Hidden bakeries along the Suffolk coast

Although I live in London, I grew up in a tiny town in the Suffolk countryside. Over the past few years there has been an array of small businesses starting up and opening brilliant little cafés, diners, bakeries and bistros. Whenever I go back to visit my mother I always scope out the almost hidden gems, to go and sample some of the wonderful produce. 

One of my favourite places, that I first visited a few months ago, is Pump Street Bakery in the village of Orford. With the tagline of 'real bread & slow food', the bakery not only sells delicious bread and sumptuous cakes, but also operates as a cafe. The seating area was warm and inviting, with a log burning stove and a long communal table with various couples, friends and families sitting together. 

The first thing we ordered was a pot of loose leaf earl grey tea, which came with the most gorgeous tea cups and a clear, glass teapot (I have been searching for a replica ever since). Then we had a toasted sandwich, made with fresh sourdough bread, mushrooms and cheese, which was cooked beautifully. 

Of course, we couldn't leave without taking home some of the plump handmade jam donuts, which were worlds away from the processed, squashed lumps from a supermarket. The almond flavoured 'bears claw' with flaky, melt in the mouth pastry is also one to try. Not forgetting the 'mille-feuille' meaning 'a thousand layers' which was amazingly thin layers of pastry, sandwiching together a light custard and tangy rhubarb. I will definitely be back there again! 

Yaasica Lucia XXX