Truly Scrumptious - Madame Fromage, Cardiff

Having lived in Cardiff for 4 years and wandered through its arcades and market as a child, I have fond memories of the place.  And as a cheese lover I wish this place had existed when I was there.

And given my Welsh heritage on my dad's side and my mum's Breton ancestry, I wouldn't have thought it possible to find somewhere that embraced them both.  However, Madame Fromage in Castle Arcade, Cardiff, does just that!

With a daily portfolio of 150 French, Welsh and English cheeses you'll be spoilt for choice.  And their deli is also crammed full of jams, chutneys, oils, olives and sweet treats.

If you fancy a spot of lunch they have French gallettes, tartlettes and quiches or Welsh cawl and rarebit.  But even if you're only after a quiet coffee  you can experience the atmosphere of typical French cafe culture all year round in the beautiful Victorian architecture of Castle Arcade.

All images (c) Madame Fromage

Truly Scrumptious - Hackwood Farm, Shop and Tearooms, Derbyshire

We love good farm shops and this one in Radbourne, Derbyshire, is another great find.

Hackwood Farm Shop & Cafe opened in 2011 and sources produce from traditional local suppliers.  Their butchery is run in partnership with award winning Owen Taylor Sons.

    

And their cafe serves freshly prepared daily specials including breakfast snacks, light lunches and afternoon teas, again using locally sourced ingredients from the farm shop and other trusted suppliers. 

This Spring they are opening a small children's farm giving children the opportunity to see, hear and smell farm animals and understand where their food comes from. 

All images (c) Hackwood Farm

There will be a big welcome from Bobby the goat and all his friends when you go to visit.  Check their website for further details. www.hackwoodfarm.com

Days Out - National Garden Scheme, Deans Court, Wimborne

Next to the lovely Sharland & Lewis emporium in Wimborne, you can find Dean's Court.  Seldom open, I'm going to be taking a quick trip there tomorrow when the Gardens are open as part of the National Garden Scheme.

 

I'll have a chance to wander round the fish pond, herb garden and apiary and with luck the apple orchard will be coming into bloom too.

The house makes a perfect backdrop to the stunning setting.  I can almost hear Mr Darcy splashing into the lake above!

They have an amazing kitchen garden and as well as enjoying something in their tea room, you can buy fresh produce in their shop.

If you can't get there tomorrow, they are also open on May 15th, June 16th and July 3rd.  Check the NGS website for details. 

Truly Scrumptious - Byfords, Holt, Norfolk

A few years ago we were invited to our friends' wedding near Holt and took advantage of it by having a week's holiday there.  We were even luckier to have happened upon a fantastic cottage in the centre of the village (you can see it at the far right of the picture above) because it was literally a stone's throw from Byfords, an amazing deli, coffee shop, restaurant and boutique B&B.  The owners sum it up perfectly when they describe it as a higgedly-piggedly world of pleasure.  It really is.

We felt almost duty bound to make the arduous trip across the road every morning for fresh coffee and croissants, followed by a quick return to stock up on supplies for a hearty picnic.  We had brought our bikes with us (it being pretty flat terrain) but would still be in need of sustenance on our adventures.  They stocked everything and more that you could wish for in a deli, so accurately described as a culinary Aladdin's cave.  Speciality breads, locally sourced; jams, chutneys, olives and cheeses.

After a full day in the saddle, we felt justified in quenching our thirst with a glass of chilled wine, choosing to sit outside and watch the world go by.

We did venture to other places - usually at the recommendation of information provided by Byfords and were never disappointed.  So if you're in the area or fancy a weekend away, do check this place out.

PlayDays - Pythouse Walled Garden, Tisbury

A great way to pass the time of day when the weather’s nice is Pythouse Walled Garden, Tisbury.  As well as the gardens and nursery, they have a lovely farm shop and cafe, which is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy your cuppa in peace while the kids run amok in the garden.   

    

The range of cakes changes daily, so we're always spoiled for choice.  Sometimes it's coffee and walnut cake and other times it's chocolate and orange polenta cakes.  The kids love their apricot and ginger flabjacks too.  And of course, you can't go wrong with a cream tea.

   

When in season the kids can also pick the raspberries and, as a bit of a gardener myself, I love looking around the garden and nursery, where I often can't resist picking up another plant that I'm sure will find a home in my own garden.