Norfolk Stawberry Pudding Day in the Norfolk Broads
Norfolk Farming families are coming together for the first Norfolk Strawberry Pudding Day at Wroxham Barns on Saturday, July 11 to provide free samples of one of the most traditional strawberry deserts of the last century; Eton Mess.
The Eton Mess will be available at the Produced in Norfolk Farmers Market, which runs from 10am to 2pm.
The pudding, which since the 1930’s has been served at a picnic on the playing fields after Eton schools annual prize giving each summer, consists of sweet ripe strawberries, chilled whipped cream and crisp meringue all stirred together, hence the name “mess”
Norfolk strawberry grower Peter Dickie, who with the help of his wife Joan has been growing strawberries at Wood Berry Farm Wicklewood near Wymondham for 10 years says
“we’re harvesting Elsanta Strawberries at the moment; which are wonderfully aromatic and ideal for Eton Mess. With soft fruit the less it travels the tastier it is; so buying from your local grower really does make a difference.”
July is the busiest period on the farm. “The whole family is involved with our daughter Catriona making jams and son Ewan and elder daughter Fritha helping to load the vans and do everything else,” says Peter.
At Frettenham just north of Norwich another farming family is providing the cream for the pudding. The Norton family, who have farmed at Church Farm for over 60 years, produce fresh milk, cream and butter from their 70 strong Nortons Dairy herd.
David and Philip Norton are the third generation to be carrying on the farming tradition and with their wives Ruth and Rona and other family members from the next generation, they opened the new Dairy 2 years ago.
“Because we do not over process our cream the taste and texture are just wonderful; it makes it ideal for Eton mess. “
The meringues are being made at Reepham, by Salle Organics from their free range organic eggs.
Editors Notes
For more information about the event contact Jane Miller at Produced In Norfolk 01603 424102, info@producedinnorfolk.com, www.producedinnorfolk.com.
For more information about strawberries please contact Peter Dickie tel 01953 602530 or 07919 075420
For more Information about cream contact Rona Norton tel 01603 891692
Wroxham Barns is open daily 10am to 5pm, 10 miles from Norwich, take A1151 to Wroxham then follow brown and white tourist signs for 1.5miles on the Tunstead road. Free parking. Tel. 01603 783762
Wroxham Barns is one of Norfolk's most popular visitor attractions offering a range of shopping and crafts, together with activities for younger family members including the award winning Junior Farm. The restaurant-café serves breakfast, morning coffee, lunches and afternoon tea, all freshly made, using local, seasonal produce where possible.
Established by Director Ian Russell MBE in the early 1980s, Wroxham Barns opened on May 24, 1983. Silver Winner Outstanding Customer Service, National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009, Winner of East of England Tourism's, Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, Outstanding Customer Service Award 2007 and 2008 and Taste of England Award 2008. Runner up National Farm Attractions Network Awards 2008 and one of The Independent Newspaper's Top 50 Farm Shops (2008).
