The Organic Cafe, Bistro and Bar, Fornham All Saints



 

OK, so I went to Jamie Oliver's Italian, but that was way on the other side of Bury.   I do try to support local businesses if I can, especially this side of Bury. But on the whole, it's certainly no hardship to go without the cheap and often not-very-cheerful meals of the chain gang (which in Bury we seem to drown in). Good value food is a must for me, but I would rather pay a little more for something special than 'make do' elsewhere.  Well, guess what? I can pay reasonable prices for organic food in my latest find - the Organic Cafe/Bistro/Bar in Fornham All Saints (tucked behind the Organic Shop on the main street).

Some of us would shy away from buying organic food ourselves because we know it is invariably more expensive than non-organic.  Miraculously it seems, that the owner of this business is intent on keeping prices competitive in the restaurant.  My friend and I spent a while talking to him on our last visit.  Providing beautifuly prepared organic food appears to be his passion.  Eating it is one of mine. Shame about the drinking, but I do believe organic wines do not have the detrimental effect on your mind and body that many non-organic have.  In this restaurant, their wine prices are comparable with most other local restaurants, although there is limited choice. I would normally say it's preferable to have more choice to include organic and non-organic wine,  but not necessarily when prices are as competitive as these.  But if you visit don't expect organic gin and tonic. In fact, don't expect any gin and tonic (at the moment). They pride themselves here on providing 95% organic products.  I asked the head chef John, what the other 5% was, and he replied 'Wild!'.  I resisted saying  'Calm!'.

And talking of the head chef, John worked at the  Leaping Hare for two years, which is qualification enough for me.  The Leaping Hare near Ixworth has always been one of my favourite restaurants, although maybe a bit too pricey for me these days.  But so popular, not just with me but celebrities (well, I once saw (or heard) Griff Rhys Jones there)  and with several people I know who travel from Essex to visit.  Well, I now like to think, as John remarked, that there's now a little Leaping Hare nearer town. A  more affordable one, more importantly.

Certainly the lunches my friend an I ate (this was my second visit this month) were delicious. When I saw the chicken dish she was served, I immediately wished I had ordered the same. However, I didn't begrudge her every mouthful because my salmon fish-cakes were the best I can remember.

I do hope this restaurant gets the success that so far it seems to deserve. And I hope it keeps up its high standards and reasonable prices.  A Sunday lunch there next!



Butternut squash and green vegetables alongside a super chicken dish.







St. Edmundsbury and the Olympics

The saying 'You want to get out more' might have applied to me over the last few weeks.  Normally I'm not a great lover of sport on the TV (or 'live' come to that), but Olympia-mania overcame me for the duration - as it did with so many, and I became something of a couch potato as a result. Any outdoor activities were executed swiftly so that I could return home to witness the latest triumphs. And triumphs they were. I was bowled over, not just by the competitors, but by London, it's happy thronging crowds and the glory of the whole event.  The effects on the population, young and old, were clear, and it is now time for the 'legacy' to be activated.  How best to 'cash in' on the wave of inspiration that flows across the regions will be high on the agenda of many borough authorities.

In this region I think we are very lucky with our local upper schools.  Opportunities not just for sports, but all manner of activities, are endless.  I'm not so sure about sport in our local community though.  We can visit a 'public venue' - The Apex, subsidised by the local tax payer to the tune of £800,000, but if we want to take our children to the local swimming pool during the holidays, we will be lucky if we can actually swim.

I'm not saying that the families using the leisure centre last week when I went, were not enjoying themselves, but the provision for local swimmers was woefully inadequate.  I could have travelled
12-15 miles either north or south for better, but that seemed an unreasonable journey to make given the size of this town.  And the local authority want to make it bigger by building more houses but strangely don't seem to give much thought to the infra-structure. I wonder why? No, I really wonder why.  Local politics leave me confused.  The words 'left hand and right hand' come to mind, and occasionally 'underhand', but hey, none of us are perfect.

Okay, I didn't do more than rush by Debenhams last week during the Olympics, but I don't remember seeing the highly subsidised Apex (and Debenhams come to that?) offering anything in the spirit of the Olympics. No fun activities for kids, no free entertainment, no flags even. Haverhill had the flags and maybe more, but then their Christmas decorations are probably better than ours too.  Yes, I'm going off the point .... but this town bugs me. Style over substance?  Well, maybe style is the wrong word.  I will stand corrected if word comes to me that there were Olympic tributes in Bury, but in my experience it's usually volunteer organisations that do all the good stuff (the 'alternative' olympics would be good but that's a big, big venture). 

I would like to see Bury St Edmunds pull a proverbial 'rabbit out of the hat' while the Paralympics are on (because it's too late for anything but a magic trick), but more importantly I would like to see some real thought given to the future well-being of young people in this town rather than to those 'grown-ups' who could probably afford to go further afield in pursuit of their interests.

Archley Landscape Solutions

                                                                                         

www.archleylandscapesolutions.co.uk

It occurred to me recently that I pass on names of local businesses that I think deserve a mention (or a moan about) but I have never included the family one.  My son-in-law and daughter own the above business which has been immensely successful over the years, winning national awards, and accolades from the numerous happy customers who have seen their gardens and drives totally transformed by Steve Bentley and his team (take a look at their webpage).

