Rocket House Cafe

Cromer, Jewel of the Norfolk coast. I have to say growing up in Sheringham and living only 5 minutes from the beach meant that a trip to Cromer beach was very rare. Mum wanted to take me to one of her little hot spots Rocket House Cafe and hot it is! Not sure when this place had a make over but it's fab! Huge windows with large comfy sofas to sit back and relax with a hot chocolate and a great balcony with amazing views of the beach and Pier for sunny day's such as today.

The menu is modern with tempting ciabatta's, wraps and jacket potatoes.  A daily special board offers delights such as Cromer crab salads and Norfolk ham, egg & chips. The staff are efficient and friendly and the food came quickly. I had a Cajun chicken and roasted pepper wrap served with salad and chips - really fresh and tasty.

 A stroll along the beach down to the pier was just enough to work up room for a whippy!

Surf lessons anyone?

Ronaldo's Ice Cream ( Ellie's)

For those of you that don't already know, Ronaldo's ice cream is THE best ice cream in the world (strong statement i know, but true) if you tend to swing towards natural flavours, double cream, real fruit, nuts and liquors.

If on the other hand you like artificial colourings and flavourings ~ green coloured mint choc chip anyone? mint essence is clear. Yellow banana ice cream? since when did you eat the skin of a banana? White tutti frutti with plastic 'f'ruit' bits?! no comment. Then this isn't the stuff for you.

These ice creams are made in Norwich, Norfolk and flavours range from Choc Nut Fudge, Toffee Pecan, Pistachio & Amaretto to Norfolk Lavender :) Rhubarb & Ginger or Victoria Plum...I would list them all...i can, by heart...but you'd be tempted and not finish reading!

I've had two of these bad boys in two days, they're also fat free and give you a great butt*

Ellie's in Sheringham is open daily from 10am to 10pm in the summer. They do half litre take home tubs and will even pack them for journeys home - not that they normally last that long!

*obviously this is a big fat lie but it helps me when ordering daily double scoops.

www.ronaldo-ices.co.uk

Whelk Coppers Tea Rooms

I love this place. I've been coming since i can remember. It all started with the delicious home made soup, i used to pop in for my lunch when running between various jobs in the summer. The coffee fudge cake is still as amazing as it was 15 years ago and the shortbread still melts in your mouth. I always wanted to work here when i was younger too, i still feel like i want to jump in and help when ever i go for lunch, maybe it's because the staff always seem so busy.

The crab salad was delice, top marks for presentation. One of the best in town if not the best. Jacket potato was also perfect. The light lunches here are fresh, tasty, uncomplicated and there's something for everyone.

I would add a photo of the coffee fudge cake but i ate it too quickly!

Whelk Coppers Tea Rooms is open daily for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas. They also have beautiful Bed & Breakfast rooms, although i think they are pretty booked up in the summer.

Pedge's Perfect Potatoes

Had a day off from eating out yesterday, the weather is wet so my beach walks are not really happening, (since moving to the sand pit I've become a bit of a wimp) and neither are the early morning runs for the same reason. Eating out + no exercise = well, you can imagine. Pedge also came home yesterday, so we spent the afternoon in the garden with his organic veg patch. Have to say I LOVE it, only wish i could replicate it in the sand pit i call home.

Small but incredibly sweet, perfect for a potato salad...

Potato, basil, avocado and egg salad. Always tastes so much better when just picked from the ground. Look out for Beetroot next!

Workshop Cafe Bar

This little place on Earlham road was a right treat! The Workshop is a cafe come bar with quirky wall coverings and an invite to graffiti on the wash room walls which only added to it's charm.

We were a group of 7 and although advised the friendly bar staff that 2 of these delights would be enough (see above) we ordered 3 any way and gave it our best shot!

The pizza was delicious, as was the wine and the Hendricks gin that followed.

The Workshop has quiet corners to read, comfy sofa's with board games, wifi access for work and apparently one of the sweetest thickest italian style hot chocolates in Norwich. I'll be back for that alone.

The Workshop Cafe Bar, 53 Earlham road, Norwich 01603 615853

Back to the Garden

Wow! What a great first find, just a few minutes outside Holt on the A148 to Fakenham. An award winning Organic farm shop and Cafe. Loved the decor, the staff were attentive and the food was too good!

I had dressed crab with a choice of 2 delicious salads as sides, i chose beetroot with maple syrup & sunflower seeds and Asian coleslaw with cashew nuts ~ yummy!!

Light and healthy leaving room for something sweet.. The cream tea was fantastic, one of the best we've had in a long time, jam made in Suffolk, fresh clotted cream and scones that ran a very close second to mother dears. Paradise cake was exactly that and the crisp meringue with a soft gooey centre, fresh cream and giant Norfolk raspberries comes highly recommended!

The Cafe, juice & smoothie bar is open daily from 8.30am - 5pm (11am - 4pm on Sundays) with main meals starting from £5.95. There's no need to book and for those just passing through you can pop into the shop for some amazing fresh local produce and even a take away ready meal! If all visits are going to be as good as this one, this is going to be a very pleasant experience!!

http://www.back-to-the-garden.co.uk/