Sussex Food Awards!

How could our pies, under the banner of Sussex Farms fail to triumph in the Sussex Food Awards? We're optimistic but once again we need the public vote. If you could support us by taking 5 minutes to register and vote for us in the Best Sussex Producer Category:

http://www.sussexfoodawards.com/votes.php

There are some other great people up for awards, many of which are friends of Sussex Farms. I've voted for the Following but I'm sure it will spark fierce debate in the Kitchen:

Hepworth & Co: Best Sussex Drinks Producer. Andy Hepworth makes truly amazing beer, which I used in our new trial recipe of Steak and Ale. Watch this space for a Sussex Farms Steak & Ale Pie with Hepworth & Co. Sussex Bitter.

Archers of Brighton: Best Sussex Butcher. It has to be said, Brian and Carol Archer do stock some delicious pies (wink, wink). However, we also know they take real care in all of their sourcing as well as being really knowledgeable and looking after their customers. Second last year which was a real injustice.

Due South: Best Sussex Eating Experience. Due South really go above and beyond when it comes to their commitment to local sourcing. We know because we helped them organise their buying in a revolutionary way meaning they can trace all of their meat back to the farm, and the individual animal. Plus what they do with the raw ingredients is unquestionable amazing.

Martin Hole, Montague Farm: Sussex Farmer of the Year. Martin's farm is stunning. His grazing covers the Eastbourne Levels, a really under-rated beauty spot and major SSSI. He has won a smattering of conservation awards for his work in increasing wild bird populations and rare flora. His grazing system is traditionally run, flooding his pastures in winter, and being organic it gets no chemicals. Martin is also a shareholder in Sussex Farms and one of our Directors.

Help Sussex Farms be recognised as a local food hero in 2007.

Sussex Farms have been nominated for UKTV's 2007 Local Food Hero award. The program exists to recognise small local businesses involved in food, be they restaurants, cheese-makers, pubs, millers or pie makers!!

Please help us by voting for us as a local food hero here

A Day in the Development Kitchen

This week we're cracking on with a really exciting new range of pie recipes. On Monday I spent the day in our "development kitchen" (in my kitchen at home) to trail a few recipes.

The pies look promising. My personal favorite recipe? Well probably the Organic Rose Veal recipe. Its such a beautiful and very special product that I'm a huge fan of. I absolutely love working with it and the results are so delicious.

Other goodies included some vegetarian pie recipes. Sadly I think to many people leave the "veggy option" to linger as a real after-though. I love our vegetarian recipes which I think are true modern British Classics. The Oven-Roasted Root Vegetable pie is so warming and full of delicious caramel flavours. Our recipe for Celeriac and Wild Mushroom is creamy and full of the smoky (and dare i say positively meaty) flavours of porcini mushrooms.

We're also excited to add a fish pie. True to our name we used a very traditional Sussex Smokie recipe. Its creamy sauce and undyed haddock flakes are combined with Twineham Grange parmesan-style cheese. The recipe called for Parmegiano but we couldn't resist a local option from Bookham Cheese and Pasta.

Finally, we're going to round the range off with some true classic pie recipes. I love our Mutton and Vegetable recipe because I don't think we eat enough of the beautiful flavoursome meat. We also have the stalwart recipe, steak and Ale. Finally, our National Award Winning Pork and Wild Mushroom with wonderful free-range pork and cepe.

Sussex Farms in Budgens, Heathfield

Sussex Farms in the Press!

Sussex Farms flew the flag for Sussex local food when we took on over 100 other entrants in the British Pig Executives Awards. Best of all, our two products scooped two prizes, first and third in their category. The Kent & Sussex courier have covered the story this week.

To read from them about our award follow this link. Its great to see the local media take interest in local food producers and we certainly hope we can continue to champion local produce, buying locally and selling locally.

In the mean time, try our delicious Pork and Wild Mushroom Pie and Sausage Rolls, our champion pork products.

Chaussy's at the Great House - Hawkhurst

You'll already find our hand-made pies in Chaussy's first Farm Shop / Deli at The Gun Pub, in Horam. Now the chain of three Gastro-pubs is opening its second specialist retail outlet at The Gun in Hawkhurst, opening this Saturday!



Chaussy's offer a wonderful selection of continental delights and the best of Local produce, including ofcourse delicious Sussex Farms Pies! With plans to do the same at their third pub, The Farmhouse in West Malling it looks set be really interesting.



Check out their shops, and pubs at www.elitepubs.co.uk and be sure to come find some pies!

Sussex Pies and the City

Farmers' City Market is really setting the standard in food shopping and on Thursday they took their first order of delicious pies and seasonal quiches from Sussex Farms!

We're really proud to have our pies and quiche in Farmers' City Market. They really do stock the best in local, regional and seasonal produce in their beautiful Teddington store. Best of all, they are looking to open more outlets which is great for those of us not lucky enough to live near Hampton Hill High St.

The very best thing of all is that because they understand local foods they're happy for us to get creative with what the seasons bring and vary our offering. That means that this week we sent them some quiche with beautiful local purple-sprouting broccoli and a great local blue cheese (the only one in Sussex!) along side our delicious pies. If you are in the area be sure to check them out, if not... watch this space! http://www.cityfarmersmarket.com/