Good living, great food and drink

What better after a winter country ramble or bracing clifftop walk than enjoying a steaming hot chocolate in an inviting café, or mouthwatering lunch in a country pub? Or why not spend an evening in a cosy restaurant savouring just some of the authentic tastes of Kent, including award winning wines and locally brewed beer?

The Garden of England is a natural larder for juicy fresh fruit and delicious vegetables and with so much on the doorstep, there's an emphasis in eateries and hotels on locally sourced ingredients, sometimes organic.

Stock up on local goodies at one of Kent's many farmers' markets. Buy morning-fresh bread, preserves, cheese, organic eggs, free-range meat, vegetables and juices. Browse stalls at Whitstable, Cliftonville, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst, just to name a few.

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 right there, as does Quex Barn Farmer's Market in Birchington near Margate and The Secret Garden at Mersham-le-Hatch.
  

Seasonal Fare

Shepherd Neame's 2009 Christmas Ale
Keep out winter chills with a rich, hearty bottle of Shepherd Neame's Christmas Ale. This glowing amber winter seven per cent abv beer comes with a heady, fruity nose, and is the perfect accompaniment to the traditional sticky pudding sweetness and spice of Christmas fare.The 500ml bottles feature a suitably festive label, and are available from The Co-op, Booths, good independent stockists and from the brewery shop in Court Street, Faversham. 

Another seasonal favourite is Shepherd Neame's Winter Hop Ale, available at Morrisons, Asda, Tesco and good independent stockists. The seven per cent abv, full-bodied beer is great to share with a loved one on long, winter nights.

Ramsgate Brewery's Little Cracker
Little Cracker, 5%. Ramsgate Brewery's Yule Special is crafted with crystalised rye malt for a bright red-berry flavour and well bittered with a melange of the spicier Kent hops to lend a distinctively festive character to this unique ale. It will be available in pubs across East Kent on draught from 1st December, and also from the Brewery shop in 4 pint and 8 pint flagons, plus large polypin containers. Please ring 01843 868453 for details.

Morelli's Christmas Ice Cream
Morelli's Ice Cream Parlour in Broadstairs have created four delicious festive ice cream flavours; Christmas Pudding, Mince Pie, Marron Glace (Glazed chestnut) and Zabaglione (Italian dessert). To try a scoop head to their parlour on Broadstairs Seafront. You can also order by the litre by calling 01843 862500 (minimum 24 hours notice required).