Food and Drink – serie

With its gentle climate, rich soils and bountiful coastal waters, Kent is a land of plenty when it comes to food and drink. The abundant produce of Kent’s farms, orchards, hop gardens and fishing ports has been sustaining the nation for generations; not for nothing did Henry VIII dub this county the ‘Garden of England’. Kentish cooks can trace their culinary heritage back to the Roman occupation and today’s producers are building upon centuries of gastronomic tradition as they honour ancient customs and introduce new ideas. From baked Kentish huffkins to sweet gypsy tarts, from Romney Marsh lamb to Whitstable Bay oysters and from real ales brewed by Britain’s oldest brewery to fine wines made by adventurous new vintners, there is far more to Kentish comestibles than just apples, cherries and hops.In this book, local author Naomi Dickins discovers some of the county’s appetising delights and explores some of the customs and traditions associated with Kentish fare. Illustrated throughout, Apples, Cherries, Hops: Kent’s Food and Drink will appeal to all those with an interest in the county’s history and its culinary heritage.

Derbyshire has long been known for its food. Writers from the seventeenth century onwards have extolled the virtues of its fine produce. Created in the nineteenth century, Bakewell Pudding is today perhaps the food most associated with the county but there is much more to be discovered in the food and drink heritage of Derbyshire. In the Peak District, little else could be cultivated other than oats. For centuries the locals lived on oatcakes and other oat-based goodies, such as lumpy tums and thar cake. Further south, the fertile pastures were suitable for dairy cattle. Cheese-making developed into an industry here with Derbyshire cheese being sold throughout the country, including Sage Derby and later Stilton (it is one of only three counties where it can be made). In the seventeenth century, the towns of Derby and Chesterfield gained a reputation for brewing and today Derbyshire has one of the highest concentrations of breweries in the country.In this book food historian Mark Dawson looks at the regional fare and dishes that have characterised Derbyshire over the years, picking out the many interesting stories that contribute to this county’s food and drink narrative. Alongside its traditional festivals and products, the county boasts diverse food and drink markets and producers. Lumpy Tums: Derbyshire’s Food and Drink will appeal to all those who are interested in the history of Derbyshire and its food and drink heritage.

Gloucestershire is a large county, rich in food and drink heritage. Famous for Double Gloucester cheese and the cheese rolling event, Old Spot pigs, cider and the birthplace of prominent tea merchant Thomas Twining, Gloucestershire’s culinary history is both colourful and diverse. Nutcrack Sunday and Puppy Dog Pie (don’t worry, it hasn’t always been made from cute canines), ancient markets and progressive agriculturists represent just a few of the many interesting stories that contribute to this county’s food and drink narrative.In this book Emma Kay looks at the regional fare and dishes that have characterised Gloucestershire over the years, as well as its food and drink markets and famous producers and cooks. Stinking Bishops and Spotty Pigs: Gloucestershire’s Food and Drink will appeal to all those who are interested in the history of Gloucestershire and its food and drink heritage.

Its farming and fishing industries yield an impressive harvest of ingredients, so it is no surprise to discover that Sussex also boasts a rich culinary heritage. At one point in the past it was said that ‘to venture into the county was to risk being turned into a pudding yourself’. Local cookery books were filled with recipes for dense dishes including Chichester Pudding, Sussex Blanket Pudding, and the intriguingly named Sussex Pond Pudding, which contains a whole lemon and was featured on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off. Today, though, the county’s menus feature a much wider array of local dishes to satisfy even the most demanding palate and local produce matters much to Sussex folk, as well as being a reason the county attracts so many visitors.In Pond Puddings and Sussex Smokies local author Kevin Newman explores these changes through an investigation of the county’s culinary history and specialities, together with its famous food and drink producers, markets and food-themed events. Starting with an exploration of interesting and unusual Sussex dishes and drinks, as well as the people behind them, Newman visits wonderful watering holes and incredible eating places from across the centuries such as ‘Pacy’s Blood Hole’ and a hotel where Christmas puddings meet an unusual fate. The author focuses on the county’s past and present food-themed customs and traditions, offers foodie and drinking locations to visit and investigates the quirky stories behind many locally brewed beers. He explains how ‘Dirty Arthur’ became dirty, how a prince provided school dinners, how a local member of the clergy ended up as a Fijian feast and why ‘Black-Eyed Susan’ hasn’t been in a fight. We learn how it’s impossible to eat a ‘dish of tongues’ but how you could chomp on ‘the Devil’s children’ in the past.Sussex residents and visitors alike will discover the true flavour of Sussex in this book, and as you tuck into this fascinating and delicious study of its culinary heritage across the ages, just like the county’s famous Pond Pudding, there will definitely be a something you might not have expected inside.