FOOD + DRINK
ICE ICE BABY
BY THE BEACH , IN TOWN , FOR DESSERT OR SIMPLY A SWEET TREAT – THERE ’ S ALWAYS A PLACE FOR ICE CREAM HERE IN KENT .
Although Kent is primarily known for its orchards of fruit and fields of vegetables , the county ’ s Garden of England status does not omit all creatures great and small . With plenty of luscious pastureland and marshy fields that lay in tranquillity by the sides of our rivers , Kent also makes the perfect home for the cows and sheep that graze these fields . When out walking in our beautiful countryside , whether it be the rolling hills of the High Weald or the flat land of the Romney Marshes , you are certain to hear the peaceful lowing of cows across a meadow or see them seeking shade under the trees . It is therefore no surprise that Kent is home to hundreds of dairy farms , many of which either make their own ice cream , or contribute to the plethora of ice cream parlours we have here in Kent .
It is said that ice cream in England officially dates all the way back to 1671 when what was essentially whipped frozen cream was served up to Charles II , with a bowl of strawberries at Windsor Castle ( who knows if these were
Kentish strawberries , but we like to think so !). In the hundreds of years preceding , ice cream had a slow evolution spurred on by the gelato-expert Italians who , coming from a high-unemployment level Italy after its unification , would jump on the boat towards what would hopefully be a more lucrative life in Britain . This is usually why most port and seaside towns have an Italian community ( and some of the best gelato ). Arguably , the golden-era of ice cream came along in the 1950s , met with celebration and great adoration by those who had been denied it during the times of the Second World War . Think colourful 1950 ’ s pin-ups which are so closely associated with gleaming , diner-esque ice cream parlours and magnificent ice cream sundaes with a cherry on top .
After all , there ’ s nothing quite as synonymous with a day at the English seaside than an ice cream , and with an array of seaside towns and over 50 different beaches , Kent has plenty to offer . Here are just some of insideKENT ’ s favourites :
Lulu ’ s Gelato , Margate @ lulusgelatomargate
Traditional Italian small-batch gelato made on the premises in Margate : ‘ Italian taste , Margate made .’ Using more milk than cream and containing less fat and less sugar , Lulu ’ s gelato is smoother , fresher and more naturally flavoursome than most ice cream . At Lulu ’ s , the family have sourced the highest quality ingredients from both local suppliers and quality suppliers in Italy . Using fresh Channel Islands milk which comes from Hinxden ’ s Dairy in Kent , the gelato is certain to have a rich and creamy taste . A sublime array of 18 flavours , including plant-based gelato and sorbets , are made fresh every day at this seaside gelateria .
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