I've Taken the Pledge

I recently watched open-mouthed at the TV programme "Jamie Saves our Bacon", when Jamie Oliver highlighted some of the appalling treatment of pigs and also the way in which the supermarkets were careful to disguise the country of source of the pork products on their shelves.

I have "Taken the Pledge" to

• encourage retailers to improve their labelling showing how and where the meat has been farmed.
• only buy British Pork, displaying one of the following logos on the packaging.

• increase my consumption of some of the cheaper cuts of pork, such as belly, shoulder and neck.

I really hope that the retailers also take on Jamie's challenge to improve their labelling, allowing customers to make an informed choice about the source of their pork.

Hoste Arms in Burnham Market

For the majority of the time I enjoy cooking at home and get a great deal of satisfaction from knowing where I source my ingredients and by combining them to delight my friends and family.

Occasionally though it is nice to eat out, if only to obtain new ideas and recipes.

Last weekend was spent (thanks to a very generous gift from Jacque and Donald) at the Hoste Arms in Burnham Market, Norfolk.

We arrived on Friday afternoon in a stressed state after a hectic period in the office, but were immediately put at ease by the efficient staff and I was soon tucking into a delicious warm salad of crispy parma ham, black pudding, sauté potatoes and poached egg, accompanied by a reasonably priced bottle of Semillon Chardonnay. All the cares of the previous week disappeared within minutes.

Our table in the evening was situated in a cosy dining room upstairs, looked after by the ever attentive staff. I started with a the Tempura Squid, red onion and chilli, wasabi mayonnaise while Jon chose a bowl of Brancaster mussels steamed in garlic, white wine and parsley cream sauce. Both were superb.

Our main course was the “Arthur Howells”, 21 day aged New York rib steak to share. Served medium-rare, we were able to cut the meat like butter, and the plates were soon emptied, into our now bulging, stomachs. I declined a dessert, however Jon somehow managed to find room for the vanilla créme brulée, shortbread biscuit and pistachio ice-cream. Glutton!

Saturday dawned and following an excellent breakfast we set off to explore the north Norfolk coastline. Despite being the middle of February, the sun shone down and
on our return to Burnham Market, we settled down with a bottle of wine at the front of the hotel to watch the world go by. An idyllic afternoon.

In the evening, we returned to the cosy dining room upstairs at the Hoste Arms, this time I choose a prawn cocktail to start, Jon opting for half a dozen oysters, with a red wine shallot vinegar. For the main course, I selected the home made steak and kidney pudding, served with glazed parsnips and Chantaney carrots. Jon chose the seared sea bream with roasted shallots, sauté potato and spinach together with a saffron and brown shrimp dressing. Again I felt that I wouldn't be able to do justice to a dessert, however Jon chose the sticky toffee pudding with a toffee sauce, roasted pecan nuts and nutmeg ice-cream and our waitress brought me a second spoon, with a knowing wink.

Throughout our stay at the Hoste Arms, the food was wonderful, the staff could not have been more helpful and our room was delightful. We are now looking forward to making another visit, when time allows.

Chicken Out

One of the things I feel most passionately about is the quality of the raw ingredients I cook with.

I believe that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Chicken Out campaign highlights the problem fantastically and hopefully has shown a great many shoppers why they should spend a little more when buying chicken and eggs.

The conditions in which some hens were being raised was shocking, but it is easy to see why the farmers are pushed to produce in this way, if they are constantly being pressurised into reducing prices.

If we all are prepared to change our buying habits, and choose our meat and eggs based on quality rather than cost, the farmer's incentives change and the lives of millions of hens will change too!

Of course as a result, we have tastier healthier chicken and eggs to eat and who doesn't want that?

About Heidi

As a wife, mother and a dedicated cook, I was inspired to produce my own website, Dinner at Home to list some of my favourite recipes and share my ideas with regard to entertaining at home.

This blog will allow me to share more of my thoughts regarding food in general, including my favourite restaurants, my comments on recent food related TV programmes.

In addition to writing about food, I make no apologies for including references to Tenby, in South Wales, where I was lucky enough to grow up and where I continue to enjoy many family holidays.

Please keep checking back on these pages and feel free to add your comments.