insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 46

FOOD+DRINK PRODUCED IN kent KENT YOUNG CHEF AWARD 2014 THE FABULOUS KENT CHEESEBOARD Since 2006, Kent has enjoyed massive growth in locally produced cheese and now in 2015, has an outstanding cheeseboard that should be at top of your shopping list. Produced in Kent has five cheese producers amongst its members, that each produce a fantastic breadth of different flavours and styles of cheese to satisfy the most ardent cheese lovers amongst us. At the recent World Cheese Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, which is the most respected competition of its type worldwide, there were some 2,600 cheeses under one roof. Can you even imagine that there are so many different types available? The judges are experts in this field and, as you would expect, producers flocked from all corners of the world, making it a truly global competition. In fact, 25% of the entries were made up from cheesemakers in the UK, which considering the size of our island, puts us well and truly on the map in cheese terms. Yet again, our Kentish cheesemakers did extremely well, with four of them winning either gold or silver awards for their produce. The Kent Young Chef competition, which celebrated its 5th year in 2014, looks for children between the ages of 11-15 years who are keen to show a panel of judges just what they are made of in a live cook off. Taking place in autumn each year, the competition entrants are required to submit a recipe using seasonal Kent produce. From these entries, the judges select four candidates from each age group (juniors 11-12 years and seniors 13-15 years) to go forward to the live final. This year, the cook off was held at East Kent College, which has a national reputation for catering excellence and has many well-known chefs amongst its alumni. Look out for next year’s competition on the Kent Young Chef Facebook page (/KentYoungChef), and encourage young people you know to submit their entries. Check out this year’s finalist and winners' details at www.producedinkent.co.uk. More information on where to buy Kent cheeses can be found at www.producedinkent.co.uk. Our winning Kent cheesemakers are: Hall Place Dairy, Edenbridge The Cheesemakers of Canterbury, Canterbury Kingcott Cheese Limited, Staplehurst Winterdale Cheesemakers, Wrotham EARLY BIRD Come and dine with our early bird offer between 5pm-6.45pm - £2.00 discount. Applies Mon-Sat. Seats vacated by 6.45pm. BIRTHDAY BONANZA Complimentary meal and glass of wine/ cocktail for the birthday person. For groups of 10 and over. under 5 Please note the following time slots apply for Friday and Saturday HAPPY DAYS Monday & Tuesday evening, buy one meal, get 2nd on 1/2 price. 46 Evening: 5.00pm-7.00pm, 7.00pm-9.00pm, 9.00pm-11.00pm 2-hour time limit per booking. Please confirm all online reservations by telephone. *with one paying adult