Chefs Vanessa Scott and Maggie.

Just deli-cious

Homemade local produce bought over the counter or served at your table-that's what you can expect at Strattons' new cafe-deli CoeCoes. Chefs Vanessa Scott and Maggie Cooper share a few tasty details.

Why did you decide to open a caf�? We were inspired by the caf�s in Italian villages, where it becomes part of your daily routine to drop in for good coffee and a home-made biscotti and to catch-up with friends, read a newspaper or put the world to rights. So we launched CoeCoes Caf� and Deli – named after the Coe family who have been tremendous supporters ever since we arrived at Strattons in 1990 – where everything at the deli counter can be eaten in the caf� or packaged up and taken home. Do you have a signature drink? Not yet, but we aim to provide the best fair-trade organic cappuccinos, feisty espressos, great local juices and beers, organic wines and zingy teas.

What’s the flavour of your menu? We believe that food should be fresh, tasty and wholesome, as well as absolutely delicious. Care and thought goes into the preparation of all our food and we use organic, additive and GM-free ingredients wherever possible. We are also constantly researching the local farmers, dairies, fishermen and microbreweries we can source produce from locally and how to use it on the menu.

Which local ingredients can people find on it? Strattons’ vegetable garden is continually developing and is part of our commitment to the environment – nothing beats fruit, herbs and vegetables freshly picked and cooked within an hour. In the course of the year we are also blessed with the gluts of many local gardeners’ excesses. Among our local suppliers you’ll find award-winning cheese from Poppylot Farm Dairy, Ferndale Norfolk Farmhouse Cheeses and Mrs Temple, and olive oil from Mother’s Garden in Catalonia, which is produced by Norfolk author and EDP columnist Martin Kirby’s family.

How much should someone expect to pay for breakfast or lunch? Breakfast starts from �5 for dishes like home-made granola with local Greek-style yoghurt. For lunch there are soups, salads and hot dishes from �5 – plus a whole range of cakes and biscuits. What’s your top dish recommendation for March? The lamb and watercress bake using spring lamb is the ideal comfort food for those transitional months between winter and spring.

Do you serve alcoholic beverages? Yes, including cider from Norfolk Cider Company and beer from Iceni Brewery near Thetford Forest.Other than drink coffee, what else can you do at your caf�? There will be arts events and we will be operating a swap scheme for recyclables such as books and magazines. Where might someone go after a stop at your caf�? Nearby is Oxburgh Hall; Houghton Church, which is one of the oldest churches in the country; and Thetford Forest.

CoeCoes Cafe & Deli at Strattons, 2 Ash Close, Swaffham, PE37 7NH; 01760 723845; www.strattonshotel.com Open: 7.30am until 6pm (daily).