insideKENT Magazine Issue 67 - October 2017 | Page 54

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on CRANBROOK cont.
© Mike Bartlett
DINING OUT
Apicius
The menu at Apicius changes on a regular
basis since the chef is keen to use only the
best seasonal produce – sourced locally
wherever possible. It is always wise to book a
table here as space is limited and those in the
know will most certainly get there before you
if you choose to pop in on the off chance of
being seated. Examples of the food here
include fillets of John Dory with baby spinach,
girolles, confit tomatoes and rouille; autumn
truffle risoni with Madeira sauce, Parmesan
and crème fraiche; and warm Braeburn apple
sponge with blackberry sorbet, calvados cream
and cider jelly.
The Woodcock Inn
When it comes to welcoming and traditional
Wealden pubs, it doesn’t get much more
welcoming or traditional than the Woodcock
Inn. First opened in the 17th century, the pub
has been trading ever since, and thanks to the
considered and delicious menu, it’s more
popular than ever. What can you order here
to keep your hunger at bay? Try the Bury black
pudding cake with poached egg and
hollandaise sauce, the oven-roasted half
chicken marinated in garlic, lemon and thyme
and served with fries and aioli, or the pork
belly with mashed potato, black pudding, apple
ketchup, fine beans and scallops.
Food For Thought
This gorgeous little café offers a wide range
of tasty treats made using quality seasonal
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ingredients. They have a fantastic reputation
for finding the best locally sourced ingredients
and for using those to make some of the most
mouthwatering cakes and desserts around –
organic and Fairtrade, their pastries and puds
are divine. In the unlikely event that there is
nothing on the menu that appeals, just ask
and the staff will happily whip you up
something bespoke.
The George Hotel
This building dates back to the 14th century
and the winding passageways and wood
panelling certainly have a very authentic feel.
The food served at The George Hotel, however,
is anything but dated – it is modern and
memorable, complementing the surroundings
perfectly. The menu includes dishes such as
venison tartare – spiced venison with fresh
herbs and topped with a confit egg yolk;
mussels in a chilli tomato sauce with
caramelised onion loaf, beetroot and truffle
risotto; and Kentish fillet steak with pomme
puree, roasted baby vegetables and three
peppercorn sauce.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Cranbrook Apple Fair // Oct
This year is the Apple Fair’s 11th anniversary
and this quirky, absolutely Kentish event will
be as fun as always. The theme this year is
‘cowboys and aliens’ and at the fair there will
be food stalls, cider tasting, live music, a flight
simulator, an egg-and-spoon race and a fancy
dress competition. Come and celebrate the
county’s fruit!
Cranbrook Literature Festival // Sep
Held every two years, the Cranbrook Literature
Festival is packed full of literary readings, book
signings, talks and booksellers. This year, to
fill the gap where the festival would have been,
there was the Cranbrook Big Book Swap in
July, where over 50 people attended at The
George Hotel.
TOP SPOT
Cranbrook’s High Street is as Kentish as Kent
can be with a big dash of Wealden architecture
thrown in. There are 60 different shops to
browse, as well as plenty of places to eat and
drink.
DID YOU KNOW?
Writer, Daniel Defoe, chose Cranbrook to hide
in when King George I grew displeased with
him. He secretly lived in a cottage on the
outskirts of the town and it’s here that he is
said to have written Robinson Crusoe, claimed
as the first novel written in English.