Page 50 - Phonebox Magazine July 2016

Spotlight on the Farmer’s Market
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but our Farmer’s Market is looking pretty smart these days. On the rst Sunday of every month, it lays itself out on our Market Place ready to ravage my wallet. Last month saw our market hoard do a spectacular breakfast, a quality packed lunch, a few midweek dinners and a hanging basket to boot.
The Farmer’s Market Breakfast:
Sausages from Brown’s Gourmet sausages. Based in Wollaston, they call themselves an artisan sausage maker. It’s pretty much all they do, and artisan or not, they are good at it. They do a huge range including vegetarian, gluten free and fancy avours. But for breakfast you can’t beat a traditional pork sausage – this one was meaty, full of avour and not too fatty. Mushrooms and tomatoes from Manor Farm Shop. The tomatoes were beautifully sweet, the mushrooms just lovely.
Sourdough from the lovely Amazing Grains bread. They now have their own bakery in Olney and turn out a ne range of speciallity continental style breads, slow rising and naturally leavened sourdough and a focaccia that is still being talked about at my place of work after a recent drop off.
The mint? From our garden. Simply gorgeous.
The Farmer’s Market Lunch:
As simple as it gets. Two thick slices of sourdough slapped either side of some roasted pork slices fresh from the farm. The pork (from happy, free ranging pigs of course) was from a stall I didn’t get the name of – they are positioned the museum end and have a huge selection of pork pies, pasties, sausage rolls as well as cooked cold meats, sausages and hams.
Other recommendations?
The market has a huge range of meat, cheese and vegetable suppliers. But it is the more unusual producers that make it stand out. These are some of my favourite.
Meah’s Flavours of India Ltd – a range of handmade curry sauces from Madras through to Korma. Perfect for a quick meal or alternative to your weekly takeaway.
Replete Flatbreads – they do a range of flatbreads from around the world with innovative and very tasty llings. My favourite is Greek Pitta lled with Spinach & Feta, but the Indian Kulcha with Onion Bhaji, Tomato &
Chilli Chutney Filling and the Spanish Coca Flatbread lled with Patatas Bravas have got to be right up there. Great for your lunchbox.
Tunnel Brewery – Bottled Beer, real ale Mustard, real ale Cheese, real ale Chutney and real ale Chocolate – I’ve not tried any of their products yet, but the beer keeps calling my name and I love the variety it adds to the offering.
Gone Fishing Fresh and Smoked Fish – very good value shmonger who will happily gut and llet your sh.
Feast – a range of vegetarian Middle Eastern street food. Superb falafels.
Hot o the press - there really are plans afoot at the Bull
We’ve actually seen them. Not just words, but real, actual drawn up plans. Thanks to Councillor Deirdre Bethune for nding out the very latest...
After the re at the Bull, OTC were concerned on behalf of the town about the future of the pub and contacted Charles Wells to see how the future lay. We were invited to come and see their agship d’Parys Hotel in Bedford to give us some ideas of what they would like to do at the Bull. They have been in consultation with MKC about their plans since well before the re. They want to make it a dining pub and hotel. A destination venue, and if the ambience is at all like the d’Parys I think they will succeed!
See opposite the outline plan of the pub with extra covers and a new atrium to accommodate it all. I don’t have details of their plans for the hotel element but I can assure you they are exciting and will be a welcome addition to Olney.
I had a light lunch there. d’Parys Niçoise salad. Sword sh steak, soft boiled egg, gem leaf, pea purée, green beans and black olives (£8.95). Delightful!
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