Sussex Exclusive Magazine. Issue 4 2023

FOOD
FOOD
Foodie Experiences
Ashdown Forage
If, like me, you have recently found
yourself increasingly more enthralled by the
mysterious world of foraging, then perhaps
it might be time to put down that book
identifying 100 wild fungi and gear up for
an expedition that will formally introduce
you to the wonders of nature. Ashdown
Forage, a company committed to the
challenge of getting more people outdoors
and interacting with nature knowledgeably
and respectfully, have all sorts of delights
in store for those wishing to learn about,
locate and sample wild foods. Run with
the expertise and experience of Iona Fraser,
a long-time forager and participant in
preparation and preservation projects,
Ashdown Forage have courses running
around Forest Row, Haywards Heath, Lewes
and Brighton. Especially thrilling, for those
with an eye towards spring and all of the
possibilities for the keen forager that this
promises, Ashdown Forage have a number of
expeditions organised, with places booking
up fast! Among them is an Easter foraging,
egg dyeing and wild picnic experience with
availability on the 9th April. For more details
contact iona@ashdownforage.com
Foodies Festival
For a Sussex food connoisseur, there is
perhaps no better place to go than the
Brighton Foodies Festival, which will be
popping up in Preston Park for a few days
over the May Bank Holiday weekend. With
a number of exciting events and activities
to get stuck into, the festival will feature
stalls, stage events, live music, eating tents,
competitions and fair rides - so no one will
be lost for things to do! As for the food, a line
up of chefs from diverse backgrounds have
been brought together to impart a number
of tips, talks and samples including but not
limited to: vegan bakers, cookery competition
winners, restaurant owners, food producers
and cooks specialising in around the world
cuisine. You’ll also have the opportunity to
sit back with one of your delicious purchases
and enjoy live music from notable music
artists Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Scouting for Girls
and Martin Kemp. To top off your visit,
head to the drinks theatre to sample some
new wines or cocktails and try some artisan
food samples. For tickets, visit the Early Bird
website.
www.foodiesfestival.com
Sussex producers
Trenchmore Farm
Just off of Burnthouse Lane near Cowfold, you
will find Trenchmore Farm, much to your good
fortune. They are a dedicated and exemplary
Sussex food producer, their specialties including
wagyu beef and homemade cider. Their
determination to cut down waste with their
farming techniques is especially noteworthy
- byproducts from animals and vegetation
alike service each other in a pleasantly cyclical
way: the apple pomace is used as part of the
cattle and chicken feed, straw from the wheat
becomes cattle bedding and the resultant
animal muck is spread on crop fields with a
view towards enriching the soil. They run an
‘apple swap’ each autumn which provides a
lovely way to share any abundant produce you
may find yourself with, in exchange for some
hearty cider and conversation. Their poultry
and cattle are put onto a rotation system of
field grazing to optimise their chances to root
around fresh grass and their supplementary
diets are varied and nutritionally dense,
resulting in those wonderfully orange yolks
found in good quality eggs. As for the cows,
they enjoy the apple pomace so much they
become almost giddy with happiness - hence
the creation of the name ‘Silly Moo Cider’!
They have an online shop linked to their
website should you want to purchase some of
their delightful produce, and they have a few
foodie events in the works come Springtime.
Why not head down there on April the 1st to
sample their sumptuous wagyu burgers and
cider to see for yourself what they’re all about?
Potters
Potters is a family run enterprise based in Selsey
and the perfect spot to hunt down if you’re on
the prowl for delicious, local and sustainable
shellfish options. Their fresh caught, hand
dressed crab and lobster platter is a particularly
popular offer of theirs and is selected for
the best possible quality for their customers.
Partnered with the expertise and experience
of brother fishermen, Chris and Mike, they
honour a sustainable approach with their
produce: Chris and Mike were actually winners
of the Shellfish Fishermen of the Year Award in
2021! Their prices are also routinely updated to
reflect market costs so that their customers can
always expect the best price for their purchase
and their seafood samplers and ‘dressed-toorder’
selection provide flexible options for
both the newly curious and longtime patrons.
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