Good food, great living!

Kent's award winning restaurants, country pubs and village cafés are never more inviting that at winter time. Where better to spend time catching up with family and friends than over a steaming hot chocolate, or treat yourself to a taste of Kent at one of the county's award winning restaurants. You can even celebrate the festive season with a pint of Christmas ale in front of a warm log fire at a country pub.

The Garden of England is such a natural larder for fresh vegetables and locally reared meats, and with so much on the doorstep, many of Kent's restaurants and hotels pride themselves on locally sourced ingredients, many of which have been produced organically.

If you're looking for a gift with a difference, or even immerse yourself fully in a homegrown Christmas dinner, head to one of Kent's farmers' markets - buy morning-fresh breads, preserves, cheeses, organic eggs, free-range meats, vegetables and juices. Farmers' markets at Canterbury, Whitstable, Cliftonville, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst are all well worth a visit.

The Goods Shed, Canterbury's permanent farmers' market set in a beautiful Victorian railway goods shed, also has a restaurant so you can tuck into tasty fare sourced exclusively from the market, as does Quex Barn Farmer's Market near Margate and The Secret Garden near Ashford.

Of course, you can't fully enjoy the festive period or Christmas dinner without a drop of yuletide ale or wine. Britain's oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, annually brew a Christmas Ale, perfect for any time of the day (or night!), with or without food.

Sample (and buy) award winning wines, ciders and apple juice from Biddenden Vineyard available from their Christmas Shop, open every day until Christmas Eve, or 'shop till you drop' at the Penshurst Place Christmas Market on 3rd December, voted one of the top 10 markets by The Times newspaper.

Sit back, relax and let someone else do the cooking at one of the county's top restaurants. For stress-free dining with a Christmas feel, head to The Secret Garden near Ashford, or be 'Merrily du Vin' at Hotel Du Vin in Tunbridge Wells, who have a range of Christmas menus on offer throughout November and December.

For an early Christmas present, or just to treat a loved one, Shepherd Neame is inviting beer (and food) lovers to sample their Beer and Food Evenings on 16th and 17th December. Enjoy a delicious four course festive meal with an individually selected Shepherd Neame beer perfectly matched to the food on offer. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.