Try this unique dining experience away from the bustle of Hadleigh

By Charlotte Smith-Jarvis

14th May 2023 | Opinion

Suffolk Spice Fusion's mega feast box of chicken tikka, salad, naan, samosas and masala chips (Picture: Charlotte Jarvis-Smith)
Suffolk Spice Fusion's mega feast box of chicken tikka, salad, naan, samosas and masala chips (Picture: Charlotte Jarvis-Smith)

Picture the scene. It's a balmy early summer's evening. You've just strolled along the tranquil banks of the river Orwell, a landscape shaped by shaded ancient woodlands, open fields, and small, crescent-shaped beaches, freckled with samphire.

And you stumble across Woolverstone Marina looking across to the Felixstowe peninsula.

This is one of the lesser-trodden paths around the peninsula (most head straight for Pin Mill) and feels a million miles away from the noise and bustle of Suffolk's urban areas.

Set in tranquil countryside, and only 10 minutes from the hubbub, it's a bit of an oasis for walkers, cyclists and watersports enthusiasts, with a sailing school, moorings, and luxury lodge accommodation - as well as the headquarters of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club - on site.

Woolverstone Marina view (Picture: Nub News)

It's also a destination for some cracking street food over the next few months, with a rota of speciality vendors lined-up, ready to bring their signature dishes to the waterside setting.

Leading the bill is Sweeney's Pizzeria, serving wood-fired pizzas smothered in the finest toppings (including their own mozzarella) to waiting customers.

From June, Suffolk Spice Fusion joins the feast. You might have spotted owners Darren and Poppy Singh at sporting events, car shows or fireworks in the region. Perhaps you ordered from them in lockdown, when their venture together began.

The duo (Poppy a TA and Darren a business manager by day), have been cooking up a storm around Ipswich and beyond, wowing customers with Indian street food that gives a nod to their families' northern Indian heritage.

"I got taught all the traditions at home," says Poppy. "I'd cook with my mum and my grandmother - they are big foodies. As you grow up, you kind of follow suit of what's going on in the kitchen. It's food that brings people together. And you can't jar these recipes. They're made with love - something you can't bottle."

READ MORE: Amazing street food line-up for Taste of Sudbury revealed

Before the pandemic, Poppy would often take food into work, offering workshops at her school. "People would say 'oh, you should sell this' and it went from there, starting out making food for family and friends."

It was the same family and friends who encouraged the couple to take their fledgling business idea further.

"We did our first event," says Darren, "and it really took off for us! Now we're going to everything from rugby meets to fireworks and getting lots of bookings - especially in places where you wouldn't normally see an Indian street food vendor.

"There are lots of requests for corporate events and weddings too. We love serving people and talking to them, and we appreciate all the feedback. It gives us a buzz."

Now…onto the food.

"The cooking of northern India is very different to what you find in most of the restaurants around here," explains Darren. "It has different flavours, and we fuse them in a western way."

The menu includes traditional curry and rice boxes, chicken tikka naan wraps with salad, and masala chips.

"Our most popular thing is our mega feast box XL," Darren adds. "That's a 9ins by 9ins container, packed with onion bhajis, samosa, chicken tikka, masala chips, salad, and a choice of sauces - mango chutney, tamarind, or yoghurt and mint. It's meant for two, but a lot of people say 'I'm having that for myself'."

Poppy says there are plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans, with a 50/50 split on the menu between meat and planted-based dishes (think chickpea and potato curry, and vegan chicken alternatives used for tikka wraps).

The couple buy as much produce as possible locally (using local butchers for meat, for example) and love to grind their own spices, giving everything they cook a fresher, more aromatic flavour.

Poppy takes their garam masala as an example. "It's a blend of 11 spices. The garam masala you get in supermarkets tends to be very strong with cinnamon, and quite sweet. Ours is very different."

Now it's time to try it for yourselves. Suffolk Spice Fusion will be at Woolverstone Marina and Lodge Park from 5pm to 8pm on June 17.

You'll also see them at the Swan at Holbrook on Friday May 13 (5pm to 8pm) and at the Edwardstone White Horse on June 3.

Keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram accounts for other locations.

Sweeney's Pizzeria will be at Woolverstone on May 26, June 16, July 1, July 14, August 18, and September 2.

*Read more from Charlotte Smith-Jarvis at her Suffolk Food Stories blog here...

     

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