Norway’s deep tea diving
For more great holiday ideas, see page 39
professors and worried parents making sure their student children are eating properly. See fitzbillies.com.
Bakewell tart Derbyshire
Story has it that these puddings were first made by accident at a local inn – the then White Horse – around 1860. Visiting noblemen ordered strawberry tart but the cook, instead of stirring the egg mixture into pastry, spread it on top of jam.
The result was so successful that a Mrs Wilson, who lived in the cottage now known as the Old Bakewell Pudding Shop, obtained the recipe and started a business of her own. WHERE AND WHY: Try the original Bakewell, which SPLASH out on a memorable meal at Europe’s first underwater restaurant. Under sits half-submerged in the clear, cold waters of Lindesnes in southern Norway. Opening in April, it is booking up fast. Under has a rough concrete exterior is a bit different to the one found on supermarket shelves, at the Old Bakewell Pudding Shop. Preferably after cycling or walking along the Monsal trail, a converted railway line that cuts across the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. See bakewellpuddingshop.co.uk.
Fat rascal Yorkshire
This brilliantly named cake has its origins in Yorkshire, where it started out as a teacake, closely related to another northern cake with a great name, Northumberland’s singing hinny.
These days it has modified a bit into a kind of fruity rock cake, shaped like a plump macaroon with a face of cherries and almonds. WHERE AND WHY: The for mussels to cling to and an aquarium themed interior that seats 100. Expect a menu filled with seabirds, sea kale, wild sheep and lots of lovely seafood. You need deep pockets for the tasting menu –16-18 courses costs £200. Yorkshire institution that is Bettys Tearoom sells hundreds of thousands of fat rascals every year, in its original outlet in Harrogate and more recent branches in York. A good place to peoplewatch. See bettys.co.uk.
Victoria sponge Kent
This fluffy creation, filled with whipped cream and raspberry jam, dates back to the 17th century but became popular in the 19th century, when the invention of baking powder got it to rise. The best sponge is so light you can convince yourself it has no calories at all. WHERE AND WHY: Queen Victoria was partial to a slice, and she would have loved Miss Mollett’s High Class Tearoom in the pretty Kent village of Appledore. The Rye marshes are on the doorstep, and there’s a fab walk along the Military Canal. See missmollettstearoom.co.uk.