left to right: Matt and Steph Brown, creator's of Nelson's Gold with Adam Youngman, Maids Head Hotel and the Nelson's Golden Apple Cocktail.
Head East, a new regional cultural tourism campaign, launches today to showcase the rich diversity and quality of arts, culture and heritage found right here, on our doorstep. Residents from Norfolk and Suffolk will have the opportunity to return to their favourite activities, or discover exciting new experiences on a par with London’s cultural scene.
From coastal locations to rural and urban settings, over one year, Head East will celebrate the cultural gems in our counties, while highlighting the region as a must-see cultural destination in the UK, and encouraging sustainable travel.
By highlighting a selection of events in 2021 and beyond, the campaign invites people to enjoy themselves as they reunite with loved ones following a prolonged period apart. They can also rely on continued COVID-safe guidelines for memorable experiences with safety at the forefront.
Head East is also demonstrating that culture is open to everyone, with campaign stories expected to range from grassroots events to high-end arts; from free museums to premium performances; from outdoor festivals to indoor experiences.
The Norfolk Association of Architects, The Norwich Society and Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement, have launched the search for the best new architecture in the county, in the lead up to the announcement of their 2021 Norwich + Norfolk Design and Craftsmanship Awards. These biennial awards celebrate outstanding buildings and places in the county. A presentation ceremony will be held this Autumn.
The awards will go to projects that are well designed, meet the needs of their users and also contribute to the public enjoyment of places. The Sir Bernard Feilden award will also be presented for the best conservation scheme in Norwich.
The judges will be looking for a high standard of design and craftsmanship in their construction and finishes. The winners will also have to demonstrate that they have taken account of the wider environmental implications, including minimising any impact on climate change from their construction and use.
In the latest in our series finding out a little bit more about what it is like running a local independent business in Norfolk we caught up with the team behind The Hemporium Shops, one of our newest business members.
What is the History of The Hemporium Shops?
We opened our first Hemporium in Hunstanton in August 2019 followed by the second in Wells next the Sea in the first easing of the pandemic lockdown in June 2020. The third was in Holt in August 2020 with the fourth in September 2020 in Norwich just before the November lockdown. Finally shop number 5 was due to open on 5th November in Burnham Market but stalled due to the November lockdown being imposed but then opened briefly in the December prior to Tier 4 imposition for Xmas and then the January 5th 2021 lockdown! So the next stage of easing in April could see all 5 shops open for the first time ever!
Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny (age 35), Head Chef at the Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich and Chef of the Year in the EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards 2016, is one of the top 10 chefs in the country, following his appearance in this year's final of the Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year competition.
Ten chefs competed in the final cook off at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in London on Monday, September 7, and the winner, Nick Smith, Head Chef at Vacherin, London was revealed on Wednesday, September 30 during Hospitality Week.
“Commenting on the competition Magic said: “It was amazing to be in the final top 10 in the UK. The judging panel was great, featuring some of the best chefs in the country – the Chairman of Judges was Paul Ainsworth. I enjoyed the final a lot and was 100% happy with my dishes.”
Marcin ‘Magic’ Pomierny (age 35), Head Chef at the Maids Head Hotel in Tombland Norwich and Chef of the Year in the EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards 2016, is a semi-finalist in the 2020 Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year competition for the third year running.
Forty chefs are competing in the semi-finals for a place in the final 10. This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the live semi-final cook offs will not take place. Instead Magic has been tasked with submitting a short video presenting a signature dish which sums up his personality and tells his story 'in a couple of bites'.
Magic, who was a finalist in the 2008 Craft Guild of Chefs Young Chef of the Year competition explains: “My video features an amuse bouche, 'Summer of the Sourdough Crisp', inspired by the summers when I was growing up in Poland. My family went to work on my Grandparents' farm. The work was hard, but my Grandmother produced fabulous meals and I particularly remember the wonderful tomatoes that she grew and we picked from the garden and the sourdough bread that she baked every day. My Sourdough Crisp features avocado and elderflower tatare, Heritage Norfolk tomatoes ,soft white cheese and smoked onion powder.”
