After the cold, long winter season, our amazingly talented chefs are eager to add a range of irresistible, locally grown foods to our menu here at Finbar's.
But WHY do we love local?
Grown local means one thing - packed FULL of flavour!
When grown locally, crops are picked at the peak of their ripeness versus being harvested early and then shipped or distributed to local retailers. Quite often our crops are on your plate within 24 hours of being picked!
Local food also has more nutrients as it has a shorter time between harvest and your table, and it is less likely that the nutrient value has decreased. Food imported from elsewhere has often travelled and then sat in distribution centres before it even gets to kitchens. What's more, we can ask our local growers HOW the food was grown. We can ask what practices they use to raise and harvest the crops. When you know where your food comes from and who grew it, you know a lot more about that food, and how to prepare it to its absolute best!
One of the other reasons we choose local is to support our local economy. The money that we spend with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in our community and that is MASSIVELY important to us.
Local businesses not only pay their employees, they also spend money at OTHER local businesses, so by choosing local, you help create jobs for your neighbours and friends and help the social wealth of your entire circle.
Kent is known as the "Garden of England" for a reason and is known in particular for its apples, pears, cherries, beans and asparagus!
Kent oysters, whitebait, lamb and marsh samphire are also up there on the list of its most famed produce!
Some of the local suppliers we use and support here at Finbar's are Biddenden wines and cider, Jenkins Fishmongers, Chef and Butcher meats, Nash Farm, Canterbury cheesemongers - just to name a few!
As the summer growing season continues in glorious form, we are constantly thinking about how we can add more locally grown foods to our menus. Keep an eye on our seasonally changing menu and daily specials, showcasing as much locally grown produce as we can get our hands on!
