Welcome to Back to the Garden
Fresh local food, organic produce, café and restaurant in North Norfolk
'BEST FARM SHOP' EDP awards 2011-2012
An alternative to strip-lighting and counterfeit food: a locally based choice of very good groceries and an excellent cafe restaurant using only the best ingredients. On our farm in Barney, just off the A148, we raise organic beef, lamb and a flock of garrulous French chickens. For Christmas, numbers swell with turkeys and geese. We sow every kind of vegetable in our organic garden and have most fruits too. Each morning Ron makes his way down the road to the store, piled mountainously with the day's crop.
At about the same time Chris, Justin and Dominic will be warming the ovens in the restaurant kitchen while Justin and Trevor do the same in our newly dedicated deli kitchen. Paul will be inspecting and laying out the meat; local pork, bacon that he has cured himself, rabbit, wild game and venison from our woods, as well as steaks, ribs, joints of Aberdeen Angus-sired beef, and the lamb from our pastures. Behind the delicatessen, Beth will be assessing the maturity of cheeses and running her eye over the organic charcuterie and ham. Rob will be ready to take charge of the vegetables. Rhi will have the coffee will be on in the Barn Restaurant, the smell of fresh bread will be in the air.
Amongst our stock, you'll find the beers of hard-working local brewers, pickles, conserves, jam, a range of organic wine for all pockets, fresh bread and pastries, artisan and wild food. Come first thing any day (except Monday) for coffee and home-baked cake and the chances are you'll meet one of the local producers dropping off goods.
In the evening there could be a private party going on in the oak-beamed barn, a book launch or an exhibition. We are delighted to be asked to cater for events, here, or just about anywhere you want us to go in Norfolk. On Friday and Saturday evenings we now have candelit fine-dining in the barn.
If you're in a hurry, ring through an order. Use this site to pre-order, or choose a gift to be sent on your behalf. If chopping and washing, grilling and baking are not what you want to do, buy one of our meals. Embankment Beef with Yetman's Stout, for example, named after the long-gone railway line, now covered in vetches, harebells and grass, where the sheep and cattle roam.
Our Barn Restaurant has become a popular place to meet friends for coffee and cake, lunch or - at weekends and special occasions - dinner on Friday or Saturday evenings. If you want to come for Sunday lunch these days you would do well to book in advance. We look forward to warmer weather and all of these things being available in our beautiful garden - dogs welcome!
Like other farm shop owners, Veronica and I wanted to get back to farming on a human scale. Growing for friends and neighbours, knowing that the animals are not ending up under the lights of a supermarket shelf miles away, and that the vegetables are being tasted at their best, is a reward in itself.
None of this would be possible without a cheery and dedicated team which works hard to bring you the best possible service, produce and meals.
Delaval Astley

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