The South East of England

For me, the South East encompasses Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and parts of Hertfordshire.

Kent is described as the ‘Garden of England’ which is no wonder as it probably has the proudest culinary history in the region, with hops having been grown there for centuries. The county is home to several vineyards and is a very important supplier of much of our country’s fruit, particularly apples (Bramleys, Cox’s Pippin), pears and soft fruit in abundance. Hampshire is known for its strawberries, watercress, lavender and fine pig breeds such as Middle Whites, Tamworth’s and Berkshire’s. Not forgetting the New Forest, for this is important for furred and feathered game, as well as for wild mushrooms.

There is more to the South than just fruit and hops, as further down on the Kent/Sussex border lies Romney Marshes - one of the most desolate landscapes in England, where the 800 year old Church of St Mary in the Marsh stands in eerie isolation. This 2,500 hectare flatland is famous for its sheep: an unsurpassed, long wool breed noted for the sublime salty taste of its flesh. At the edge of the marsh smugglers would once swap the wool for French brandy.

Dungeness nuclear power station casts an dark shadow over the English Channel, famed for such fish as dab, halibut, turbot and, above all, the Dover sole. Then a few miles down the coast we have Whitstable, a well-known source of those pearls of the sea, ‘oysters’. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire do not necessarily scream out, food, in the same manner as the other counties partly because they have four major motorways running through them. Once off these motorways however, and venturing into the wonderful countryside you will find the best ducks in Buckinghamshire: The Aylesbury. Unfortunately these wonderful creatures can now only be purchased from Mr Richard Whaller from his home in Princess Risborough. He has the only true blood line of these ducks left in the country and, believe me, there are plenty of imitations.

Buckinghamshire also has good stocks of hillside lamb, but it is probably more noted for its cherries. Berkshire has some great local cheeses such as Wigmore, Waterloo and Spenwood. Along the Chilterns you cannot help but notice the deer, pheasants, wood pigeon and free range chickens along with Mr Copas free range turkeys from Cookham Dean!

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