Foodie Fun at West Dean Gardens 2010
Festival season is upon us - these foodie extravaganzas sing to their own tune!
From now until October you can enjoy foodie fun at the stunning West Dean Gardens, celebrating some of the most humble ingredients, in anything but a humble manner!
Visit the Wholly Herbs event at West Dean Gardens, West Sussex on 22nd -23rd May. Celebrate the herb in its many forms at the stunning Gardens. Herbs are wholesome and hearty and at West Dean they are in abundance! From angelica to aniseed, lavender to lemon and sage to spearmint, the Wholly Herbs event celebrates the not-so-humble herbs in all their diversity, from horticultural to culinary and medicinal to tasty. Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to a number of interesting educational talks about herbs, including how they are used commercially, in garden design, throughout history, and in food. Sophie Grigson, president of the Herb Society and a regular face on TV, will be a guest speaker and will share her culinary expertise with writer and chef Rosemary Moon, a regular visitor to West Dean's shows in recent years. In addition there will be demonstrations on using herbs for dyeing, guided tours with trained herbalists, tantalising recipe demonstrations, and the sale of delicious fresh food made with herbs such as jams, jellies, sauces, cakes and sausages!
Get ready for some chilli and "cha cha cha" in Chichester on 6th - 8th August as the stunning West Dean Gardens host their annual Chilli Fiesta. The cult event, now in its 14th year, brings visitors from across the UK to see over 200 home-grown chillies and sweet peppers in a kaleidoscope of colour displayed in the restored Victorian glasshouse. The atmosphere is that of a carnival, with live Latin rhythms and salsa dancing and lessons, along with chilli growing and cooking demonstrations. There will also be exhibitors offering chilli paraphernalia to spice up the senses, including more unusual products such as chilli ice cream, chilli chocolate and even chilli fruit juices. Global cuisines from Thailand, India, Caribbean, Singapore and Mexico will be represented and local beers and ciders will be available to cool the palate.
Get set for this year's gastronomic weekender for the ubiquitous tomato in September at the stunning West Dean Gardens, with their annual Totally Tomato event on 4th - 5th September. Over 150 colourful varieties grown in West Dean's own walled garden and Victorian glasshouses will be on display including Brandywine, Lemon Tree and the Dark Purple Calabash. Alongside this spectrum of home-grown tomatoes visitors can enjoy growing demonstrations, get cookery advice and browse dozens of associated stallholders selling an array of produce such as sauces and sausages, relishes and preserves, cheeses and olives, wines and breads.
The Apple Affair on 2nd - 3rd October promises rosy apples, autumn colour and local cider during a mellow autumn day. Tastings, games and creative workshops make this a great weekend for the whole family and the event will also celebrate the annual opening of West Dean House.
For more details please telephone 01243 811301 or visit www.westdean.org.uk
