insideKENT Magazine Issue 81 - December 2018 | Page 60

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on CANTERBURY cont.
Canterbury Cathedral
Dane John Gardens
The Dog At Wingham
The Dog At Wingham is a gorgeous, traditional
country pub with rooms just outside
Canterbury. The food produced at The Dog is
exceptional – head chef Dan Johns sources
his ingredients from the local area wherever
possible, and he enjoys putting a new twist
on old favourites including smoked
applewood wonton in a roasted onion broth
with pearl barley and trompettes, roasted
pheasant with pithivier, fondant potato, wilted
chard and carrot purée and quince soufflé
with mulled red wine sorbet.
Saint Smokey’s BBQ House
Inspired by four generations of traditional
family recipes and Caribbean cuisine, this
father and son run restaurant stays true to its
roots, offering guests the chance to try
something a little different. Those different
things include chicken wraps, wings and
whole chickens all with a range of stunning
barbecue sauces.
The Ambrette
The Ambrette opened in 2014 to high acclaim,
and it has never disappointed. Chef Dev Biswal
has created a menu that is light and delicious,
and combines Indian and British cuisine in
surprising and innovative ways. When visiting
you can choose from dishes such as dosai
with gently spiced potatoes, mustard and
onions; Ambrette-style chicken thigh with
lemongrass, stir fried greens and fenugreek
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paprika potatoes; and beef ribeye for two with
fenugreek paprika potatoes, stir fried greens,
biryani rice and saffron velouté sauce.
Café des Amis
Canterbury’s first and original Mexican
restaurant (and apparently Orlando Bloom’s
favourite), Café des Amis is a mixture of
Mexican and Mediterranean food, bringing
stunning, fresh flavours to your table. Try the
duck picadillo tacos, the citrus and coriander
lamb stew, or the many different varieties of
burritos.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Canterbury Food & Drink Festival // Sep
Taking place in Dane John Gardens, the
Canterbury Food and Drink Festival gives
visitors the opportunity to sample cuisine from
all around the world. Not only that, but there
is always plenty of local produce to try too –
some of which might just surprise you.
The Canterbury Festival // Oct-Nov
In 2017, the Canterbury Festival attracted over
65,000 visitors, and 2018’s looks as though it
was even bigger. This international arts festival
inspires people to showcase their work and
perform, and it provides a platform to those
who may otherwise not have been able to
make their work public. Held over three weeks
each autumn, there are over 200 free ticketed
events to enjoy.
Whitefriars Christmas Market // Nov-Dec
Every year this traditional Christmas market
full of beautifully decorated chalets selling
gorgeous gifts gets bigger and better. Join in
with the fun and experience a true Christmas
atmosphere as you also find some unique
presents.
TOP SPOT
It is impossible to visit Canterbury without
also stepping inside the phenomenal
Canterbury Cathedral. Forming part of a
World Heritage site, this is one of the oldest
Christian structures in England – it dates back
to 1077. When visiting the cathedral it is
possible to sit in on services, or to explore the
building itself. This can be done with a useful
audio guide if required.
DID YOU KNOW?
One of the most famous pieces of writing
about Canterbury has to be The Canterbury
Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It has inspired
countless pilgrims to travel to the city since it
was written in 1392. However, there is no
evidence that Chaucer ever actually visited
Canterbury himself.