LAST FOUR DAYS
Wild boar is a regular feature of the woods around the beautiful medieval town of Rye, and this year Rye goes ‘wild’ about boar, celebrating this local delicacy of the field, from 27 October – 4 November 2012.
Hundreds of years ago wild boar freely roamed Britain but they were the arch enemy of farmers and were hunted to near extinction in the 17th Century. Some were still bred on farms in Kent and Sussex, but 20 years ago a few escaped and their numbers have risen dramatically in the past few years. The debate continues as to whether they are pesty pigs or essential to our environment.
Al Ball is a forester by trade but hunts boar in his spare time. He’s one of more than 100 people in Kent and East Sussex who has a licence to cull these animals. The George in Rye, short-listed this year as Best Independent Hoteliers at the Independent Hotel Show, has retained Al’s services, to secure them a large animal to feed all their customers for Wild Boar Week. He will be hunting in the areas of Udimore / Peasmarsh, just outside Rye.
There are now 18 venues in and around Rye showcasing Wild Boar and medieval dishes on their menus.
On the menu at The George in Rye are Wild Boar Burger and Wild Boar Casserole in red wine; The Standard Inn is going ‘full on medieval’ with Wild Boar and Apple Stew served on a bread trencher (a medieval style plate made of bread); acclaimed chef Dev Biswal of The Ambrette (Rye and Margate) has a number of medieval dishes on offer, including a starter of tender breasts of local wood pigeon, with apple and radish salad, pigeon pate and game roulade.
If you’d like to buy some Wild Boar to cook yourself, don’t miss the Rye and Brede Farmers’ Markets or head to Sutton’s or the Ship’s Store at Winchelsea Beach.
A busy events programme continues on 1st. November with Phil Trainor Live at the Standard Inn, The Mint.. The fun continues until Sunday.
From the November 2012
All articles, photographs and drawings on this web site are World Copyright Protected. No reproduction for publication without prior arrangement. © World Copyright 2016 Cinque Ports Magazines Rye Ltd., Guinea Hall Lodge Sellindge TN25 6EG