I have been meaning for a while now to write a piece about a fabulous company who have only been running since March this year - Kent Crisps (or chips as some of you readers may know what we British call "crisps"!). The reason why? Well, I wanted to do a beer and crisp tasting experiment and last month I managed to achieve this at a local beer festival.
A little background first about Kent Crisps - they are based at Quex Park in Birchington, on the East Coast of Kent, and the grounds are not only home to the crisp makers, but a Victorian house and The Powell-Cotton Museum which can be visited.
Why am I singing the praises of Kent crisps? Well, not only are they a friendly team and a local company; but they have ingenious flavours that use local produce as ingredients. No artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives and 100% GM Free is an added bonus of these crunchy delights.
Made from Kent potatoes, they have sourced flavours to reflect the region - so you have the classic Sea Salt crisps - the flavour dances on your tongue when you break through the crusty nuggets of salt; then there is Cider Vinegar and Sea Salt crisps - with a moreish taste that is created by the use of Biddenden cider vinegar; next are the Oyster and Vinegar flavour - a favourite with many of Kent Crisps' lovers, and subtle in flavour; and finally my favourite, and winner of a Gold Award at The Great Taste Awards 2011, the Ashmore Cheese and Onion, with a lovely strong kick. Something for everyone.
The oysters are sourced as locally as possible, the cheese comes from a Canterbury producer who uses traditional 19th Century presses and let their cheeses mature for 5 months at least; and the orchards at Biddenden, the oldest trading vineyard in Kent (since 1969), supply the cider vinegar - a mix of culinary and dessert apples.
Now, the crisps are lovely just on their own, but even better washed down with a pint of local beer, as well as perfect an accompaniment to a traditional Ploughman's - a slab of cheese, a slice of pork pie, pickles and a crisp tasty apple. If you wonder what beer would go with these crisps, then hopefully I will be able to give you a general guide, as well as recommend a few examples.
Sea Salt Crisps: These would work well with a malty beer or perhaps one that is a bit fruity - perhaps something like Royal Tunbridge Wells Brewery's "Royal". A best bitter that has a lovely malty undertone to it.
Sea Salt and Biddenden Cider Vinegar: A malty beer would lose its flavour against the vinegar so a Golden Beer would be better with these crisps, for example Westerham's "Summer Perle Golden Ale".
Oyster and Vinegar Crisps: These crisps need some hoppiness in the beer to cut through the vinegar and the seafood flavour. A Pale Ale, Bitter, or hoppy IPA may be just the ticket, and I can't think of a better way to combine local oysters with Shepherd Neame's "Whitstable Bay, Organic Ale".
Ashmore Cheese and Onion Crisps: For something as strong as a mature cheese, a porter or stout would hold up against the flavour. Tonbridge Brewery do a fine pint of "Ebony Moon" that would match nicely.
Of course there are many many local breweries and beers that would go fantastically with these crisps, I have just merely offered a few recommendations. Do have a look at: www.camrawestkent.org.uk/breweries-in-kent/ for details of breweries here in the county.
For more information about Kent Crisps, and also find a store supplying them near you, their website is: www.kentcrisps.com
I hope to have time to do more foodie blogs in amongst my tour and historical ones, so do let me know if there is a particular South Eastern food that you think I should be trying.
A little background first about Kent Crisps - they are based at Quex Park in Birchington, on the East Coast of Kent, and the grounds are not only home to the crisp makers, but a Victorian house and The Powell-Cotton Museum which can be visited.
Why am I singing the praises of Kent crisps? Well, not only are they a friendly team and a local company; but they have ingenious flavours that use local produce as ingredients. No artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives and 100% GM Free is an added bonus of these crunchy delights.
Made from Kent potatoes, they have sourced flavours to reflect the region - so you have the classic Sea Salt crisps - the flavour dances on your tongue when you break through the crusty nuggets of salt; then there is Cider Vinegar and Sea Salt crisps - with a moreish taste that is created by the use of Biddenden cider vinegar; next are the Oyster and Vinegar flavour - a favourite with many of Kent Crisps' lovers, and subtle in flavour; and finally my favourite, and winner of a Gold Award at The Great Taste Awards 2011, the Ashmore Cheese and Onion, with a lovely strong kick. Something for everyone.
The oysters are sourced as locally as possible, the cheese comes from a Canterbury producer who uses traditional 19th Century presses and let their cheeses mature for 5 months at least; and the orchards at Biddenden, the oldest trading vineyard in Kent (since 1969), supply the cider vinegar - a mix of culinary and dessert apples.
Now, the crisps are lovely just on their own, but even better washed down with a pint of local beer, as well as perfect an accompaniment to a traditional Ploughman's - a slab of cheese, a slice of pork pie, pickles and a crisp tasty apple. If you wonder what beer would go with these crisps, then hopefully I will be able to give you a general guide, as well as recommend a few examples.
Sea Salt Crisps: These would work well with a malty beer or perhaps one that is a bit fruity - perhaps something like Royal Tunbridge Wells Brewery's "Royal". A best bitter that has a lovely malty undertone to it.
Sea Salt and Biddenden Cider Vinegar: A malty beer would lose its flavour against the vinegar so a Golden Beer would be better with these crisps, for example Westerham's "Summer Perle Golden Ale".
Oyster and Vinegar Crisps: These crisps need some hoppiness in the beer to cut through the vinegar and the seafood flavour. A Pale Ale, Bitter, or hoppy IPA may be just the ticket, and I can't think of a better way to combine local oysters with Shepherd Neame's "Whitstable Bay, Organic Ale".
Ashmore Cheese and Onion Crisps: For something as strong as a mature cheese, a porter or stout would hold up against the flavour. Tonbridge Brewery do a fine pint of "Ebony Moon" that would match nicely.
Of course there are many many local breweries and beers that would go fantastically with these crisps, I have just merely offered a few recommendations. Do have a look at: www.camrawestkent.org.uk/breweries-in-kent/ for details of breweries here in the county.
For more information about Kent Crisps, and also find a store supplying them near you, their website is: www.kentcrisps.com
I hope to have time to do more foodie blogs in amongst my tour and historical ones, so do let me know if there is a particular South Eastern food that you think I should be trying.
