Tonbridge Daily: Tonbridge Farmers Market Returns

A monthly Sunday Farmers Market returned to Tonbridge after a number of years absence and it has come back bigger and better than ever before.

Over 50 stalls surrounded a covered seated area with long tables and benches where customers could eat, drink, take in the bustling atmosphere and generally be merry. The stallholders were friendly and ready to talk about their produce with a smile of their faces.

Amongst the many hot food stalls was an excellent hog roast by Lorna and Pete of The Sussex Roast who proudly displayed their food hygiene rating of 5 (top marks) . I noticed Lorna was wearing gloves and that always pleases me. Their pork and lamb is free range and reared on their family run Sussex farm. I regretted having an earlier breakfast and will definitely go for of one of their rolls fully filled with the freshly roasted pork when they return next month.


Lorna & Pete - The Sussex Roaster

Dishes prepared by The Tropical Hotpot specialising in Caribbean cuisine were very tempting. Under a sunny bright orange canopy jerk chicken, rice and peas and curried goat was being served which smelt divinely spicey. It gave warm, sunny vibes to what was a showery dull day. Caribbean cuisine uses only fresh good quality produce grown or reared in the sun kissed garden of England in each meal. Totally mouth waterining.

There are far too many stalls to mention but for those with a sweet tooth, me being one, there were two stalls to take comfort in.

Pick-A-Lilly run by baker Kathleen Jitjarak offered a huge variety of cup cakes. Tempting brightly coloured little sponges decorated in dainty kaleidoscope swirls to eat there and then, or to take away in candy stripe pink bags. Kathleen a truly local born and bred Tonbridge girl is also a qualified florist having worked in the town centre, and many may already know her. She'll be at the next farmers market so go along, say hi and try her gorgeous cakes. You'll be pleased you did. One bite and you'll be back for more. Oh btw she also makes sweets. What a star!!!!!

Pick-a-Lilly - Kathleen and her fab cup cakes

Jo, of Jo's Cakes, bakes home made brownies, lemon and carrot cake, millionaires shortbread, ginger and fruit cakes, and more and more and more. All her cakes oozed total gorgeousness and were displayed on a fresh red and white gingham stall. Chalked on a small blackboard and hanging under brightly coloured bunting was a notice stating that Jo only uses free range eggs in her baking, and that can only be a good thing. One could buy a whole cake, or just a slice (or two) and a freshly brewed cup of coffee, and stop and watch the world go by under the covered eating area, or sit in Jo's minature trailer type cafe. The interior was an alternative little world of memorabilia and brightly covered fabrics. Such fun. The brownies I bought were delicious.

Interior of Jo's miniature tea room

Cosy Space

As I walked around the market my bags slowly filled up with local, fresh, organic produce. I couldn't resist a bottle of hot and sweet chilli dipping sauce, a punnet of gooseberries, a jar of strawberry and Rhubarb jam, local salad vegetables, real fresh pink pork chops, and my star buy of the day a bottle of olive oil from a Greek stallholder whose family own a small olive farm on the Peloponnese. Not totally home grown, but one dip of bread into the bowl of golden nectar and it was sold. So pleased Phileos was there.

They'll all be back in Tonbridge on Sunday July 10 when you'll get your next chance to taste and buy local produce made by the people who actually make it ... below are a few more photos to whet your appetite.