Page 54 - Phonebox Magazine August 2016
P. 54
A taste of rural England
Scald End Farm Shop and Tea Room
ometimes you stumble across little gems that you just have to share with the world. Scald End Farm Shop and Tea Room is one such delight. We stayed with some friends
in Renhold recently, but their hospitality didn’t run to breakfast! Instead, they recommended this farm in Thurleigh. On arrival, we were met by a gaggle of geese including their gorgeous goslings. A very cute start.
The place has a very loved feel about it, as if those in charge care very much. The farm shop is spacious and well laid out, its shelves and islands stacked with local produce, including eggs, meats, bread, fresh fruit and veg, a large range of pickles, beers and wines, pies, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and lots of delicious looking cake. Whilst trying to unobtrusively take some photos, I was accosted by Mary, the shop manager. And it turns out she does care, very much indeed. She enthusiastically took me through her inventory. She does all the buying for the shop and works hard at sourcing local supplies. She is particularly proud of the pickles from Edible Ornamentals and Warden Abbey wine.
Through the shop is the tea room. The counter is piled high with tempting cake (made by another caring Mary). But we were there for breakfast. They do, of course, your usual full English, with vegetarian and small sized options. Breakfast sandwiches, omelettes and porridge were also on offer. They are big on eggs, which are fresh from the farm, so we went for two poached eggs on toast: lovely free range eggs served on quality bread. And it was warm enough to sit outside too, so we ate as we watched the goslings go by. A very pleasant start to the day.
Edible Ornamentals
This is the place Mary gets her pickles from. It’s based over in Chawston. The owners, having lived in Texas for a while, got a bit of a taste for chilli. They now grow over 100 different varieties at their farm and host a range of events from tasting sessions, cookery classes and chilli themed afternoon teas! They have a restaurant too, where you can sample some spiced up food such as padron peppers, chilli burgers, chilli chocolate muffins, and even simple toast with chilli- salted caramel spread.
Free range eggs for breakfast
Goslings
Local beer and wines
Fruit and veg
Home made cake
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54 Phonebox Magazine | August 2016
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