We pride ourselves on working with some of the best artisan producers both from the UK and internationally, but being based in Kent, the Garden of England, we’re lucky to have a huge selection of food & drink producers right here on our doorstep.
We love finding food & drink which not only tastes delicious, but has great provenance as well as an interesting story and a passionate team behind it. We’ve picked out a few of our Kent based suppliers to give you a little more of an insight into how their products are special and why they are essential both on the farm shop & deli shelves as well as in restaurants, pubs & catering outlets.
Cheeses
Winterdale Shaw
Made on the family farm in Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, Winterdale Shaw is the country’s first carbon neutrally produced & delivered cheese. The milk is taken directly from their herd of around 100 Freisan Holstein cows, meaning it retains its natural characteristics as well as being at the ideal temperature for cheesemaking. The cheese & curd is filled into cheese moulds & then traditional wood cheese presses, before being pressed for 3 days. It is then wrapped in muslin and matured for around 10 months in their own caves to develop further flavour characteristics. A cheddar style cheese, Winterdale Shaw is available both smoked & unsmoked as 5kg, 2.5kg, 1.25kgor retails packs.
Ellie’s Dairy
Producing a range of Goat’s cheeses, Ellie’s dairy is based on the North Downs where the goats have free range access to grazing as well as all feed, including hay, being made from their own ancient meadows which are GM and chemical free. Ellie’s goats’ cheese is a semi-soft cheese, made with vegetarian rennet and available as original, with chilli and with herbs. The cheese is made by hand once a week in small batches and is best eaten young, as it has a fresh, clean taste. A great addition to the cheeseboard, but also delicious added to salads or for cooking with. Available as individual retail packs.
Chaucer’s Camembert
Cheesemakers of Canterbury produce a wide range of both soft & hard cheeses. Chaucer’s Camembert is handmade using pasteurised cows’ milk before being aged for 3-6 weeks. It is a well-balanced cheese which is rich and creamy with a deep, long flavour. Produced in small 150g rounds, this cheese will sit perfectly on the cheese board or its size makes it perfect as an induvial baked cheese for foodservice or enjoyed at home.
Snacking
Captains Crackers
Picking up another three 1* and a 2* award at this year’s Great Taste Awards, the Captain’s Crackers make a fantastic accompaniment to many cheeses. Based in Herne Bay, this family business launched in 2015, making a delicious range of oat based crackers which are both wheat & dairy free. Collaboration is a key part of the business and the Kentish Ale & Rosemary crackers are made using Goody Ales’ “Good Lord” whilst the Warm Chilli use Kentish Oils’ Rapeseed Oil blended with Chilli. Also in the range are Sea Salt & Black Pepper and Chive & Chia.
Kent Crisps
Another example of a Kent business working hard to champion fellow producers along with Kent landscapes & landmarks, Kent Crisps’ flavours all use real products & producers to give a local twist to British favourites. The Ashmore Cheese & Onion flavour uses cheese from Jane of Cheesemakers of Canterbury, producers of Chaucer’s Camembert mentioned above and the newest addition to the range is a delicious collaboration with Pork & Co giving a Ham & Mustard flavour which is full of meaty flavour with a little mustard kick. Available in 40g bags with selected flavours in 150g sharing bags; Kent Crisps will sit well behind the bar in food led pubs and are a must on farm shop shelves.
Zingiberri Cookies
Zingiberri’s chunky cookies are presented in attractive retail packs and are fabulous to enjoy on their own or even better to accompany a hot drink. Hand baked in small batches, the cookies are available in a choice of flavours: Goji Berry & White Chocolate, Oat & Honey, Oat & Raisin and Pecan & Maple Syrup. A great local alternative to mass produced biscuits, with an artisan, hand made appearance and tasty flavours.
Sauces & dressings
Harrington Foods’ Quiddity & Benenden Sauce
A family business which was established in Benenden, from which the sauce takes its name, both Quiddity and Benenden Sauce are made in small batches to a secret recipe. It’s unlikely that you will have tasted anything like Benenden sauce, which is sweet, slightly garlicky and quite addictive and like Quiddity, is made using no artificial ingredients so needs a good shake before use. Both are versatile, though Quiddity is best used as a salad dressing whilst Benenden Sauce is great as a dressing, marinade, dipping sauce or simply over cheese on toast or a jacket potato.
Kentish Oils new herb blends
Celebrating their 10thanniversary in 2018, Kentish Oils newest additions to their range of cold pressed rapeseed oils are their herb blends, Garden Mint, Rosemary & Basil. Made using specially selected rapeseed, which is then pressed, filtered & bottled by hand, the new herb blends may be used with meat, fish, salad and many other dishes and provide a simple way to add extra flavour. Along with the rest of the range, gift boxes are also available, ideal for the approaching festive season.
Drinks
Kingsdown Water & Pressés
With a growing demand for non-alcoholic drinks, it’s more important than ever to be able to provide soft drink options both in restaurant & pubs situations as well as on farm shop & deli shelves. Kingsdown’s pressés are made using just spring water and natural juices, with a light sparkle to create a drink which is refreshing, full of flavour and without any hidden nasties. The full range, including still & sprakling water, is packed in glass, meaning that they provide a solution for those looking to cut down on single use plastic.
Curd & Cure are members of Produced in Kent, a membership organisation which works to promote Kent food & drink and work with many fellow Produced in Kent members both as suppliers as well as customers. For more information on Produced in Kent & how to become a member head to their website at www.producedinkent.co.uk
Find the products mentioned on the following pages in our Spring/Summer 2019 brochure:
Winterdale Shaw: 47 (retail), 64 & 66 (deli)
Ellie’s Dairy: 47
Chaucer’s Camembert: 68
Captain’s Crackers: 26 (retail), 101 (foodservice)
Kent Crisps: 23 (retail), 109 (foodservice)
Zingiberri Cookies: 26
Harrington’s: 12
Kentish Oils: 10 (retail), 103 (foodservice)
Kingsdown: 31 (retail), 104 (foodservice)
