We all need to eat food to survive, it’s pretty essential! However when you’re surrounded by fresh and delicious ingredients it’s hard to resist indulging in delicacies. Basing a holiday on discovering local food can be a real highlight and Norfolk has a treat in store for you, with local food producers, farms and farm shops in abundance.

Become inspired to sample the delicious culinary delights of Norfolk during your visit. From Cromer crab to asparagus Norfolk has a great many delicacies to enjoy and what better way to enhance your Norfolk glamping break than combining it with a foodie tour of the area.

Here are the best of Norfolk’s fresh food to enjoy:

Asparagus

This delicacy has a short season to be enjoyed so be sure not to miss out. There are local farms in the area with honesty shops selling fresh asparagus as well as road side stalls. Snap off the tough lower stalks and blanch, steam or roast in olive oil and butter.

Samphire

This coastal plant is found around the salt marshes of the North Norfolk coast and can often be bought in bunches from farm shops and outside homes on the coastal road in late spring and summer. It’s saltiness is delicious when paired with seafood but also goes well with new potatoes and lamb. Give it a good clean in fresh water and remove any roots and tough stems before blanching or steaming for a few minutes.

Crab

Norfolk is know for Cromer crab and it’s a real highlight of many visits to the area, thought to be the tenderest and sweetest crab meet in the British Isles. It can be found on the menu in local pubs as well as in fish mongers, where buying a dressed crab is the easiest option. It’s delicious in a fresh salad.

Mussels

Another shellfish delight is mussels, in season from Autumn to early Spring. Served with cream, white wine and fresh herbs or a tomato sauce it’s simply delicious, if not a bit messy (keep a bowl of water handy for finger dipping!). Brancaster and Blakeney are great spots to enjoy the fresh catch from the fishing boats.

Cheese

If you’re a cheese fan you’ll be in for a treat with Mrs Temples cheese or Fielding Cottage goats cheese. Both can be bought from farm shops locally (see a selection of our favourites below).

Cockles

Skiffkey cockles are renowned and have a blue colour which comes from local mud and sand. They can often be found at seafood stalls and fishmongers and are best served with vinegar.

Mustard

Colman’s of Norwich Mustard might not be made in Norfolk anymore, after over 160 years of being produced locally but we still have a thriving mustard industry. Mint and mustard seed for this traditional British condiment are both grown locally and there are several small mustard producers.

Turkey

Norfolk has been known for it’s Turkeys long before Bernard Matthews set up shop in 1950. The Norfolk Black Turkey, which almost became extinct in the early 1900’s is a favourite throughout the year as well as for Christmas dinner and turkeys can be seen in farms across the county.

Game

Game meat can be found during the hunting season in local butchers, with pheasant, venison and pigeon are all enjoyed in local pubs.

Best places to enjoy Norfolk cuisine:

Fish & Chips - Lenwade fish and chip shop (our local), French’s in Wells-next-the-sea, Eric’s in Holt and Thornham and No.1 in Cromer

Seafood - Rocky Bottoms in West Runton, White Swan in Great Yarmouth North Norfolk Fish Company in Holt, Gurneys in Burnham Market

Beer - Wild Craft, Duration, Panther (as visited by Mortimer and Whitehouse), Woodfordes

Farm shops - Algy’s Farm Shop in Bintree, The Goat Shed in Honningham

Tell us which of these delicacies is you’re favourite and which you’ll be seeking out when you’re next glamping in Norfolk?