» Food & Drink: Rock‘n’roll
Andrew Kay on the perfect sausage roll and Sevendials gets ready to celebrate seven great years
Say sausage roll to me and you’re unlikely to get me excited. That was until I first tasted one of Edward’s luxury sausage rolls. That was some time ago at Sussex and the City. Then I discovered I could get them at The Sir Charles Napier, where I am a regular on Sunday evening for the quiz. Yes, if I have failed to eat properly I will treat myself to one of his sausage rolls, my current favourite being a chorizo style that packs a nice paprika kick. In fact even if I have eaten well I can be tempted to one, as they are really very good and a million miles away from the dismal, soggy, fat-drenched offerings so often found these days.
Now a brand new partnership has been launched in Brighton between Edward’s Luxury Food Parcels and Brighton’s very own pie and mash shop, Pokeno Pies. For the fist time Edward’s delicious sausage rolls will be available to buy hot at Pokeno Pies in Gardner Street.
It’s been nearly two years since Ed Rayner began experimenting with his favourite ingredients to make the best tasting and most interesting pastries he possibly could.
‘‘What Edward’s provide, are possibly the very best sausage rolls available“
And what started as selling pastries at work to his colleagues for holiday spending money, led to supplying his local pub. Word of mouth subsequently spread and this quickly led to supplying his local deli, followed by several shops in the city centre, one of which being voted ‘Best Sussex Food Shop‘ two years running!
What Edward’s provide, are possibly the very best sausage rolls available, certainly the best I have found. They use sausage meat that is only minced and not ground, with a minimum of 85 percent meat content. They then handfold in a French puff pastry using additional fillings to create unique recipes using the very best available ingredients.
To date, the demand for his handmade pastries has grown organically with no marketing, but the strength of product has led to his unique pastries becoming a full-time business, which means they will soon be available to an even bigger audience than ever before.
In Edward’s own words: “Pokeno Pies is a perfect venue to make Edward’s Luxury Food Parcels available.”
Keith Kemp, the owner of Pokeno pies said: “This partnership will mean that for the first time Edward’s sausage rolls will be available to buy hot and enjoyed with a nice cuppa – which just seems right”
So, what’s next for Edward’s? According to the man behind the pastry, he wants to share his ethos of giving people exactly what they want, but executing it to a higher standard than ever experienced before.
For more information go to www.edsluxuryfoods.co.uk
Seven years of plenty
Congratulations to Sam Metcalfe and the team at Sevendials. Since opening Sam has been up there in my list of top chefs, serving up some of my most memorable meals of the last seven years. Seven years ago the Dials was not the social hub it is today, but Sam’s restaurant has certainly been the force behind putting the Dials on the map.
When Sam took over the fast-food joint and decided to make it into an up-market eaterie some had their reservations, but it was undoubtedly his forward thinking and vision that kick started the Seven Dials trend.
It is a credit to The Sevendials Restaurant team, who took those early steps in transforming a tatty building and stripped it back to reveal unusual features like the original bank vault and created a beautiful private dining room. Removing the signage and simplifying the exteriors to compliment the striking building and creating a stylish restaurant. It is the consistently great quality food that has kept the locals coming back over the years. Serving up seasonal ever changing modern European dishes, Sevendials is perfect for so many occasions, from a romantic meal for two in the main dining room, a private party in the Vault or a leisurely lunch in the sun on the terrace
Sam said: “In a sea of chain restaurants and big operators it is a great celebration for us to still be going strong after seven years of trading. To celebrate this seventh anniversary we will be offering a £7 menu throughout November. Each course: starter, main and dessert will cost just £7 each, this a small way of thanking our customers.“
Seven is a lucky number for some, but for chef Sam Metcalfe and his team it has been a proven winner with over 100 weddings and numerous anniversaries and parties taking place since they opened in 2001. As part of their birthday celebrations the restaurant are offering seven Sussex brides a treat, the first seven wedding/civil ceremony parties to book before the end of this year will receive free canapes on their special day worth up to £500 for parties of over 50.
See their website for more great birthday offers www.sevendialsrestaurant.co.uk for full details or to make a booking call 01273 885555
