Sunday 29 November 2009

Martins Farm

Not content with a “hat trick” of new pies to munch this month, the Pie Master produces yet another new pie: from Martins Farm in Hindolveston, purchased at Thorpe Farmers’ Market. Only five pie munchers turned up to sample this delicacy, with forecasts of more rain this Sunday. A four and a half mile walk around the south of North Walsham, incorporating some of the Weaver’s Way, would get us in peak pie munching state... Parking at the Weaver’s Way car park in Station Road, we set off south west, along the Weaver’s Way, and then south, along Drift Lane that then turned east. Passing woods with holly bushes in berry, we continued along footpaths with the 1933 & 1953 North Walsham water towers in the distance, on our left, and the site of the 1381 battle of the Peasant Revolt on our right. Crossing the B1150, Norwich Road, we came upon one of the three crosses erected by Bishop Henry Despencer after he had won the 1381 battle. We continued east, passing Piper’s Pit and crossing the railway line. We then started making our way north, with the Happisburg water tower clearly visible on our right. We re-joined the Weaver’s Way, after a short walk along Field Lane, taking us into North Walsham. Here we visited the huge church of St. Nicholas, and noted it’s scratch dial. Lunch was taken at the 16th century Market Cross. A post lunch pint of “Fat Cat” bitter was consumed in the cosy Kings Arms. A short walk through the town then reunited us with the car and pies... King Canape had produced some fine Smoked Salmon canapés before the pies. The small tin baked pies released a good roast pork aroma when cut and revealed a coarse, pale textured filling with no jelly. The pastry was crisp and tasty, the filling was good and very lightly seasoned, as described on the label. I think the pie was let down a bit by the lack of seasoning, but a quality pie nonetheless. It was very pleasant on its own or with a small addition of mustard and came in with a score of 7.7 with a standard deviation of 0.75829. So a normalised score of 7.5 for Martins Farm of Hindolveston.