FOOD + DRINK
AWARD-WINNING LICENSEES TAKE OVER HISTORIC VILLAGE INN
NEW HEVER CASTLE GIN
With Silent Pool ’ s gin proving a bestseller with visitors to the Hever shop and a hit with guests at the Hever Castle Bed & Breakfast , it seemed like the perfect opportunity to create a unique Hever blend to sell exclusively on the estate .
Pioneered by head of retail Ashley Collins , the team sampled four options before choosing the inspired final blend ; “ We selected an English garden flavour ; a light , floral gin , reminiscent of the great British countryside . It fits very well with Hever Castle .” explains Ashley of the new gin which contains local lavender , rose and chamomile flowers combined with a rich bergamot orange .
And that ’ s not the only connection to the garden , as the label for the gin bottle , designed by Caz Pagden , Hever Castle ’ s creativity and design coordinator , was inspired by Hever in Bloom ( 21 - 25 June ), taking over eight hours to create , with each flower hand drawn .
The gin is on sale in the shop now with a 50cl bottle costing £ 32 and will be available on the online shop soon . Guests staying at the Castle bed and breakfast will have a chance to buy the gin from the bar and golfers and visitors will also be able to sample it at The Waterside Bar , Restaurant & Terrace at Hever Castle Golf & Wellbeing .
There are also plans for a winter gin release , with Ashley planning a spiced pepper flavour blend in time for Christmas !
Award-winning licensees Joe and Jane Mullane are the new faces behind the bar at the New Flying Horse in Wye , near Ashford .
The couple have moved to the historic village inn from the Four Fathoms in Herne Bay which they took over at the start of 2018 , proudly transforming the town centre pub into one of Kent ’ s most talked-about dining locations , thanks to a quirky new look and an innovative menu that featured deconstructed pub classics .
“ As soon as we saw the New Flying Horse we fell in love with the place . The pub has got incredible gardens and is set in a fantastic location . It ticked all the boxes for us and has the potential to become the greatest pub in Kent .” Said Joe . “ The menu will be very simple but at the same time spectacular . We have a fabulous larder all around us here in Wye . The produce available locally is just fantastic and we ’ d be fools not to use it . Everything is on our doorstep . It ’ s like a chef ’ s dream .”
Dairy produce comes from a local farm while pork and lamb is sourced within a mile of the pub . Joe and Jane have also teamed up with The Wooden Spoon Preserving Company , who are also based in Wye . The result is a bespoke piccalilli with Whitstable Bay Black Stout as one of its key ingredients .
“ The New Flying Horse is a village pub ,” says Jane , “ so our first priority is to cater for the people of Wye , while also working to ensure that it is a popular destination for customers from across Kent and farther afield . After such a challenging year , we are really enjoying this exciting new opportunity .”
THE RESCUE RANGE – A FIGHT AGAINST FOOD WASTE
Determined to find a solution for excess stock which was still perfectly usable , Curd & Cure , the wholesaler which works with both retail and food service , has found an answer with its new The Rescue Range .
With an aim of reducing food waste and creating a more sustainable food system being at the heart of their business this year , Curd & Cure have partnered with two local food businesses , Provenance Potatoes and the Speedy Kitchen to create the first in a range of soups made with products nearing the end of their shelf life and destined for waste .
The new Broccoli & Stilton soup – which utilises excess Stilton , whole broccoli , including the stems and leaves , and Kentish potatoes from a surplus of potatoes rejected due to their appearance including size and imperfections and usually sent for animal feed – is one part of the wholesaler ’ s sustainability drive , which is being led by sustainability intern , Ruby Harlow , who joined the business earlier this year . With a passion for the environment and affecting small changes , Ruby has also launched the business on ‘ Too Good to Go ’, an app which connects consumers with food bundles known as ‘ Magic Bags ’ containing food with a short shelf life .
The Rescue Range Stilton & Broccoli Soup is available for nationwide delivery and may be ordered direct from Curd & Cure , alongside their full range of ambient and chilled products . For more information please visit www . curdandcure . co . uk .
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