Chef Matt Sworder with Gadds’ head brewer, Jon Stringer
The Corner House, in Minster, will be celebrating Kentish food and drink with a Green Hops Dinner on Thursday, October 3.
The dinner falls during British Food Fortnight and will be a celebration of Kentish hops and ingredients.
It brings together chef Matt Sworder’s passion for Kentish ingredients, and Eddie Gadd’s passion for brewing. Diners at The Corner House will be among the first to sample this most seasonal of beers, and will enjoy a menu that has been designed to complement the unique fresh flavours of Kentish hops.
The green hops harvest is an exciting event for brewers as it brings them close to the freshness of the hops. To prevent the risk of disease, Eddie Gadd is one of only a very few people trusted to collect the hops, and this year he has invited Matt to join him.
The two of them will collect the hops and drive them straight back to the brewery in Ramsgate, where the hops will be tipped into the tank for immediate brewing.
Matt will be returning the favour by offering Eddie the opportunity to spend an afternoon in The Corner House restaurant kitchen. Eddie will also be involved in tasting and selecting the vegetarian dishes that will feature on the menu, each course paired with the green hops beer.
Large jugs of green hop beer
The three-course dinner will be priced at £35 for three courses, including a large jug of green hops beer per table. The Corner House cookbook, which features a profile of Gadds’ Brewery, will also be available to purchase for a special price of £15.
Kent has long been a key region for hop growing, and back in the 1800s temporary workers were brought in from London to help pick the harvest.
Even in the 1960s the hops were picked by hand, but now machinery is commonplace and Eddie climbs into the truck to collect the hops seven or eight times during each harvest.
Sworder said: “Eddie has done great things since he arrived in Ramsgate and Gadds’ beers are among the most popular in our restaurants. I’m really excited to be part of the green hops harvest this year, and diners are in for something truly special on October 3.”
Gadd added: “Beer belongs on the table alongside food, and it’s a rare
privilege to be working so closely with Matt to create the ultimate harvest
dinner, and we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it.”
• For more details on how to book for the dinner, click here or call 01843 823000.
