food calendar & policy - september 2010
It was the Victorian Novelist George Eliot who said that if he were a bird (which, of course, he was) he'd fly around the world, chasing delicious Autumn. If that bird were to land in West Sussex on a damp November morning, it would be very pleased with the delicious produce that we'd have to offer.
Grouse can be added to the usual list of meats that are on offer in November, as to can Goose. Though under-used in our kitchens today and now very much a farmed bird, goose is still a seasonal meat. The season begins in late September when, though small, the birds are made ready for the traditional Michaelmas Day feast on the 29th but, by November and in the time leading up to Christmas, the geese are getting plump and ready to be enjoyed at their best. The goose has a thick layer of fat which melts away during roasting and leaves, behind it, a beautifuly tender and gamey meat. The fat itself can be easily stored and used to make the crumbliest, tastiest roast potatoes you will ever eat.
Nature also supplies us with some of the loveliest accompaniments to goose at this time of year. Swede, cabbage, potatoes, teal, pumpkins, pears, leeks and quinces are all to be found in a November harvest...as too will chestnuts, cranberries and beetroot. Chestnuts immediately conjure up cozy and warming thoughts of the sweet treat being roasted over an open fire, but the nut can also be used for a delicious, crunchy stuffing, or simply boiled, peeled and eaten with other seasonal vegetables. Cranberries, made into a sauce, have also become another favourite accompaniment to goose and all types of poultry. The tart little fruit can now be found in abbundance in North America, where they were a staple long before the Pilgrim Fathers arrived and introduced them to Europe.
It is the humble beetroot, however, that shines out as the seasonal star of November. Often ignored for its use as a fresh vegetable and relegated to the pickling jar, beetroot has more than just it's wonderful, earthy flavour and vibrant colour going for it. The ancient Greeks were very aware of its healing powers and the suggestive murals preserved on the walls of Pompeii show that the Romans knew the aphrodisiacal qualities of beetroot long before modern nutritionists discovered high quantities of boron present in the root. It is widely recognised that this mineral improves the immune system.34 and influences the production of sexual hormones, which means that by giving this vegetable a go, you may find the earthy, vibrant experience extending itself way beyond the dining room!!!
All of the foods listed below are produced and available to purchase in this area. if you haven't tried any of them before, have a go now. Not to try is not to know! And remember, for the protection of our rural traditions, local economy, the environment and, if nothing else, taste alone, try to buy from local suppliers, butchers, farm shops and farmers' markets. Details of market dates and other artisan suppliers can be found on the 'Taste Of Sussex' web site, which can be accessed via our links page.
vegetables
herbs
fruit
meat & fish
As part of our commitment to the use of fresh & local food, we will look to use these ingredients in our dishes this month.
'food policy'
We are contributors to the 'Soil Association' charity, which campaigns for and monitors the supply of organic food and farming as well as The 'Fairtrade Foundation', which campaigns for and monitors the supply of fairly trade goods from the Developing World.
As such, we undertake to reinforce the integrity and trust in the production and supply of these foods and do, therefore, operate an 'open book' policy. You are welcome to examine our records to ensure our food is provided by properly certified suppliers. The suppliers page of this website gives details of our current suppliers and as part of our commitment, we will regularly update the section below to tell you which of our ingredients are currently supplied to us with Soil Association Or Fairtrade certification.
certified 'organic' products
Of our ingredients, the following have been supplied to us with
'Soil Association' certification.
certified 'Fairtrade' products
Of our ingredients, the following have been supplied to us with
'Fairtrade' certification.
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