Norfolk Riddle, The

Where I say 'British' I was almost tempted to use instead 'English', but stopped to wonder if I was becoming jingoistic. Then I decided that I was really only thinking of a part of the world which is heaven on earth to me, and where I am delighted that a new initiative is making real inroads into the much vaunted local products line, that sometimes may not always be quite as local as you might be given to understand.

The whole is a combination of something delightfully old fitting in so well with a new concept that echoes the way things had to be done centuries ago.

Little Walsingham, a place of pilgrimage since the 11th century, following alleged sightings of the Virgin Mary, the old established Walsingham estate with farming tenants hit hard by all the things that seem to have hit the farming community in recent decades, all looking for a solution.

Well, part of that solution is the Norfolk Riddle, a restaurant run by the Walsingham Farms Shop Partnership, which also operates the fish and chip shop by the entrance. The décor is simple and warm, service delightful; all adding strength to Gordon Ramsay's recent dictum that all you need to run a successful restaurant is high- quality ingredients and simple dishes.

Expect to find a menu with field mushroom frittata, smoked prawns with garlic mayonnaise and pressed ham hock terrine amongst the starters. Chargrilled chicken breast with melted ricotta cheese and herbs, local crab salad and beef stroganoff with wild rice beckon from the mains, whilst Bakewell tart, chocolate cheesecake or ice cream sundae offer a concluding temptation.

Prices are not of this world, and this includes the wine with nothing over £10 - and I do mean a bottle. And it's good drinking stuff.

Mark Palmer, who reviews for the Daily Telegraph, said recently of The Norfolk Riddle, "This is the sort of restaurant that restores your faith - in everything".