July’s Five Foodie Must Haves

This is July’s five foodie must-haves, brought to you by Velvet magazine

Do It

The Lodge, Duxford, Summer 2022 Courtyard Menu

A suntrap where you can drink, dine, recline in a deckchair and, on weekend evenings, relax to a soundtrack provided by the resident DJ, the Courtyard at Duxford’s The Lodge is a must-visit in the summer months. On flying days at neighbouring IWM Duxford, you can even sit back and enjoy an airshow as the historic planes traverse the skies above the hotel.

New to the Mediterranean-inspired Courtyard menu, which spans light bites through to grill dishes and wood-fired pizzas, is the Mojo Pulled Pork kebab, pictured, served with raspberry pickled red cabbage, pickled cucumber, frisee, mango and mojo salsa, all piled on a flatbread.

Find out more The Lodge Duxford

Book It

Saffron-Grange-Vineyard-&-Rutherford’s-Cambridge

We all deserve a treat on a Friday night and Rutherford’s, the much-loved Cambridge punting company, has just the thing: a guided punt along the city’s beautiful Backs while sipping a glass of something special. . .

On July 8, you can join an expert from Cambridge Distillery to try three of its signature gins while learning about the spirit’s history and how to ascertain the quality of a tipple, while on July 29, August 26 and September 23, a trio of Saffron Grange’s award-winning sparkling wines are on the tasting menu, with a member of the vineyard team on hand to talk you through the vintages.

Book at Rutherfords Punting 

Diary It

Bury Food & Drink Festival CREDIT Mecha Morton, Suffolk News

Here’s a date for the diary: celebrating its 10th year, the always-delicious Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival returns next month. Running on August 28 and 29, it will bring to town a vast farmer’s market, spanning some 100 stalls and selling everything from gin to granola; demo kitchens manned by both the county’s top chefs and star culinary students from West Suffolk College; and family fun in the form of a fairground and free street entertainment.

Get it in the diary Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival

Cook It

Asian Home Kitchen, Image: Prawn Tom Yum

From the subtle flavours of Japanese sushi through to big, bold Sri Lankan curries, new cookbook The Asian Home Kitchen shares signature dishes from right across the continent. An updated edition of Lemongrass & Ginger – which, written by Leemei Tan-Boisgillot of My Cooking Hut fame, won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best Blogger Cookbook – it contains more than 100 recipes. With standouts including Korean fried chicken, spicy dan dan noodles and zingy papaya salad, there’s something for every mood, dietary requirement, weather and occasion.

The Asian Home Kitchen: Fresh, vibrant dishes from Kuala Lumpur to Kyoto by Leemei Tan-Boisgillot is out now in hardback, priced £20.

Buy at Waterstones The Asian Home Kitchen

Dine It

Damson & Wilde CREDIT Mecha Morton, Suffolk News

Billed as “the first of its kind”, by the time you read this, new bar and restaurant Damson & Wilde will have opened its (seriously stylish) doors in Bury St Edmunds. The result of a nine-month refurbishment, the former Cafe Rouge building on the town’s Abbeygate Street is now home to “a modern, plush and luxurious all-day, every-day, venue,” says Toby Smith of City Pub Group, the company behind the new concept.

With a menu spanning small and large plates, sharing dishes and drinks, Damson & Wilde is tipped to become a go-to venue for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Happily for us, regular visitors will be rewarded with a loyalty scheme. . .

Book a table at Damson & Wilde

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