As Steve's success and reputation grows I cannot help but feel that many people with smaller gardens might have assumed that Archley Landscape Solutions (formerly Archley Paving) was aiming to capture the larger 'landscape' market....... leaving the town gardens behind. This is far from the truth. Despite much of their work being of 'landscape' proportions, Steve and Archley's garden designer Linda Munday take great pleasure in turning small gardens into little paradises.

Some years ago when I was holidaying in Greece I used to pass a garden regularly on the way to the beach. By the end of the week I so enjoyed glancing into the courtyard of the building, which had been transformed into an ornamental garden, that I resolved one day I would have the same. I know Steve could build me one but I think even at mate's rates, I could never afford the marble surrounds.  Not to be deterred, it is my ambition to have some modernisation with water features and lights in my garden. The present pond and solar lanterns do not count.

I don't know whether it's called taking the indoors outside but essentially, Archley has completed a number of projects to make gardens special enough to almost live in. Steve's own garden 'loggia' is a great place for adults and children alike to spend time in - room for entertaining, relaxation and 'sleepovers' (which is called taking the noise outside). There's no hot tub in it though (but I suppose there could be).

I always think it's a good sign when your friends employ you and Steve has worked for his friends and neighbours and my friends. Now if I could get a few more friends interested, I might get that mediterranean garden I want (despite living in the most un-mediterranean climate).

Cavern4, Whiting Street

Workwise is an organisation that helps people with mental health problems use their creativity to get into production. The arts and crafts (and furniture) produced across East Anglia are wonderful, and can be found in this really nice little shop. It is my favourite place to go to buy a gift, although I can't afford some of my favourite pieces in there.  A good cause to support - really worth a visit

West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, Bury St Edmunds

If only to prove all my photos are not dreadful (it's when I've been using my Blackberry - the camera in it is hopeless) I thought I needed to harp back to those lovely days of summer...... a month ago?   Well it may only be June now but summer came and departed early. Who knows when it will return?

I love the West Stow Anglo Village - not just for the history it represents but for its peace and tranquility.  Children tend to visit here from school but all adults should come too. It has some special event days, a good playground nearby, a half-decent cafe and a gift shop in which I always manage to buy something (particularly at Christmas).  It's a very short distance out of Bury and deserves one visit if not more.

Wetherspoon's Corn Exchange

I make no apology for the poor quality of this photo. It's not that I don't want to make The Corn Exchange look attractive by 'fixing' my photos a bit, but this representation seems to sum up my first impression of the new Wetherspoon's venue.  Uninviting.....untidy and indistinct as a restaurant.  It reminded me of a disembarkation lounge of a cheap cruise with people and 'stuff' all over the place. It is obviously going to be very popular with big drinkers and lovers of cheap food which is not really a good sign for those who like to eat in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

The up-side is that it might make other local food and drink premises think about the prices they charge for alcohol.... and in some cases food too.  Having visited the city of London  this week it was noticeable from the pub and upmarket Thai restaurant I visited that food prices were comparable with Bury and drink prices only slightly dearer. I think that says more about Bury St Edmunds than it does about London.  In many cases it is very expensive to eat out in Bury - wine often being ridiculously over-priced.  Even if people on a night out choose not to end up in Weatherspoons they may well start there to 'fuel' themselves up. Bad news for other venues.... but not for the public.

I had no desire to lunch in The Corn Exchange on Friday as I had intended but may try on another occasion when it isn't so busy.... if such an occasion arises. I hope this place doesn't affect the privately owned businesses - certainly Saints was as busy as ever.  Hope it gives the overpriced Pizza chains a run for their money though.

Sunshine and showers in Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

Poor old Bury St Edmunds has looked a bit of a ghost town over the last week or so. It must be a combination of the the three Rs I guess. Rain, Recession and Retail outlets. The latter, I noticed today, were most uninviting.  I couldn't be bothered to go in any 'proper shops' and made do with the post-office, a charity shop and a necessary trip to Iceland (if only). To add a bit of excitement to my day I checked my bank balance.

It amused me slightly that often when I go into the town I don't see anyone I know. Yet today it seemed as though I only saw people I know..... and they were all in the post office.  I feel very sorry for the bars and restaurants in town. Any I've passed in the last week have appeared empty .

Still, tomorrow I'm looking forward to returning to the Wednesday market to see Thomas who runs the Caribbean Food stall. Last week I bought this amazing piece of cake there. I'm not sure what was in it (mostly chocolate, coconut and orange I think) but I couldn't stop eating it. It was a huge piece for £1.50 and if I had been able to resist from consuming it all myself, I would have shared it between about three friends. I think it was intended as a single portion but would have made a good dessert with fresh cream. I also bought a savoury item from the stall which resembled a large donut.  I thought I had read 'Jerk chicken' over the display. Don't know what I was expecting but although I detected a highly spiced element in the doughy content, I couldn't swear it was in any way related to chicken.

Tomorrow I will learn more about Thomas' products... and enjoy further testing. I can't believe he's been on Bury market for 15 years and this is the first time I've bought something from him. He is a real ray of sunshine on a rainy day. Last week the market was bleak and deserted. I commented to Thomas that he must be fed up with it.  He laughed off my comment saying that that was the ways things go and you have to make the best of them.  When I mentioned my experience to friends last Friday, one of them said 'Oh Thomas - he's lovely. Always so positive'. That's just what we need to brighten our town centre - bring on the sunny outlook.