THE ART OF
FOOD + DRINK
FOOD
NEVER BEFORE IN CULINARY HISTORY HAS THE AESTHETIC REPRESENTATION OF FOOD BEEN MORE IMPORTANT . HAND IN HAND WITH THIS IDEA COMES SOCIETY ’ S RELENTLESS THIRST FOR EVEN GREATER SENSORY OVERLOAD THROUGH FLAMBOYANT FOODIE EXPERIENCES - AND KENT HAS DELIVERED , TURNING FOOD INTO ITS VERY OWN ART FORM .
CURIOUS EATERY
With Instagram and the sharing of images and experiences spiralling into infinity , the visual side of eating has become just as crucial as the taste . Today , the biggest factor to propel eateries , bakeries and restaurants out of the unknown and into the ‘ must try ’ or ‘ much loved favourite ’ categories is no longer just through word of mouth or a glittering review in a newspaper or magazine . Since the rise of social media in the late 2000s , it has become pivotal for any aspiring chef , baker or food business to secure images and videos of their products and send them out into the stratosphere in order to beckon new customers through visual captivation . But what lies at the heart of this food-image-customer magnetism process , is the fact that the food must look enticing and exquisite to begin with .
Food is notoriously difficult to capture on camera ; we ’ ve all heard of the tricks of the trade that go on behind the scenes of big corporate food advertisement campaigns - from shaving foam to engine oil - it takes a lot for food to look appropriately tantalising through the screen . But what of smaller , local food outlets ? We have a myriad of outstanding eateries , bakeries and more in Kent that are famous for providing not just sensational food that is tempting to look at , but also deliver on every other sensual scale . From beautifully presented main dishes , sorcerer-style cocktails and extravagant cakes to elegant desserts , artisan cheeses and everything in between , the chefs , bakers and mixologists of Kent have created a true artform out of food and drink .
Cooking and baking is without argument an art form of its own . An artist ’ s creativity is challenged even further with food through the need to please every single sense a human is in possession of . Today , the pressure for food creatives to ( increasingly rapidly ) create ‘ better ’ products and experiences is stronger than ever . Each day we see new and utterly original takes on food burst into the culinary world , from Heston ’ s extraordinary concepts all the way to Marco Pierre White championing veganism with his new Redefine Meat 3D-printed plant-based steak .
It comes as no surprise that Kent , with its burgeoning foodie scene , Garden of England produce and prime coastal position for superior seafood , alongside its inspirational landscapes and aesthetic views , has become the ultimate melting pot of creative food and drinks venues as well as the go-to location for both seasoned and brand new chefs to situate their businesses .
To celebrate the art of food in this produce-orientated county , we have rounded up some of Kent ’ s most flamboyant , creative and artistic food and drinks outlets .
101