Blog
27th February
Nearly into spring. The months of February and March are notoriously difficult to get the creative juices flowing. It's a really barren month kitchen wise; we all seem to have had enough of winter veg, braises and the like, yet it's just too early for the spring veggies. Thankfully, the first of the Champagne rhubarb, Jerusalem artichokes and purple sprouting broccoli have begun to liven things up! We have a new menu which starts tonight. It's always a bit fraught, and I'm expecting a tough old service tonight. Usually we instigate a menu change on a two cover Tuesday - tonight we have 46 in the book. On nights like tonight we always tend to draft in an extra couple of staff to ensure that whilst we are paddling furiously below decks, we glide like a regal swan on the surface!
A couple of new openings on the Norwich restaurant scene will keep us on our toes, and we are currently chatting to interior designer Annie Lambert about a major overhaul in the summer.
This week sees the huge trade exhibition at Hotelympia, with both Richard Knights and new boy Daniel Gibson competing. We wish them well. Daniel has 30 minutes to produce a classic Sole Bonne Femme, a dish I haven't seen since my days at The Imperial in the late 70's. However, I'm a great fan of the classics and think it will do these youngsters the power of good to get a bit of Escoffier under their belts!
We've also begun moves to overhaul the wine list, attempting to find some really interesting wines from small producers, made with the same passion and care that we put into our food. Our friends at HarperWells are assisting and we have just bought a couple of cases of GREYWACKE Sauvignon Blanc 2009 by Kevin Judd, founder of Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand. It's arguably the most exciting new Sauvignon Blanc in a generation.
On a personal note, I'm really honoured to have been asked to act as a judge for the Guild of Food Writers' Cookery Book of the Year. And next month I'm off to judge the National Menu of the Year. In the past I've ended up sitting next to Angela Hartnett and Gary Rhodes - it's always exciting to find out who else is on the panel.
Well, I'm off to don the roller skates for another full house!! Best wishes, Richard
28th January
Sorry for the long break between blogs. Even though trade is somewhat quieter than the manic month of December, you always have to work twice as hard in the early part of the year. New menus galore, staff appraisals, reviews of Christmas and, of course, the road trips looking for inspiration have all meant a very busy beginning to 2010. The early part of January was dominated by cancellations and no shows due to the extreme weather - as I write this there is talk of more snow on the way! On the first Saturday of the New Year we came back to 48 booked in, but snow, sleet, ice and fog combined to give us a grand total of 11 for the night! Just goes to show that no matter how much planning and preparation, ultimately you're in the hands of God! The Pigs suffered particularly badly, being "out in the sticks"; they even had a party of 60 cancel 2 hours before they were due!
Thankfully, things seem to be back on an even keel. Trade is holding up well at the restaurant: Saturdays are still filling a couple of weeks in advance and the cookery classes are continuing to boom. The Saturday Morning Men Only classes are incredibly popular, and the Curry & Spice Tuesday Evening class saw 65 people attending over two nights! We are planning to increase these classes, with a couple of short Summer School classes being mooted - we'll keep you posted!
Menu wise, we've got some stunning dishes on at the moment: a smoked eel tortellini with apple and cucumber, venison with pastilla of leg, smoked potato, beetroot and juniper, and a lovely new dessert of buttermilk pannacotta, blood orange granita and honey madeleines. All these dishes, and more, can be found on the menu's page.
Valentine's is now fully booked on both the 13th and 14th, but we do have spaces for Sunday Lunch on the 14th - that way you can get back to watch the football in the afternoon! We also have spaces at both The Assembly House and The Pigs as I write.
Awards wise it was terrific to see The Pigs picking up Country Life Rural Pub of the Year. This year we are embarking on a concerted campaign to get The Lavender House on the national map. After our fantastic reviews at The Restaurant Show in October, we feel we should be up there with the big boys!! We've shuffled the staff again, so Sam has now moved to The Assembly House to take up the position as Events Manager, which frees me up to get back and focus the mind (and elbow grease) at Brundall. Exciting times indeed! Best wishes, Richard
1st December
On your marks!! We are on the starting blocks for the Christmas season. I know that most of you will think "Well he would say that wouldn't he", but I really think this is the best Christmas menu we've had here as we begin our eighth year of business. Some really stunning food on the December menu, including Edgefield venison with smoked potato, beetroot and juniper, tasters of Shropham pork that include slow cooked belly tenderloin, black pudding crackling and fritter (all on one plate!), of course a fillet of beef dish from Barnard's farm with 8 hour cooked shin and beef tea, our own posh version of a Black Forest gateau, even Christmas Pud! We are already selling gift baskets by the dozen, and most of the big dates are fully booked, so fingers crossed for another record-breaking month.
If any of you have been watching Raymond Blanc's "The Restaurant", you may have found a new respect for us humble restaurateurs. Could they have picked 10 more useless couples? I doubt it very much!
