FOOD + DRINK
CHRISTMAS TREATS & ALTERNATIVE EATS
HAVING BEEN A TIME OF FEASTING FOR CENTURIES , CHRISTMAS IN KENT PROMISES A SPECTACULAR ARRAY OF FOODIE BLISS . FROM THE EXCITING AND UNIQUE TO THE TRADITIONAL AND COMFORTING , THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO TEMPT YOUR TASTE BUDS AND SATISFY YOUR FOODIE IMAGINATION THIS SEASON .
SALOMONS ESTATE
Long before Dickens penned the famous words spoken by Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol : “ God bless us every one !” to bless the Christmas feast laid out before him , for millennia food had been celebrated most at Christmastime . English Heritage tells us that Christmas feasting in the UK began around 4,000 years ago when our ancient ancestors gathered together to take part in midwinter feasts . By the 14th century , Christmas had become a time of feasting and celebration for medieval monks and nuns , with monks at wealthy monasteries consuming up to 7,000 calories a day and drinking gallons of wine . Then came terrific Tudor banquets which had lots of rich meats and saw the arrival of turkeys to British shores , as well as the creation of mince pies and fruitcake .
The Christmas feast and foodie traditions we love so much today are more closely derived from the indulgent Georgians and Victorians . Luxury-loving Georgians held lavish dinners , at which they ate huge quantities of food and drank sophisticated festive drinks , such as mulled wine . These trends didn ’ t change much for the Victorians , with most families having roast goose for their Christmas dinner . By the 1930s , Christmas dinner had taken the familiar form of a starter , main course and dessert , with Christmas pudding being the most popular choice - a fashion started by the Royal Family . This time also welcomed a trend for cocktails , with festive favourites including Champagne punch and eggnog .
The 21st century has added its very own unique twist to Christmas feasting and now a plethora of yuletide food and drinks experiences can be indulged in away from home . These experiences go far beyond the traditional sit-down turkey dinners , and , being a celebrated foodie hotspot as well as the acclaimed Garden of England , Kent is home to a spectacular array . From festive afternoon teas to extravagant seasonal menus that celebrate the best of Kentish produce , Christmas in Kent is set to be a foodie ’ s heaven this season .
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