insideKENT Magazine Issue 45 - December 2015 | Page 90

FOOD+DRINK
#lovelocal this Christmas cont.
eaten at Christmas, and they date back far further
than turkey or potatoes; they’ve been around for
400 years (coming, as the name suggests, from
Belgium). They were initially used at Christmas
because of their hardy nature, meaning they were
easy to grow in the winter months.
Mince pies are wonderful things. Crumbly, fruity,
sweet, and filled with spices, this is the ultimate
Christmas treat. The name is confusing though,
or at least it is today, conjuring up images of
savoury minced meat mixed with sweet pastry
for the uninitiated. However, that is exactly what
they once were! The recipe was brought back
from the Middle East by the Crusaders, and it
was ideal for those who couldn’t afford to stop
work during the festivities, as it was an all-in-one
meal on the go. Olive Cromwell despised the
little pies, saying they were too decadent for his
Puritans, so he banned them, making it illegal to
eat them on Christmas Day. Amusingly, this law
has never actually been abolished!
As for our own Christmas dinners, we all have
our special family traditions and our own ways
of doing things that are passed down from
generation to generation. Everyone thinks their
roasties are the best, their way of serving the
turkey is the only way, and their little quirks when
it comes to pudding is the ultimate in Christmas
cuisine. That’s what makes Christmas. But one
tradition that we should all get behind is shopping
locally for our Christmas produce. After all, this
is the most important meal of the year, so you
want to ensure it is absolutely perfect.

The supermarket is not the only place you can
go to find your turkey and all the trimmings. In
fact, we suggest shopping around and looking
at your local butcher, baker, grocer, and farm
shop – you can often order in advance and pick
everything up just before the big day, saving you
time queuing in a supermarket, and giving you
the freshest food possible. You won’t find yourself
running out of time and fightin g over the last bag
of sprouts if you do it this way.
Not only that, but if you can’t make it to the
supermarket, local shops are often able to bring
your shopping direct to you (although do make
sure this service is available first). Ask and see
what they say; you might find that you can have
your entire Christmas dinner delivered this way,
which means all you have to do is cook it!
Another bonus of using locally produced food
and drink is that you can talk to the farmers and
producers and find out exactly how the food is
grown, how the meat is reared, and the processes
used to make the lovely bottle of sparkling English
wine. Find out the story behind your Christmas
food, and you can pass that information on to
your guests.
We all know that Christmas can be expensive,
and the general consensus seems to be that
buying locally only adds to that cost, but that’s
not necessarily the case. Since local butchers
and grocers deal directly with the farmers, the
prices can actually be lower, and you get more
for your cash.

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WHERE TO BUY
In Kent we are lucky to have a plethora of farm
shops, butchers, and producers all across the
county where you can purchase your
Christmas goodies locally. Here are a few
examples, but there are plenty more out there!
Broadditch Farm Shop, Southfleet
www.broadditch.co.uk
There is so much produce in Broadditch Farm
Shop, and it comes from the local area (including
Glover’s Farm, Harvel Farm, Southfleet Honey,
and The Granary). You could buy your entire
Christmas dinner here, and since the shop is
located right on the farm itself, you know the
vegetables are as local, and seasonal, as it gets.
Holwood Farm, Orpington
www.holwoodfarm.co.uk
Specialising in gluten-free foods, and stocking
over 20 local cheeses, Holwood Farm near
Downe is a true foodie’s delight. There are treats
galore here, as well as the traditional fruit and
veg (and cakes, and birds, and stuffing, and
much more).
Pluckley Farm Shop, Pluckley
www.pluckleyfarmshop.co.uk
If you want something really special, try Pluckley.
Here you can buy gorgeous gift hampers filled
with sumptuous local produce (such as farmhouse
fruitcake, Pluckley tea bags, and homemade
whiskey marmalade), as well as your entire
Christmas meal so you can get all your Christmas
shopping done in one go.