Teles Patisserie has been going for a good few years now, I originally bumped in to them on the farmers market circuit with Joaquimmaking fine French patisseries and Portuguese delights with Ana his right-hand woman and wife by his side.
The couple are from Portugal and work endlessly on their passion to grow and develop their business.
A few years back they were offered the chance to open a café at Yare Valley Farm (producers of Norfolk cold pressed rapeseed oil) in Surrlingham.
Yare Valley farm is tucked away up the road from Winbirri Wines, just past Surlingham village, down a country track with cows to the left and endless fields to the right. Farm buildings and a car park await you at the end, with Yare Valley Farm shop local produce shop (honesty system). Sellers of their own oils, marinades and dressings, farm beef fresh and frozen, local eggs along with other goodies like Curralicious frozen curry’s.
Then next door is the café, with a rather large al fresco seating area along with an open fronted covered barn with the odd squishy chair to loll in. The cafes rustic with farm house charm, wooden tables and a large counter with all Teles fine French patisseries on display. Along with classic homemade croissants, homemade bread and Portuguese croquette style pastries. Everything is made in house.
The menus exciting and varied with British classics like toasties (£3.50-4.50), you’ll get soup (£5.50 with homemade bread), tapas, savoury pastries, Portuguese breakfast (£6.20) plus specials like ‘Rancho’ (£11) a hot Argentinian chicken roll, with fries and salad – it’s a whopper.
They invited me in to try the pastry as gifted, ahead of their cookery lessons – Of course I said!!! I tried the ‘Pastel De Leitao’ a Portuguese breaded triangle of delicate well flavoured pork. Then on to a crisp creamy ‘Pastel de Nata’, the ever-popular Portuguese egg custard tarts. A ‘Bola de Berlim’ (forgive me Ana, a Portuguese VIP donut) it’s a brioche style bread, gently deep fried, coated in sugar and then split with a filling of patisserie custard. A hot Bakewell tart came my way – crisp pastry, no soggy bottoms here!!! lashing of jammy-iness and moist almond sponge topped with a glazed plum and almond slivers. But I especially liked the ‘Rum Baba’, I’ve only ever made them at catering college so it’s a treat to find them. Made with a savarin dough, it’s a technical masterpiece which is then soaked in rum syrup and topped with cream & fresh fruits – Teles comes sprayed with gold. All incredibly yummy.
I nearly fell in to a sugar coma but someone’s got to do it.
You can pre-order A French style Afternoon tea for £20 pp, including a selection of their fresh roll sarnies, French croissants, a selection of mini French patisseries and of course a ‘Nata’ to finish or take home including house blend loose afternoon tea served in a large vintage pot, with top ups if needed.
If you fancy some private dining, a Portuguese feast or an event with French gateaux supplied – give them a call. You can even hire out the café in the evening for a feast with friends.
Teles Patisserie is part of the Proudly Norfolk umbrella they use next doors oil, local eggs, meat plus a local supplier for coffee and tea. Their specialist Portuguese produce comes from London on a weekly basis including proper tasty pork, chorizo, flour for the baking and some deli classics. So, you’re sure to get authentic flavours of the continent with French patisserie thrown in for good measure.
Joaquim has a passion to teach, he has three sons the oldest is a chef and the middle one is now training in patisserie with off course tips from his dad.
They open their doors to private hands on cookery classes on Wednesday afternoons from 3pm or on selected evenings.
Choose from –
Biscuits– 3 hours £60pp
Petit Fours– 3 hours £75pp
Choux Pastry’s– 4 hours £85pp or
A Puff Pastry Masterclass– 8 hours over 3 sessions for £160pp
Courses run from 1 – 4 people – for your own private group. (i.e – no drop ins)
Look out for the Christmas Fayre – Sunday 17thNovember
The Street Food happens on the 2ndSaturday of the Month – with 2 – 3 different vendors on the farm along with the café for cakes and refreshments.
Opening Hours –
Closed Monday
Open all Bank Holidays
Tue – Fri 9.30 – 4pm
Sat & Sun – 10 – 5pm
Contacts –
Telephone Joaquim or Ana:
Mobile: 07899 322 315 or 07745 181 345
Landline: 01508 538 892
E-mail: info@telespatisserie.co.uk
Café & Farm Shop – Surrlingham, Norfolk, NR14 7GD
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By Zena Leech-Calton
It’s all about the food