For centuries Kent has been known as the Garden of England. This county has some of the very best grazing lands and coastline of any county. You will find some great food and drinks from local suppliers.
Lamb’s Tail Pie - is pie was a special treat for the farmers who would send most of their meat to market. After the lambs’ tails were docked, they would be simmered and baked into a pie. Although the use of tails in a pie has largely died out, lamb is still a local favourite.
Hops - have been grown in Kent since they were first introduced from the continent in the 1500s. Kent has an abundant supply of small local breweries who take advantage of this crop. Producing some of the finest beers around. In the first half of the 20th century, poor families from London’s East End would flock to Kent for a working holiday, escaping the city smog to pick hops.
Appledore Chicken Pie - is pie that bears the village’s name of Appledore brings together chicken and hard-boiled egg in a creamy herbed bacon sauce.
Gypsy Tart - is a very sweet dessert originated in East Kent and consists of just evaporated or condensed milk and brown sugar, baked in a pastry shell.
Canterbury Apple Pie - this modern Canterbury apple pie is most likely an adaptation of those early recipes. It is an open-faced tart, made with both dessert and cooking varieties of the fruit, grown in orchards throughout the county. If you want to follow the medieval versions, add saffron for a rich golden colour.
Dover Sole - is a flat fish found just of the coast, Dover sole can be found in large numbers in this area and so popular on many a dinner plate. Dover sole is often served grilled or fried with a lemon garnish.
Oysters – some of the very best can be found in the seaside town of Whitstable. Locals can trace their fishing industry back to around 1440; today you can buy locally grown oysters from the local suppliers for a lot less than you would think. Whitstable has its own annual Oyster Festival, where you can sample local produce.
Huffkins - every region in the United Kingdom has its own variation on the bread roll. In Kent, it is the huffkin, notable for the small indentation in the middle, made by the baker’s thumb. Legend says that a baker’s wife was furious with her husband one day and stuck her thumb in every one of his bread rolls before baking. She then challenged him to sell the spoiled goods. He did and people wanted more. Enjoy the huffkin on its own, or fill the indentation with a fresh local cherry, a spoonful of jam, or a dollop of whipped cream. You often also find them filled with bacon as a lunchtime snack.