We have a new face in the kitchen. Daniel Gibson, current Student of the Year from Great Yarmouth, now catches the train to Brundall (when they run) Friday and Saturday nights - another find as we scour the county for the best culinary talents. Daniel's dad has one of the few remaining herring boats which fishes from the Yarmouth coast, and his own smoke house. So early in the New Year we plan to join him for a fishing trip.
Over at The Assembly House, Julia's new cake shop opens on December 1st. A stunning display of chocolates, cakes, cookies, morning pastries and sweets. Though we miss her here at Brundall, I think it's safe to say she has found her place - baking, baking and baking!
Looking into 2010, we are already planning a relaunch at the restaurant: a redecoration, some stunning new artwork, and general spruce up. The lads are also busy arranging their work experience weeks, so you can be sure that any new idea, ingredient or technique stolen from the country's best restaurants will find its way into Brundall very shortly. Last year they had stages at Pied a Terre, Tom Aikens, Le Manoir and William Curley chocolates - where to next?
2009 Lavender House Awards
Best Meal of the Year: Much debate about this one. RK chose his 9 course taster at Pied a Terre, Jon his Fat Duck experience, Sam went across the pond to California to eat at The French Laundry, I stayed somewhat closer to home and love Cafe Anglais. However, if eating out is about good food enjoyed with friends, we decided to go for The Lavender House outing to Hereford Road, where we enjoyed the rustic cooking of Tom Pemberton. The sort of food I'd like to eat every day of the week!
Supplier of the Year: Past winners David Barnard and Gary Howard were pipped to the post by a new kid on the block this year. Alistair, the allotment man from Strumpshaw wins for his great veg, herbs and flowers - picked late afternoon, on the table by dinner time!
Customer of the Year: So many candidates, but this year we give the award to one of our most enduring supporters, Rosemary Rudrum. Not only does she attend every cookery demo and eats in the restaurant, but having been "in the business" for many years, she understands the blood, sweat and tears it takes and is always offering encouragement and support for all of our new projects and ideas!
Staff Member of the Year: A close battle between Kate, the lady who keeps us all organised, pays all the bills and generally makes the business tick, and this year's unanimous winner, the legendary Tony Masala. He's been in the trade for many many years (many of you will remember him from his days at La Laconda in Blofield) but still retains a passion for customer service that puts everyone else in the shade. Always happy to come in at a moment's notice, he really is an inspiration!
Our Favourite Lavender House Dish of the Year: Two dishes have remained ever present this year - Barnard's fillet and shin with smoked potato and the Snickers Bar dessert of iced peanut butter parfait, nougat, caramel and chocolate. But favourite this year is the slow crusted venison with roasted red onion and pumpkin gnocchi. Tastes as good as it looks!
Event of the Year: We know that it should be Alison's wedding at Dragon Hall, but cooking for the great and the good at the Earl's Court Restaurant Show was professionally the pinnacle!
Best Complaint of the Year: First week of 2009, and a letter arrives complaining that the staff were too happy, the other customers were inappropriately dressed and the kitchen staff were enjoying themselves far too much (it wasn't us, it was the party on The Opitz Table - honestly!!).
Biggest Nightmare of the Year: A fire in the fuse board under a thatched 1540 buidling takes some beating, thankfully most of the customers were on dessert!
Best New Restaurant of the Year in Norfolk: A three way split this year, all of them based in Norwich. We love 103 on Unthank Road, a new opening. The Hub on King Street is another favourite, but an ex-student of mine has successfully managed his way through his difficult first year of trading - Baba Ganoush for simple tapas. No fuss, no frills, just great food!
Sam's Wine of the Year: My chosen bottle is Ravenswood Californian Zinfandel. This wine maker has had a lot of press over the last few years. It was featured on Saturday Morning Kitchen, with James Martin describing it as his series' favourite. The wine has had numerous appearances in the American TV series "Friends" after the clever owner struck up a deal to supply the famous cast and writers with their alcohol fix. And finally, James May and Oz Clarke found it to be the answer to their quest to find the perfect Californian Zinfandel in the latest series of their show. All this means that it is starting to find its way onto the supermarket shelves, however that is the standard "Vintners Blend". We have the Lodi County "Old Vine" Zinfandel, fuller aroma, richer flavour, softer tannins and an all round better wine! It has won many wine awards, but I'm sure Ravenswood will be ecstatic with the latest award from The Lavender House!
Hero the Year: Our business partner Iain Wilson of Byford fame continues to innovate, inspire and exhaust in equal measure. Fantastic vision which he actually delivers. Here's to The Lavender House Chef's School, The Assembly House, bedrooms at The Pigs, maybe a Pigs in the city? Who knows!
Zero of the Year: The people at The Good Food Guide, who despite putting us in the guide, gave us a rubbish mark. Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish - who writes this stuff?
Here's to 2010!!! Richard x