Aldeburgh on a rainy Saturday afternoon isn’t the first place that springs to mind when you think about Christmas shopping, but it’s where we ended up today.
Dodging the seemingly never-ending downpours (not very well, it has to be said), and traipsing in and out of small ‘boutique’ shops – complete with disgruntled and rude owners – gave us an appetite for a late-ish lunch.
Our usual eaterie, Munchies, was full, and for a minute we were stumped as to where to go instead. The High Street was deserted, the rain having forced everyone indoors, but looking across the road, we stumbled across the Market Café (or at least, we think that’s what it’s called. Other reports have suggested the Old Grocery Café. If anyone does know, please leave a comment and enlighten us).
Essentially a shop with a small café with a handful of tables, counters and fridges full with locally-sourced produce and fish greeted us when we stepped through the door. It looked increasingly like we might be thankful that at table at Munchies was unavailable. After all, at the worst it would give us a chance to try somewhere else.
Seeing that sandwiches weren’t on the menu, I mistakenly thought that it wouldn’t be an inexpensive food fix. With a choice of starters, main dishes, and lighter portions priced from £4.50, there really was something for everyone.
Naturally promoting their locally-sourced produce, fish featured heavily on the menu, but it was no matter to us; smaller portions of kedgeree and mussels in Thai spices were duly ordered, and were quickly delivered back to the table.
For the same price as a fancy Panini elsewhere, both dishes were very tasty, and made a nice change from a bread-based meal in the middle of the day. Nik reported that his kedgeree was delicious, if a little hot with chilli, and when my small bowl of mussels arrived, it wasn’t really a small bowl at all.
About 20 very large crustaceans were piled high above the Thai-spiced broth, and were infused with sliced chillies, giving them an extra bite. Cooked to perfection, they were equally tasty.
With tea to wash it all down – it was cold and wet outside remember – we vowed to go back again one day (definitely now, if only to catch the proper name of the place), when our travels once more take us the few miles north to the unassuming resort, so beloved by London out-of-towners.
Locally-sourced produce or not, the flavours of the Market Café’s food are enough to tempt even the most-discerning palette. If you’re in town, give it a try; I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
