Apples, Apples and even more delicious Apples!

Last week we introduced our new season’s juices, this week we want to focus on some of the apples themselves. More than 10 different varieties will be on sale in the shop this weekend and the range of flavours and textures is fantastic.

From the old British eating apple, Newton’s Wonder to the Crawley Beauty – not only beautiful but crisp, juicy and with a touch of sugar, we have an apple for every taste! My own favourite is Ashmead’s Kernel – originally raised in Gloucestershire around 1700, this slightly russeted apple is firm, crisp and highly aromatic.

In terms of the cooking apples, the variety is at least as wide. Of course we have the traditional Bramley – this was perhaps the heaviest cropping of our varieties this year – but we also have a range of English and European treats. Dr Harvey is a fantastic cooker that breaks down to a stiff, almost pure white fluff. Golden Noble, on the other hand, makes a delicious sweet/sour apple sauce with an almost buttery colour – the perfect accompaniment to our glorious 7 hour roast pork! On the dessert side, those who tasted the Tarte Tatin last week may well agree that our Monarch apples are perfect and mellow beautifully in the caramel. Belle de Boskoop is one of David’s favourites – an old Dutch apple from a chance seedling in 1856, it is firm, tart and fragrant and holds its shape well when cooked.

Most of our apples are available to buy online via the links below. The full range will be available in the shop and many will form part of the menu in the restaurant again this weekend. We do hope you get a chance to visit us despite the autumnal forecast – the shop and restaurant will be open from10-4pm Thursday to Sunday.