6 & 7 September 2008
Featuring Britain's Tastiest Tomato Competition
Forget the Olympics, the sporting event of this summer is Britain’s Tastiest Tomato. Held for the first time in 2007 , the clash is between amateurs and professionals, gardeners and growers, young and old, to find who can grow the tastiest tomato.
The competition will be held during the famous Totally Tomato Show, where an independent panel of judges will painstakingly select the winners, based on the taste, texture and intensity of flavour of the fruit.
The winner will be presented with the Len Summerton Cup. Second and third placed entrants will receive engraved plaques and all three winners will be given season tickets for entry to West Dean Gardens.
Entry forms and details are downloadable here or by post by telephoning the TGA on 01243 554859. Entries can also be accepted in person from visitors to the Totally Tomato Show.
The Totally Tomato Show features over 150 varieties of tomato on display in West Dean’s walled kitchen garden. West Dean Garden’s Sarah Wain, will be giving tomato growing tips and advice whilst guiding walks through the walled garden, amongst the tomato plants. Rosemary Moon will be demonstrating her favourite tomato recipes and Richard Brook, Farms Manager at West Dean, will chat about the harvest.
Giles Thompson will also be joining Rosemary. Giles culinary skills have taken him around the world. From Chef at the Ritz, to Head of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Marylebone. He has been recognised by the accreditation of the Royal Warrant from The Princes of Wales St James Palace and The Soil Association for his commitment to organics; both accolades were a first in the restaurant world. He now focuses on cooking simple dishes from fresh, local, regional, wild and organic produce at the Earl of March in Lavant, where he is chef-patron.
Gerry Hayman of the Tomato Growers Association will update us on the latest tomato growing news and developments, as well as discussing the use of tomatoes in international cuisine and Sidlesham growers Ken and Jan Parkinson will be sampling local tomatoes with visitors at the show.
As usual there will be plenty of food to taste and buy with dozens of stallholders selling an array of produce such as cider, apple juice and beer, freshly prepared food to go, fine cheeses and wines, jams, jellies, chutneys, pickles and sauces.
Mother Bhumi will be serving delicious organic, vegan, wheat-free, bhajias and pakoras, the Chichester Organic Gardening Society will be giving hot tips on growing - the organic way - and there will be a delicious variety of juicy tomatoes to sample on the Tomato Growers Association’s stand.