting upstairs in the Corbridge Larder schlerping a cream cappuccino, warming my hands after school drop off and thinking up weekly eats and treats enveloped in the aroma of Cumbrian bacon being slowly grilled. I have been a weekly Larder shopper for years, (my 6 year old insists on a weekly Tikka Masala curry but only Madhuban sauce will do, where else do I get it?). A year ago, that changed….the Larder Cafe revamped, by Jen and Bob, I can now combine the curry sauce purchase with a quick coffee and, hurrah, I am regular!
So, a week ago when I was musing about food (as I do a lot in here) and eating a delicious hot beef sarnie (a gorgeous grilled ciabatta filled with mouth watering warmed beef and melted Blue cheese) Jen and I got onto the topic of the Larder blog, yet to be begun and, here I am.
Where do I start? At the beginning…..The Corbridge Larder has been a celebrated Corbridge institution for years. Today, Jen and Bob, want to share what is going on at The Larder widely, they want the community that supports the store and cafe to be part of their journey, to bring The Larder back to what it was, a true destination venue for all foodies, eaters and drinkers alike.
So what is going on here; well there are regular monthly evening events in the cafe when you can meet the suppliers and taste the products on sale. Then there is a huge range of ever changing seasonal offerings in store, right now Christmas hampers. Fliers for all the events can be picked up in the store and the details of events are posted to the website regularly. But excitingly, I am going to be road testing the events and seasonal offerings and blogging which I hope you will enjoy to find out more about the Larder.
Crikey! Its already 11am, I have to get a wriggle on, besides the cafe is getting v. busy and my dad has joined me, he is now schlerping too: a piping hot black filter coffee (about which he is waxing lyrical) although he wants to discuss the “Specials”. This week until Wednesday it is a classic winter warmer beef stew made with free range aged beef, rosemary, thyme, red wine and dumplings. And bread and butter pudding. REAL FOOD…..delicious. With the kids swimming tonight and no time to cook I really feel like taking this home for supper ….and, fabulous, I can. That's that sorted, (I am a culinary genius, wink wink).
Before shooting off, I want to repeat about the take home specials, it has made my day: a great Larder come back idea, “cafe to deli counter”, which I am so pleased about. I remember years ago being able to drop in and delighting in the Larder suppers which needed only to be warmed through at home, do you? Many customers are already asking for the Manchego, Red Pepper & Chorizo tart to go. Why not pop in, try a special, take it home and let Wendy or Jen know what your old favourites were and perhaps they may become a new special. There is even talk of delivery!
One thing that hasn't changed and, it is the season, is the Larder Christmas Cake mix. Its all you need to impress the family. I love doing this with my girls. Thinking on it would be great fun for mum and dad to do with the grandchildren! I am getting mine today, at £8.95 I can't buy all the ingredients for a Christmas cake elsewhere for that. I am inspired too by the possibility of winning a Larder voucher for the best dressed cake, all I need to do is to upload a photo to the Larder facebook page or drop one in to the shop before 23 December.
Ok, I am replete, curry sauce in hand, I need to get moving until next week when I am going to take a closer look at the Larder Christmas hamper and the cheese selection and I want to find out more about the Musical Christmas Evening with Kitchy Retro on 10 December 2016.
There is no better place to do the weekly family menu planning, surrounded by both the essential basics as and well as the indulgences that make cooking, eating and drinking pleasurable. And when you can't be bothered perhaps just ask Jen to “take it away”.
See you next week.