Jill
FOOD + DRINK
Garden of Tasteland cont...
iK’ S TOP UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES
Not just all about out-of-the-box flavours, but imaginative backdrops, service with a twist and fresh concepts, these inventive foodie hotspots shine for surroundings that make a meal truly distinctive.
Oad Street Food & Crafts, Borden, oadstreetfoodandcrafts. com
A stylish spot to dine and celebrate, Oad Street has become a Kentish go-to for an Instagrammable brunch, afternoon tea or lunch bite within its modern restaurant. For group gatherings or special occasions however, Oad’ s picturesque courtyard pods offer a delightful setting to sip and savour. Complete with chilled tunes, welcome tipples, beautiful floral decor, a cooling system for warm days and the choice of either a sharing brunch or afternoon board- each filled with freshly baked sweets and savouries.
Shesells Seashells, Folkestone, shesells-seashells. co. uk
Situated on platform three of Folkestone Harbour Arm and housed within vintage-style renovated train carriages overlooking the shore, Shesells Seashells is known and loved for its quirky take on quayside dining and sourcing the freshest treasures from the sea. Expect excellent moules and lobster handpicked from the Folkestone Trawlers, as well as top-quality local steaks and Chapel Down wines.
Palette Pizza, Tunbridge Wells, palettepizzaandart. co. uk
A family-run pizzeria and neighbourhood art gallery championing great food, warm welcomes and heaps of artistic expression alongside an ever-changing roster of community exhibitions, pizza and paint along evenings and opportunities for children to unleash their creativity. Palette’ s menus are authentically brilliant, including inventive pizza specials named after famed artists, fresh breads, fried small bites and dressed salads.
Nibbles Railway Cafe, Newenden, nibblesrailwaycafe. co. uk
Nestled in the village of Newenden, this charming café is perfect for those with little ones in tow. Whether for a hearty breakfast, light lunch or quintessential afternoon tea, Nibbles promises the ultimate family dining experience as your chosen eats are delivered to your table by a beautifully restored vintage model railway.
The Goods Shed, Canterbury, thegoodsshed. co. uk
A vivid celebration of Kentish splendour, with a food hall, farmers’ market and restaurant all rolled into one utterly delicious package, The Goods Shed has long been at the forefront of local fare. Browse an array of produce and fine foods from the many independent suppliers before stopping off at the restaurant for seasonal dishes brimming with quality ingredients- the perfect viewpoint for admiring the bustling market activity below.
The Bus Café, Margate, thebuscafe. co. uk
Built upon a simple vision to cook fresh, healthy and delicious food for the people of Margate and beyond, The Bus Café serves up a host of tasty treats using top-quality produce from a wealth of local suppliers- all from Rosie, a 1980 Bristol VR double-decker bus that’ s been lovingly converted for pure foodie enjoyment.
SPRING BITES: KENT’ S QUIRKIEST FLAVOURS
I
love April. Spring flowers blossom, longer days, lighter evenings and that sense that the world is awake again. But, if I’ m honest, the real reason April holds a special place in my heart is that it’ s my birthday month. And as a true Taurean, it has to be all about food!
That makes April the perfect time to explore some of Kent’ s more interesting and unexpected flavours. With sunshine on the cards( or at least promised), our county offers plenty of delicious reasons to get out and about.
Sunny days call for ice cream, head to Whitstable and seek out the brilliantly named Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium. Aptly described as Willy Wonka meets ice cream, this is no ordinary scoop shop. Expect flavours that surprise and delight in equal measure. Sourdough and marmalade ice cream somehow works beautifully- I’ m certain Paddington Bear would approve- while beetroot, raspberry and wasabi sorbet is an adventure for the taste buds. For something truly indulgent, the award-winning blueberry and lavender meringue swirl is nothing short of heavenly.
Speaking of lavender, make time to pop along to the farm shop at Castle Farm in Shoreham. Their lavender-infused goodies range from calming sleepy teas and delicate lavender shortbread to chocolates and beautifully fragrant honey – perfect for gifts, or for treating yourself.
If your tastes lean more savoury, seek out the addictive Benenden Sauce from Harringtons. It’ s incredibly versatile: use it as a marinade, salad dressing or dipping sauce- or drizzle it on just about anything. Fair warning though, it has a habit of‘ evaporating’ quickly; at least, it does in our house.
For a more traditional Kent flavour with a twist, look out for Kent cobnuts from Potash Farm near Sevenoaks. They’ ve incorporated cobnuts into everything from fudge and mustard to chilli sauce and marmalade, proving that tradition and innovation can create new tastes of Kent. So, this April, why not try something unexpected?
Jill
JILL SARGENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER producedinkent. co. uk producedinkent
www. insidekent. co. uk • 95