Such very good lemon tart

As much as I like chocolate I would like to come back in a future life as a lemon tart taster. Citron tarte,torte di limone or Limonen tarte I don't care what the name is given to it. The delight is a very tangy lemon filling held in a buttery pastry case.I was on a mission and so while I was in Malton headed to The Patisserie. This is an extract from Andrew's blog - SPECIALITY OF THE MONTH As it’s our birthday, we thought we’d have more than one Speciality of the Month. The first is our signature lemon tart, as it is such a huge favourite at the food markets and festivals. The lemon tarts simply fly off the stall every time! Alongside these, we’d like to introduce you to a recent big hit with our regular customers in the shop: our black cherry and hazelnut choux buns. The large, light choux buns are filled with a generous dollop of fresh cream, on top of a layer of delicious black cherry filling. Rich, dark Belgian chocolate and chopped hazelnuts provide the perfect topping for this luxury treat. We bet that your first one won’t be your last! It certainly wont be my last time .After just coming out of Kate Hardcastles workshop you would have already Andrew and his staff had been to it. Friendly and helpful and even though he was really busy getting ready for the Malton Food Lovers festival he popped out of this kitchen to have a chat. He is very passionate about what he produces there is no doubt on that. Talk about looking in to the sweet shop window and not knowing which to choose the same could be said when you find The Patisserie

Kate Hardcastle in the Palace Cinema

Must be 40 + years ago since I was in the Palace Cinema in Malton. I remembered as schoolgirls we went to see a film called Rhubarb,Rhubarb. This time Welcome to Yorkshire has joined forces with TV’s queen of customer service Kate Hardcastle from Insight with Passion to offer members the opportunity to attend one of exclusive half day workshops. Kate Hardcastle is a retail and commercial expert respected nationally and internationally. She is a regular contributor and industry commentator on BBC, ITV, Sky News and many more. Kate advises household names to help them reach more customers, transform the customer experience and become more successful. So here we have David Shields as an usher,Sarah Barrowby as the ice cream girl and the very vicious and interesting Kate Hardcastle delivering her speech. Kate was highly delighted with the cake I produced from Sophie Legard's deli- Malton Relish .Sited at the top of the market place this shop should not be missed. Sophie Legard is owner of Malton Relish, a deli recently crowned North East Food Hero on Market Kitchen. I grew up here as the daughter of a local farmer and have always loved food, said Sophie.I was a freelance chef for ten years before I started the shop. I was always struggling to find good, local ingredients, having to go to Leeds or Harrogate to buy them, the idea for Malton Relish came from that really. It all progressed from what the customers want, everything I sell in the shop is from Yorkshire with a lot of items from around this area. I have a food bartering system where people bring me their excess fruit, for example and Ill make it into jams, chutneys etc. I give them half back and sell the other half. Its great because come Christmas all my hampers are full of local produce. Sophie is a supporter of the We Love Malton campaign. Ive certainly become aware of how important it is for businesses in Malton to take some responsibility for keeping the town going, she said.

Premiere of The Dales series 3

Well it wasn't quite Cannes and the red carpets but it wasn't far behind. A trip to the Georgian Theatre in Richmond organised by Welcome to Yorkshire to see the Premiere of The Dales series 3 which will start on TV next Monday night.We were treated to Yorkshire Dales Icecream in the interval and it was very nice too.Here you see Carol Cheetham sampling an icecream.The ever expanding Owen family were there. Here is a photo I took of Amanda with her husband and her happy brood.They were so well behaved. Chris Wildmans son will also feature in this series.leaving school at 16 to go straight to work on the farm. Sounds a bit like our Nicholas, he did the same at 15 as the last year he seemed to find something to be ill off school with when he wanted to help with lambing,haytime and harvest.

Beach Hut Party

It started with a tweet when it was snowing. I was sick of hearing about the weather so popped a tweet in which said Should I have 30 or 60 to a Beach Hut Party. I had actually meant for Jack's birthday.But then we have Susie Brindley offering to bring Pimms and Beki from Robin Hood Caravan Park with nibbles.Katrina Gray with crab sandwiches and so it continued.Annie Stirk of Absolutely Food said what a great PR it was and it was Jane from Trail Trials who brought the Yorkshire flag We settled for 30 to be held on the 30th April so celebrate a 30th birthday. We would have liked 90 degree weather but settled for a 180 degree view of the sea and a 360 degree of success. The thank you list is too long to relay as all who came made fantastic contributions to the day. Jasmin Underwood, a young lady I had staying with me from Germany, made the bunting and had gone home before the party so would like to say a big thank you to her. I hope everyone found a "new friend or 2" and extended their business circles. I am so glad Rosemary of Just Puds was able to bring her mum,Val Anderson from Ainderby Myers. Our friendship spans over 30 years. My newest friend being Vicky Dixon who came with Tricia from Real Staithes. Vicky runs Whitby Sea Fish Co who between them astounded me with the seafood they brought. I am sure everyone was equally impressed who sampled it. An easy and delightful idea to have if you are wanting to organise a hassle free work free party -just get Vicky and Tricia to sort it for you.

When New York comes to Yorkshire

We were very excited when we heard Karen Schaler a TV celebrity from New York came on a whistle stop tour of Yorkshire. She has a programme called Travel Therapy which is followed by 10 million plus people over the pond in America. She tucked into breakfast before going outside to try out one the new cycles we have recently bought. These are English made by Dawes and are available free for guests to use when staying with us. Last year guests had to pay £15 a day to hire cycles and had to travel 14 miles to get them. Karen was happy to fly the flag for Yorkshire to celebrate that Le Tour de France is coming to Yorkshire in 2014

Happy Easter

Good Friday Morning - to you all and Happy Easter. As we are busy with lambing all we ask for is some sunshine and we have got it . I think it is all across North Yorkshire this morning . Still nippy but sunny and dry. The hens are on overdrive - I think it more about the time of year than Easter. As we seem to have eggs by the dozen multiplies trice a day .Shame they don't lay chocolate ones this week. The birds are singing away and all seem right in the world here at Carr House Farm any way. Our little Labrador pups are tucking into the first week of meals with weetabix.

and then for lunch

Well Christine and I were going to lunch and treat ourselves at Harvey Nicks 2 years since I was last in Leeds.then Caroline joined us and then we meet Rosemary in teh street and then someone else turned up .So there ended up being 5 of us to please. One with a wheat intolerance so why would we go to an Italian .All pastas and pizzas you say. The lady who owns it has been there since the year dot. I hear from good sources even thought they do delightful sauces that she will burst into song and give her diners a taste of the Italian Opera will they eat. Unfortunately she did not,maybe next time . We were so impressed by her ever so charming son who was very accommodating to our wheat free needy friend as he is too .he offer her chip wedges with a tomato sauce ,which went down very well. Orange juice was the proper stuff as I watched him squeeze the oranges himself. A delightful place and certainly one to recommend. Sorry we don't know your name but will ask next time.So we will for now call them Mamma Opera and her bambino. When I look at the photos the girls are all in convict stripes. The restaurant has lots of flags up and music playing and a lovely feel to the place.