The Brecks Food Trail - thedms

The Brecks
Food Trail
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Introduction
Area map
Chefs
Food Trails
Specialist Producers
Diverse Drinks
Farmers Markets
Farm Shops
Poultry and Eggs
The Brecks Food Story
The Brecks is a nationally recognised landscape
covering almost 400 sq miles stretching across the
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk comprising open
heaths, forestry, farmland and rivers with a varied
natural, built and cultural history reaching back to
Neolithic times and beyond. This cherished
landscape has been shaped by how man has
interacted with the natural surroundings to
produce food and shelter for thousands of years.
Today
The Brecks is one of the richest areas of the
country for wildlife with over 12500 species
and many occurring nowhere else in the
country. Many species are dependent on the
wildlife friendly farming practices in the Brecks
to survive.
The Brecks is also one of the largest areas in the
country for root crops such as onions and carrots
and we celebrate the importance of farming in
the rural economy and its contribution to the
landscape and wildlife. As a society many have
lost the connection between their food and the
countryside around them that produces that food.
The annual Brecks Food & Drink Festival aims to
re-connect us to the Brecks food offering.
The Brecks Food & Drink Festival
The Brecks Food and Drink festival is part of the
month-long Festival of Norfolk food and drink
during September celebrating the wonderful
local food, farming and countryside of the Brecks
staged by those that live and work within the
area. It includes the involvement of local schools
to have fun while educating children on how
important local produce is to rural areas thereby
influencing the guardians of tomorrow’s
countryside.
By celebrating local food and drink the Festival
hopes to reconnect people with their
surroundings; to show how what they choose
to buy can have a positive impact upon the
countryside and the local economy. It also offers
demonstrations by local chefs and producers to
develop the skills necessary to make best use of
local produce, to help keep food bills down and
to show what’s available. Most importantly it
tastes great!
Buying Local
Think Brecks and you shouldn’t just conjure up
its stunning countryside of heath, forest and
farmland, but also you should appreciate the
sheer pleasure of its high quality food and drink
offering that comes from that diverse landscape
larder. The Brecks has green pastures, arable land,
forestry and river ways that provide the origins for
an amazing range of wonderful foods - fresh fish,
meats from traditional breeds of livestock such as
Redpoll cattle and Norfolk Horn sheep, and most
significantly, its bountiful game.
Enjoy the wide range of distinctive dairy products
- cheeses from local milk, cream, yogurts and
ice-cream. Make your choice from local drinks -
ales, cider, special fruit juices and wines and even
english whisky.
There are many producers, who inspired by local
ingredients, have set up successful businesses
making wonderful pies and pastries, cakes, fudge,
drinks, jams, chutneys and chilli products as
well as a splendid array of fruit and vegetables
packed with fresh natural flavour. You’ll find these
delicious local products widely available through
well-stocked farm shops, farmers’ markets and
local specialist shops in the towns and villages.
Many restaurants, hotels, B&Bs and pubs all boast
of the high quality of their food – and it’s all local.