As little as twenty years ago us Brits were welded to ready meals and processed foods. Very few of us ventured further than heat 'n' serve in our kitchens. But the past two decades has seen a foodie revolution taking place right across the country.
Today almost everyone knows what a roux is. We're dedicated to making drizzles and creating fancy sauces, dreaming up amazing recipes, learning to bake and cooking our little hearts out. Once the French laughed at our culinary ignorance. Today they envy us!
We're a nation of keen chefs and most towns have their fair share of farmer's markets, exotic food events and food fairs. Our lovely city is no exception. Here's a run-down of some of the best fresh local food outlets, food festivals and farmers markets in Brighton and Hove.
George Street Artisan Market - Last saturday of each month
An exciting and eclectic mix of delicious locally produced foods and drinks, home wares, health & beauty products and more.
Monthly Fair Trade Fair and Farmers Market - Friends Meeting House, Ship St
A treasure trove of local foods including local speciality cheeses, bread, cakes and biscuits, sweets and international food. Plus jewellery, gifts, fruit and loads more exciting fair trade and locally made goodies.
Upper Gardner Street Market - Saturdays
Once a jumble sale-like rummage fest, the weekly Upper Gardener Street Market has grown up in the past couple of years, these days offering delicious local foods as well as bric-a-brac, furniture, retro clothing, plants, fabrics, old toys, vintage jewellery...
Brighton and Hove Food Festival 2012 - 30th March to 9th April
Our city's excellent food festival showcases local growers, producers, eateries, retailers and bars in a splendid event guaranteed to get your tastebuds working. Very Brighton! Last year it attracted m,ore than 40,000 people, who had a fantastic time sampling Sussex's finest food and related goods. Yum.
This year's Spring Harvest festivities include the Great Brighton Pizza Competition, a Spring Harvest Festival on Friday 30th March, Sussex Beer Festival Friday 30th to 31st March, plus the Brighton Coffee and Cake Festival and the Sussex Gourmet Bus Tour, both on 31st March.
Here's a link to the Brighton Food Festival website.
Brighton Farm Market - 73 North Road (Diplocks Yard)
Visit the excellent Brighton Farm Market on North Street on the second and fourth Sunday of every month for an outstanding choice of delicious locally produced, grown and caught foods; meat and fish, fruit and veg, cakes and biccies, savouries, salad boxes and very good coffee.
Brighton Chocolate festival - 17th - 18th March
It's chocolate heaven. Join the Easter crowds stuffing themselves with gorgeous chocolate in every conceivable shape and form. Resistance is futile!
Fiery Foods Chilli Festival - September 2012
The next Fiery Foods UK Chilli Festival takes place September 15th - 16th, a fabulous and heady mix of all things chilli from cakes to chocolate, flaming hot sauces, chilli plants and even hot chilli beers. Thankfully they also sell ice cream to cool your tongue down afterwards!
Muesli Mountain Market - The Dover Castle, 43 Southover St
Enjoy great local produce in the pub garden, up in happy, hippy Hanover Mondays to Saturdays.
Nature's Way Market, Hove - 2-2a Stoneham Rd, Poets' Corner
Visit Nature's Way for seasonal veg, bread, honey, jam, cakes and more, all local and all absolutely mouth-watering.
Churchill Square farmers market - every Wednesday 10-4
Fantastic local foods from creative people who live in and around Brighton and Hove.
Places offering local organic food box deliveries
Ashurst Organics, www.ashurst-organics.com
Barcombe Nurseries, www.barcombenurseries.co.uk
Fork and Dig it, www.forkanddigit.co.uk
(Thanks to http://www.sxc.hu/profile/awottawa for the royalty-free image!)